A Gift That Lasts a Lifetime—Give the Gift of Camp

Each holiday season, parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles are faced with the hard decision of what gifts to give children—toys, games, or the latest MP3 player? This holiday season, many of us are giving the gift of camp.

Camp provides children with organized activities, time for free play, a nurturing and safe environment, and essential time in the outdoors—a great experience that offers extraordinary learning opportunities and enduring memories. This year, give children a gift that lasts a lifetime—give them the gift of camp.

Parents and camp professionals have always intuitively known that the camp experience benefits children—but there is now research to back it. Recent American Camp Association research confirmed that camps build skills necessary to prepare campers to assume roles as successful adults. Parents, campers, and camp staff independently reported growth in areas such as self-confidence, independence, making friends, exploring and learning new activities, and spirituality. Indeed, camp provides growth experiences for youth that can benefit them through adulthood.

As this holiday season approaches, we have the opportunity to offer our children a gift that will provide them with time outdoors, a chance to play, an opportunity for experiential learning and growth—plus memories, skills, and experiences they will cherish their entire lives. Let’s pass up the newest electronic toy this year and give the gift of camp.

Wrap Up the Perfect Gift

An American Camp Association Camp Gift Certificate (PDF) means FUN! It means FRIENDS! And it means an experience of limitless possibilities.

An American Camp Association  Camp Gift Certificate (PDF) means that you want the child in your life to Explore, Discover, Learn the joy of camp!

Print out this certificate (PDF), and tuck it in a new backpack, roll it in a new sleeping bag, wrap it around a new flashlight—or put it in a traditional gift box complete with colorful paper and a bow. No matter how it's delivered, imagine the delight when the gift is opened, and the child discovers that camp is in his or her future.

Camp
The perfect time, the perfect reason, the perfect gift!