Types of Camps

There are all sorts of summer camps throughout the USA serving many different types of campers. No two camps are exactly alike, but many camps fall into the following categories:

Traditional/Private

Usually owned and operated by individuals or families, these are among the most common types of camps. Most are located in areas surrounded by nature, and offer many outdoor recreational activities.

Family/Adult

These camps sometimes host whole families. Parents and children participate in activities together or separately, and counselors must be prepared to work with campers of all ages. Some adult camps are specifically for senior citizens.

Religious

Religious organizations operate many camps in the USA; Christian camps and Jewish camps are most common. Religious camps emphasize the value of their respective faiths through traditional camp activities. The level of religious involvement for staff varies from camp to camp.

Day

At day camps, the campers come every day for a week or longer but go home at the end of each day. They don’t sleep at the camp. Day camps are located in a variety of settings, such as cities, college campuses and traditional camp sites. Staff members might live at the camp or with a host family.

Underprivileged

These camps provide a positive experience for underprivileged children, usually from urban areas. Usually operated by non-profit organizations, these camps seek staff members who have a background in social work and/or experience working with youth groups. This can also be a very challenging but rewarding experience.

Special Needs

Special needs camps host children and/or adults with a variety of physical, mental, behavioral and/or learning disabilities. Counselors lead many traditional and modified camp activities, and might assist individual campers with personal care, such as bathing or lifting. This can be a challenging but incredibly rewarding experience.

All Boys/Girls

At these camps, kids participate in activities in a single-sex environment. Sometimes camps have a brother or sister camp nearby. Most scout camps fall under this category.
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