How to revamp your camp: theme camps are today's answer for changing demands in summer programming.

Have you ever wanted to step out of the real world into a place that caters just to your interests? That's the opportunity that more and more children are having when they step out of school the last day before summer. Once seen as lazy months, the potential for children to remain active during June, July and August are now limited only by imagination. Today's children demand variety.

They have more entertainment options at home, such as video games, television and computers that limit their motivation to leave the home to participate in recreational activities. This requires programs to work harder to grab the attention of youth while many parents are seeking programs that will allow children to experience more than "virtual" recreation. Park and recreation programs have an unique opportunity to appeal to both parents and children. "Theme camps" can offer a non-traditional summer program that is both fun and educational.

The Theme Camp

Theme camps, also known as specialty camps, allow programs to change from week to week and can be used to target specific groups of youth. Though the possibilities for themes are nearly endless, most theme camps can be divided into four easily identifiable categories: academic camps, the arts, popular culture and sports camps.

One characteristic of a theme camp is the acquisition of tangible skills through participation. An academic camp focuses primarily on increasing knowledge in areas of academia, such as language, math, science and history. Science camps are very popular among park and recreation programs because a park's outdoor classroom provides an excellent opportunity for hands-on learning in sciences such as biology, archaeology, geology and environmental studies.

Language camps are also growing in popularity, especially sign language camps. American Sign Language is now offered at many schools as a language elective, increasing students' interest in learning American Sign Language.

Academic camps that focus on a part of history are often very successful. History as a subject allows participants to examine many aspects of a particular time or culture, such as dress, art, music, food, events and language. The Toledo Area Metroparks in Ohio offer a very unique themed camp every June. The wigwam theme camp favors mostly group participation, specifically family groups.

According to Kate Herring, a historical interpreter for the Toledo Area Metroparks, "Families can rent a fully furnished conical wigwam, sample Native American foods, take part in traditional crafts, and learn about the people that inhabited the region more than 200 years ago." Allowing participants to "time travel" not only exposes them to historical knowledge, but creates a dynamic environment in which culture and group learning can overlap.

Academic camps can be difficult to market as many children see summer as a break from the classroom. It is crucial that academic camps offer experiences not available in a traditional classroom, and serve as an academic enrichment. Many parents appreciate academic offerings as an option for children who struggle in certain subject areas or as a way to create year-long learning. Exciting, innovative academic camps can reel in the kids and please parents as well.

The characteristics of an art camp are very similar to those of an academic camp. However, instead of the primary focus being knowledge-based, participants learn hands-on skills, such as fine arts, dramatic arts, dance and music. Dance camp can easily be taught by a local dance instructor. A local instructor may help to increase enrollment, as instructors will encourage their current students to sign up for the dance camp. Dance camp can offer training in styles such as jazz, ballet, tap and more contemporary forms, such as hip-hop.

The Randolph Township Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and the Brundage Park Playhouse in Randolph, N.J., offer a dramatic arts camp each summer called SummerStages.

This theme camp is available for children 8 to 14 years old who are interested in theater. Different options of participation include acting, production, costume crew and set design. A different play is produced each week, so a participant has the potential to be part of eight productions during the summer. Not only do the scripts change, but a child's role may change one week from playing the lead to stage design the next.

With such a variety of possibilities, the benefits of participation in this type of theme camp are plentiful. "Participants have the opportunity to learn specific skills in a professional setting," says Vivian Lenyk, manager of the Brundage Park Playhouse. She adds, "The children are required to work together and pull together a production in such a short amount of time. Everyone is aiming for the same goal and each individual is important in this process."

In recent years, theme camps based on popular culture and societal trends have flourished, based on the fads and trends we can find in everyday life. Television shows, movies, books and video games offer ideas for such camps.

Camp Onyahsa, located in Dewittville, N.Y., has successfully run summer-long popular culture themes. A recent camp was based on classic and current fantasy books, including The Odyssey, The Wizard of Oz, and the Harry Potter series. Each week would focus on three different books by incorporating storylines into daily program activities.

