Fredericksburg Parent

8 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • March 2026 Camp has become a staple of the summer season. Each year, mil- lions of children, youth, and adults head to the hills, lakes, valleys, and parks to participate in the time-honored tradition of camp. And, while most people easily conjure up images of campfires and canoes, there is a lot more to the camp experience. Here are ten of the things you may not have known about the camp experience. Camp is older than dirt, almost literally. Started in 1861, the camp experience turned an impres- sive 150 years young in 2011. The secret behind the lon- gevity? "Camps are adapting to meet the needs of today's campers," says Tom Rosenberg, president/CEO of the American Camp Association. "At the same time, the impact camp has on camp- ers, the life-changing experience, has remained after all these years." Camp is worth its weight in gold, and then some! The camp experience is life-changing – developing friend- ships and memories that last well beyond the final camp- fire. And, there is a camp for literally every budget. Often camps offer special pricing or financial assistance, and some camp experiences qualify for tax credits or for payment with pre-tax dol- lars. Visit ACA's Affording Camp page for more information. Green is "zen." Research shows that first-hand experience with nature, like those at camp, reduce stress in children and help them better handle stress in the future. In addition to teaching children how to be good stewards of the environment, camps are teaching children how to enjoy the world around them and take a minute to breathe deep and feel the nature, which ulti- mately teaches them how to de-stress the natural way. Mommies and Daddies do it too. Camp is not just for children and youth. There are fam- ily camp experiences, and camps for single adults, senior adults, and any adult that wants to relax and enjoy all camp has to offer. Adults benefit from the same sense of com- munity, authentic relationships, and self-discovery that children do. Camp is an excellent vacation option, allowing adults to try a variety of new activities in a safe and fun environment. Try this on for size! Camp is a great place to try new activities and hobbies. Afraid of rock walls? According to ACA research, 74 per- cent of campers reported that they tried new activities at camp that they were afraid to do at first. And, those activities often leave lasting impressions. In the same survey, 63 percent of parents reported that their child continued new activities from camp after returning home. Manners matter, and often linger. The camp experience teaches more than just archery or lanyard making. The entire experience is made of teach- able moments, perhaps one of the biggest is how to live with a group of people. Campers learn to pick up after themselves, respect each other's property, and to say "Please" and "Thank You." Veggies taste better with friends. Hollywood and fictional novels may have given camp food a bad reputation, but in truth, camps are constantly exploring healthy food options, and often are at the fore- front of things like allergy specific diets, healthy snack options, and vegetarian meals. According to ACA's 2011 Emerging Issues survey, 90.7 percent of responding camps indicated that healthy eating and physical activity was an important or very important issue. Things You Never Knew 10 10 9 8 7 6 5 4

• Cover