A nonprofit, student-run business that started in 1985 at the University of Oregon, Camp Adventure selects qualified applicants to set up and run day camps on U.S. military bases worldwide. A participant's living and travel expenses are paid by the program. Gooding is a past participant of Camp Adventure in Italy. Seventy-six military bases participate in the program in 10 countries and one U.S. territory.
Most participants live on base, but some stay in hotels or live with a family.
Michael Dodge, a senior in elementary education, has been a Camp Adventure director for two summers. We were by no means roughing it. The next summer I was in Wichita Falls, Texas and lived in a nice hotel complete with maid service. Once applicants are accepted, they are required to attend a training course. The World Headquarters for the Camp Adventure program is at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, so ISU students must either attend sessions at UNI once a week for a semester, or attend a two-week intensive training session in the summer.