Summer Camp Is Affordable, According to American Camp Association Northern California

CARMICHAEL, CA, Apr 29 (MARKET WIRE) --
There is a summer camp for virtually every child and every budget,
according to the American Camp Association(R) (ACA) Northern California.

"Today, some parents might be surprised to learn how affordable camp can
be, and what a big impact it can have on their kids," said Sari
VanOtegham, president of ACA Northern California. Studies have documented
the dramatic physical, psychological and emotional benefits of summer
camp.

And the camp industry is working to assure that all children, regardless
of their situation, can enjoy this life-changing experience. Here are some
tips on how parents can find an affordable camp.

Research the options.

To find a quality summer camp in Northern California visit
http://www.ACAnorcal.org./findcamp.php. To learn about camps in general,
go to http://www.CampParents.org.

Register early.

Many camps offer discounts to people who commit early.

Consider a day camp.

Day camps tend to cost less than resident camps.

Go for a shorter session.

Camp programs run between a few days and 10 weeks. Kids generally get most
of the benefits of camp regardless of the length of the program.

Ask for help.

Ask the camp director what type of aid is available. Each year, camps in
the ACA community give away more than $39 million in scholarships, and 90
percent of ACA camps offer some form of financial aid.

Not-for-profit camps might reduce or waive fees for families that can't
afford to pay.

Some camps allow people to pay on the installment plan, or give discounts
for siblings.

Consider the bigger benefits.

Besides being fun, summer camp benefits children dramatically. In
independent research published by the ACA, campers report significant
growth in several areas, including leadership, independence, values,
decision-making skills and social skills. The research shows that children
maintain these gains long after summer camp.(1)

"The most valuable gift you can give your child is the chance to learn and
to grow," said VanOtegham. "Summer camp is an investment, not just an
activity."

About the American Camp Association

For nearly 100 years, ACA's community of camp professionals has joined
together to share knowledge and experience and to promote positive human
development by enriching the lives of children, youth, and adults through
the camp experience. More than 7,000 individual members belong to the
American Camp Association, which is the only national organization that
accredits camps. There are over 2,400 ACA-Accredited(R) camps throughout
the U.S., which meet up to 300 health, safety, and programming standards.

(1) Source: The Youth Development Outcomes of the Camp Experience research
project, 2005. Conducted by the American Camp Association in collaboration
with Philliber Research Associates and supported in part by a grant from
Lilly Endowment Inc.

Note to Editor: Feature materials, photos and other resources are
available upon request and at http://www.acacamps.org/media_center.

Contact:
Kay Paumier
Communications Plus
510-656-8512
Email Contact

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