NC Camps Impact the Economy

There’s big news coming out about western North Carolina summer camps. Back in March, the North Carolina Youth Camp Association and the American Camp Association, commissioned researchers at North Carolina State University to study the economic impact of summer camps in this region. Using online surveys, Dr. Michelle Gacio Harrolle and Dr. Samantha Rozier-Rich led the effort to measure all of ways camps contribute to the local economy. Certainly the camps themselves purchase local goods and services and hire regional employees, but camps also bring to the area staff members and families who likewise stay in hotels, eat at restaurants and visit local attractions.

How much does all this add up to? There are approximately 50 summer camps in Buncombe, Jackson, Henderson and Transylvania counties, so how much do they collectively add to the local economy? Or put differently, if the summer camps were hurt, how much could the economy be hurt?

Back in 1998 a similar study (same counties in North Carolina) showed summer camps generating, each year, almost 100 million dollars for local communities.

Today, the results of the economic impact study show a dramatic increase. The total economic impact of summer camps on these four NC counties is 365 million dollars. This is the total of direct, indirect and induced spending by the camps, their camper families and employees over one year, and reflects just how vital the summer camps are for the people in western North Carolina.

The full results of the study will soon be reported on the North Carolina Youth Camp Association’s Web site, but here are a couple of points from the executive summary.

• 53,238 families were surveyed for the study
• $33 million in annual tax revenues are created by camps
• 49,665 families visited the region specifically for camp
• $2,096 is the average expenditure per non-resident family while in the area

The effect of summer camps on local economies is far greater and more significant than most people would likely guess. With this study, we can finally quantify the crucial role camps play in western North Carolina.

Camp Nurse Job

Speaking of nurses and nursing, in particular camp nurses, we wanted to announce that Rockbrook will be hiring a couple of nurses for this summer’s camp season. We hire nurses for each of our sessions, for 2-, 3-, or 4-week terms, and often work out an exchange where a mother serves as a camp nurse while her daughter attends camp as a camper. It’s a great deal for everyone!

Being a camp nurse is a wonderful way to experience camp life, to spend time outdoors, to work with children, and to compliment so many of your nursing skills. It’s a chance to join the camp community, make lots of friends, and enjoy a special place for a few weeks of your summer. Just like the campers, odds are you’ll love camp and you’ll want to come back summer after summer.

If you, or someone you know, might be interested in one of our camp nurse jobs, please let us know. We’d love to tell you more about it.

A job like no other — Summer Camp!

Having a summer camp job really is one of those amazing jobs where you have so much fun, stay so busy, and meet so many awesome people, the time just flies by. Of course you have to love working with kids, feel comfortable being outside most of the time, and be up for some serious dressing up, but where else can you get this excited about a summer job? Where else can you dress up like this because it’s “super hero day?” This is not retail or restaurant work; it’s an awesome summer job.

Camp Jobs

This is the time of year when we start announcing our summer camp jobs. Each summer part of our camp staff return to be counselors, trip leaders, and activity instructors, but we also accept applications from new people who would like to work at camp. With 200 girls at camp each session, we need lots of people to help with the program. In fact, we’ll have almost 100 employees during the summer helping! So if you, or someone you know, would like to learn more about our camp jobs, get in touch with us (or fill out this form) and we’ll send you an information packet.