24 CAMPING magazine • March/April 2014 • Camper-related happiness about health and ability to do things was higher A third study, initiated by the Foundation for Jewish Camps (FJC) by Laszlo Strategies, was focused on campers with special needs who were attending Jewish overnight camps, with the intention of raising the bar of excellence by measuring success. While this was a more targeted analysis, sampling 124 camps and more than 250 parents, 140 campers, and 170 staff, some of the results corroborate the other positive findings in terms of the value of a camp experience. Ninety-three percent of parents were more than satisfied with their child’s experience (FJC, 2013). Sound familiar? As the folks at SeriousFun tell us, “Although campers may only recognize the fun and adventure, every activity is intentional and provides therapeutic benefits to the children’s health, their quality of life, and their future” (2013a). For chi ldren (and their fami l ies) coping with chronic or life-threatening illness, or in the case of FJC with other special needs, the importance of a camp experience is, if anything, intensified. Paul Newman’s vision was that, “while the heart of our camps is medically based,” all children, despite the “bad luck” of having a serious illness, could “kick back” and have fun — and benefit from the supports and opportunities of the camp experience (2008). Theory of Change The SeriousFun Global Partnership Program, recognizing with Paul’s lead that a life-threatening condition can be different from country to country, from culture to culture, created a template, which, fittingly, underscores the umbrella statement that the camp experience enriches lives and changes the world. The concept is called “Theory of Change.” Here’s how it goes: We assume that more and more children are surviving previously fatal diseases ; sti l l, the ef fects of disease and necessary treatments often result in disrupt ion of normal chi ldhood development, particularly in the area of time away from peers. Social relatedness or connection, however, is a basic human need, promoting better health outcomes, ACA’s Professional Development Center Connecting You to the Best . . . in Learning, Resources, and Support www.ACAcamps.org/PDC Improve YOUR Staff Orientation and Training! • Customize online training • Staff training certificates PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER Entry-level program staff, experienced program staff, middle managers, directors Upcoming Webinars March 13 — Remain Calm: Diffusing Angry People, Susan Fee, MEd March 20 — Bridging the Gap between Camp and Home, Dan Davis and Shawn Marler Keep track of your progress! Check your educational transcript online! Because of Camp . . . ® continued from page 23
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