Congressional Recess 2010 — Visit with Your Legislators Aug 9 – Sept 12, 2010

Beginning August 9, members of Congress and their staff will be heading out of Washington, D.C., and back to their home states and districts to visit with constituents, conduct town hall meetings, and attend campaign events.  What a great opportunity for you as camp families to talk with your legislators about the issues of importance to you and your children!

The American Camp Association suggests topics you might consider talking with your elected leaders about:

• Combating nature deficit disorder in children and youth — Advocate for their support of the provisions found in the No Child Left Inside Act (NCLI) as they reauthorize the  Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
  • No Child Left Inside Act details.  Learn how NCLI will impact environmental literacy.
  • ACA's children and nature resources
  • ACA's Research on the benefits the camp experience provides to children and youth
• Recognition that participating in camp experiences is an important part of the year-round education of your children — ACA has a variety of resources to help support you in sharing this message:
  • ACA's children and nature resources
  • The Case for Camp
    • The Great Education Debate: Camp Has A Place In Childhood Development
    • The Case for Camp: Why Kids Need It Now More Than Ever   
    • Keep Camp in Summer
    • Support Child-Centric Education Reform: Are Education Reformers Focusing on the Right Issues?
    • Open Letter to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
  • ACA's Research on the benefits the camp experience provides to children and youth
• Increasing federal funding for children’s issues — Advocate for their support of increased funding for children’s issues:
  • Key messages and facts about federal spending on children's issues

Contacting Your Legislators
Unsure about who your legislators are and how to contact them? Access the links below:

• United States Senate
• United States House of Representatives
• Want to include your state-level legislators? Identify and contact them here.
• How about your local elected leaders? Identify and contact them here.

Share Your Experience

If you visit with any of your legislators or their staff during the recess, we'd love to hear from you!  Share your experience with others by commenting below.