The American Camp Association is celebrating a historic milestone with the launch of the first-ever bipartisan Congressional Camp Caucus, a new effort designed to spotlight the critical role camps play in youth development, workforce growth, and local economies across the United States.
Led by Representatives Chris Pappas and Chuck Edwards, the caucus marks the first time members of Congress have formally created a group dedicated entirely to the camp community.
The Congressional Camp Caucus aims to strengthen awareness and federal support for camps, which serve more than 26 million children annually through day camps, overnight camps, and year-round programming nationwide.
“We are thrilled to see Representatives Pappas and Edwards step forward to lead this bipartisan effort,” said Henry DeHart, President and CEO of the American Camp Association. “Camp strengthens young people, supports working families, and fuels local economies.”
The caucus will focus on improving child safety standards, supporting workforce development, strengthening rural economies where camps often serve as major employers, and expanding access so more children can benefit from camp experiences.
Rep. Pappas represents New Hampshire’s First Congressional District, home to more than 100 camps and a state with a camp tradition stretching back nearly 150 years. Rep. Edwards represents North Carolina’s 11th District in Western North Carolina, an area known for one of the highest concentrations of ACA-accredited camps in the country.
Together, their leadership brings both geographic and bipartisan balance to the initiative, connecting Northeastern and Southern communities that rely heavily on camps as economic and social anchors.
According to ACA, camps contribute approximately $70 billion annually to the U.S. economy, support nearly one million jobs, and generate more than $13 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue.
Beyond economics, camps are seen as essential spaces where young people build leadership skills, resilience, teamwork, and meaningful peer connections—especially during formative years.
The new caucus is expected to serve as a direct voice for the camp industry in Washington, helping protect the sector through federal policy engagement and ensuring camp communities have stronger representation on Capitol Hill.
Momentum is already growing, with additional House members from both political parties reportedly preparing to join. ACA also hopes a Senate companion caucus will be established in the coming months.
For an industry that touches millions of families every year, the creation of the Congressional Camp Caucus signals a major step forward—giving camps, for the first time, a dedicated seat at the national policy table.