Some of these questions come from the American Camping Association's Guide to ACA-Accredited Camps. Many of the answers are based on the American Camping Association's standards program. The camp's director should possess a bachelor's degree, have completed in-service training within the past three years and have at least 16 weeks of camp administrative experience before assuming the responsibilities of director. Many camps promote competition and healthy rivalry among camp teams, as reflected in team sports. For many this is pure fun.
Some parents feel learning to be competitive at an early age teaches essential survival skills.
However, other parents and educators are in favor of cooperative learning. Noncompetitive methods have been shown to encourage young people to learn more, retain it longer, and develop greater self-esteem and appreciation for others. Knowing your child's personality and learning style is valuable in selecting the right approach. The ratio should be based on the ages of the children and must take into account the special needs of the campers. For severely mentally disabled campers, a ratio of one staff to one camper is required.