BRINGING TOGETHER A WORLD OF OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE

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International Camping Congress

Save the Date! October 4-8, 2023

Tarragona, Spain

Now is the time to take advantage of the super early bird registration rate. Early Bird Rate Deadline has been moved to December 15, 2022!

Subscribe to the Congress newsletter for regular updates on the first International Camping Congress since 2017! 

https://www.icc2023spain.org/

ICF Board Meets in Tarragona, Spain

The first post-pandemic meeting of the ICF Board took place in beautiful Tarragona, Spain exactly one year prior to the XII International Camping Congress. Tarragona is a beautiful seaside town steeped in the history of Spain right back to Roman times when it was the regional capital of Rome in the Iberian Peninsula.

As part of the meeting, the Board members also visited the PortAventura Convention Center and Hotel, where the Congress will take place. Following a site tour and business meeting of the Convention Center and Hotel, the Board took some play time at the PortAventura World theme park (Daily theme park passes are included as part of the special Congress rates at PortAventura Hotel!)

Click below to view some photos from the ICF Board visit to Tarragona!

ICF President's Remarks

Dear Colleagues around the world,

I hope this message finds you safe and in good health.

I can imagine that most of our northern colleagues have just closed or are trying to close the camps and to complete the post-camp official paper work etc. We all deserved a good rest. Then we will be ready to continue our jobs with more passion and enthusiasm.

 Continue reading the ICF President’s Remarks here

International Camp Directors Course: 30 September – 4 October 2023 in Tarragona, Spain

The International Camp Directors Course (ICDC) has been developed as a professional development course for camp managers, directors and operators and other experienced camp staff professionals in administrative roles.

All courses are approved and administered by the International Camping Fellowship (ICF) using both local and international ICDC certified trainers.

A train-the-trainer course (for previous ICDC participants who wish to become ICDC Trainers) will be offered as well  from September 29 to October 4. More info here!

2021 ICF Awards Recipients

2022 Nominations Open

The ICF Awards Program provides an opportunity to recognize contributions to the international camping movement. Individuals or associations are encouraged to recognize the work of their peers through several award nominations.

View the 2021 ICF Award Recipients here

Do you know of a camp professional that deserves to be recognized? Nominate them for the 2022 ICF Awards here.

ICF Academy S3 is a GO!

Join ICF members and other camp professionals for the 3rd season of ICF Academy:

Follow the ICF Academy page for regular updates on the dates and topics of Season 3 episodes!

ICF Academy S3E1

Let’s Talk: Celebrate and Commiserate about Summer

Let’s talk about last summer. Join us tomorrow in a discussion facilitated by Ruby Compton to explore the successes and challenges of summer 2022. We will share in breakout rooms about campers, staff, program, marketing and more, then join back together to hear reports from the room hosts. Thanks to camp we can celebrate and learn.

Ruby Compton has worked over ten years in the outdoor industry in summer camp and environmental education. She has special interests in work cultures, staff training and development, productivity, and systems and processes. 

Request the link to the zoom here, or

Register here!

Become a Congress Volunteer!

Between now and October 2023, the ICC Planning Committee is looking for volunteers to work from home and assist with various stages of preparation - from Program Development and Marketing to Registration Support and Congress App Development.

Help the Congress “Come Together to Rise Higher”. Become a Congress Volunteer (for work from home volunteering, select “other”).

Reminder: Renew your membership!

ICF needs you to become and remain part of the global camp community. Together we can give camp a voice, work together and make a difference in the lives of children - #ThanksToCamp

Important: The ICF Board has determined that membership fees will increase following ICC 2023 in Spain, so take advantage of these lower fees and register/renew, now!

Membership can be made on ICF Connect, using a credit card/PayPal or by contacting ICF Membership Services.

Thank you for continuing to make a difference by bringing together the world of outdoor experience.

If you have any membership questions, contact Pablo Casas at membership@icfconnect.net .

ICF Business Affiliates - Juvigo



ICF proudly presents its newest Business Affiliate, Juvigo.

Juvigo is an online platform specialized in summer camps for children and young people. It is a booking platform for summer camps, language trips and youth travel, that specialises mainly in Europe.

Please support our business affiliates, as they support us

https://juvigo.es/

More information about the business affiliate program here.

Annual Genera Meeting of the Australian Camps Association

Event Date: 30-11-2022 - 30-11-2022

Event Location: In-person VIC (T.B.C) | Online via Zoom

https://auscamps.asn.au/events/calendar

Annual Directors' Retreat of the Mexican Camp Association

The 2022 Retreat took place in the jungle of Jalcomulco in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, and it lasted 3 days at the end of September.

Amongst the topics discussed were new strategies looking forward year 2023 and its new challenges, the emotional issues in our kids today, and the situation about anxiety cases at camps this past season, strategies on how to work with mental health issues of campers.

More information and photos here

ACA National Conference in Orlando

21-24 February, 2023

Registration is now open for the 2023 National American Camp Association Conference, which is scheduled for February 21–24 in Orlando, Florida.

Visit the ICF International Room during the conference for Congress information, networking and camping support.

More information here

Second European Meeting of Camp Professionals

October 17 – 25, 2022

The purpose of the Meeting is to continue the dialogue between the various European professional communities of organizers of children's recreation.

The objectives of the Meeting are to discuss the plan of joint affairs and projects, exchange work experience and build partnerships between the organizers of children's recreation between European (and Turkish) camps.

Venue: Turkey, Belek, Pine Beach Hotel (venue of the X International Camping Congress, 2014).

Included are visits to various camps in the area.

New council formed to revamp Singapore's outdoor adventure education sector

A National Outdoor Adventure Education Council was formed in Singapore. The Council overarching goal is to help ensure a high level of safety and quality in outdoor adventure activities across the country.

Tony Tan was appointed as part of the council and Mike Lim (ICF) Ambassador in Singapore shared the news.

Read more here!

OCA [Re]Connects 2023: March 30-31

Annual Conference is returning IN PERSON in 2023! Save the date for OCA [Re]Connects 2023: March 30-31 at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, ON. With workshops covering 6+ education streams, our OCA Preferred Vendors Exhibit Hall and networking opportunities, you won't want to miss this two-day conference! Stay tuned here on social for more information!

25th Annual Conference of the Japanese Society for Outdoor Education – October 1-2, 2022

This October, the Outdoor Education Research Conference will be held in person for the first time in three years. Researchers of outdoor education from all over Japan will gather to present their findings.

More here

19th Conference of the European Institute for Outdoor Adventure Education and Experiential Learning

The 19th Conference of the European Institute for Outdoor Adventure Education and Experiential Learning will take place on 19-23 October 2022 in Marburg, Germany.

More info here

Deaf adventure camp in Japan

During a nine day camp this past summer, children with hearing impairments experienced nature, developed their life skills, and learned how to live together with their friends. It was especially wonderful that deaf children and children who are not hearing impaired could communicate and learn about each other in experiences that were natural, self-motivated, and effective.

View the info by Masako Harigaya here!

Fun Team-Building Game: Walk & Stop - Active Energizer That Inspires Good Listening & Reflex Skills

By ICF member Mark Collard

5-Minute Fridays

5-Minute Fridays is a new online Camp Director training from Go Camp Pro, providing a 5-minute burst of wonderful Camp-Pros-know-how.

12 different camp professionals.

ICF is proud to acknowledge that John (Jorgi) Jorgenson is one of the talented presenters.

Learn more here