In an arts and crafts activity, campers would paint treasure maps with recollection to Pirates of the Caribbean. In the sports activity area, campers would participate in a modified version of "quidditch," a fictional sport from the Harry Potter book series. Choosing a variety of books allow children of all ages and backgrounds to become involved.

Programmers have nearly unlimited resources for creating popular culture camps. Two recent popular television shows that have been used to create a popular culture camps are Survivor and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Survivor camp programmers put together camps full of physical and mental challenges, arts and crafts and plenty of teambuilding activities. CSI camps are typically partnered with local law enforcement agencies as participants get a chance to learn about how police use science to catch the bad guys.

Popular culture camps are quite conducive to creativity. Camp staff and participants can create fantasy worlds in which campers can escape for a week. The use of imagination and creativity is a big step towards gaining positive identity and self-confidence.

Sports are a natural fit for theme camps with many children seeking to improve athletic skills in the off-season. In the past, summer instructional sports programs were often limited to private clubs, but community centers and park and recreation departments offering sports programs have opened up this type of programming to a more diverse population.

But don't just think baseball and basketball--there are a variety of sport camps offered for team and individual sports, with an increasing trend of adventure and extreme sports camps. These adventure and extreme sports include mountain biking, sailing, skateboarding and rock climbing. Mountain biking camps are typically quite easy to run because participants generally provide the equipment and most park districts or communities have bike trails available for use. Skateboarding camps have gained in popularity as well.

Aquatic-based theme camps have also flourished through the years. Carrie Curry, the aquatics director at Camp Onyahsa for the last nine summers comments, "Children, for the most part, love water. As long as properly supervised, water provides a safe place for children to play. Theme camps such as canoeing, waterskiing, sailing, windsurfing and swimming provide opportunities for exercise, leadership, teambuilding and confidence-building."

Sports camps can also offer a non-threatening environment for a child to try out a new sport. This can be a great way to "pilot" a new sport such as lacrosse in the community. Sparking an interest here may feed into city park leagues throughout the year.

While the demand for theme camps is growing, many park and recreation departments offer only one type of theme camp. Most theme camps seemed to be offered in the private sector. As a demand for variation in programming grows, it is imperative that park and recreation departments look to diversify their programming and start offering more theme camps.

The most common concerns of running these types of programs include finding coaches or teachers, providing program space and availability of time. Running a theme camp takes very little effort and is more attainable than one may think.

Park and recreation departments are always looking for community participation and involvement, which theme camps can provide. Most theme camp coaches or teachers are community members who love to share their knowledge and skill of the topic or sport. Local "specialists" can increase community members buy-in to programming and therefore, generating support of their local park and recreation department.

Theme camps are rarely site-specific. A park with a few pavilions and little green space can easily be transformed into a "mad scientist laboratory." The community can again be a great resource when looking for space, and park and recreation departments should look for local partners who may be able to offer site-specific needs, like a stage or skate ramps.

Generally, theme camps run during summer vacation. However, don't miss the opportunity to run them anytime of the year. Schedule week- or day-long theme camps according to your local school districts' calendars. These "off-season" programs can be a great way to spark interest in upcoming summer programs.

Theme camps can be fun and educational, and the highlight of any child's summer. Creating innovative programs that your community can support will keep kids coming back.

Make Your Theme Camp a Success

These tips can help you make the most of your theme camp experience:

* Be creative. Try to create an experience unlike any other. Intense brainstorming sessions are always beneficial.

* Gain community support early on. Encourage community participation in assisting with camps.

* Local professionals make for excellent coaches and teachers, and may increase recruitment of campers.

* Staff enthusiasm is crucial. If the staff does not show enthusiasm in teaching, campers will not show enthusiasm in learning.

* A few dollars at a thrift store or party supply store can go a long way to set the mood.

* Campers in one theme camp are great prospects for other theme camps.

* Be sure to have the local school district calendar so you may plan your camps around days off and vacations.