A single mom with three sons, Maureen Wrinn knew she faced tough financial choices after losing her job last fall. But one decision was clear all along, despite its price tag: Her oldest son, Corey, would go back to camp in New Hampshire this summer.
“The decision wasn’t difficult at all, even though we’re struggling,” said Wrinn, of Rockport, Mass. “Camp Glen Brook has offered him a sense of place where he’s developed into his own self, in a way that only a summer camp can do.”
Parents like Wrinn are helping keep America’s vast summer camp industry in a relatively upbeat mood as the recession takes a toll on many other sectors. Many camps were booked up weeks or even months ago, and the American Camp Association says overall enrollment for its 2,400 accredited camps is on track to match the past two summers.
Another plus, say camp directors, is that the weak job market means they have their pick among a glut of qualified applicants seeking jobs as counselors.
“Nobody is immune to tough times, but we are a 150-year-old industry, made up of people who have learned to adapt to a changing marketplace,” said the camp association’s CEO, Peg Smith. “These camps have been through wars, through a depression.”
By no means is the industry oblivious to the recession. For example, the ACA’s Web site offers tips to camp directors on coping with hard times — ranging from reassessing contracts with suppliers to cutting back on year-round staff.
Moreover, camp directors say the outlook for many parents has changed — there are far more inquiries about financial assistance and more interest in shorter camp sessions. Attendance at informational “camp fairs” for parents has been higher than normal, Smith said.
