About the Camp-aign
More and more people are asking: “What has happened to America’s youth? When did such violence in schools and disrespect for teachers begin? Why is sexually explicit imagery used by the media to influence even the youngest of our children? What can be done about it?”
In treating an illness, medical professionals routinely begin by observing a patient’s symptoms. The signs exhibited by a disease may lead to a cure for the sickness. In the same way, the deep-seated problems among today’s youngsters are being betrayed by an array of alarming symptoms. School shootings, gang-related violence, extremist behavior, sexual crimes, and disrespect for others are all indications of a more fundamental problem.
When the sponsors of National Kids' Day polled 1,500 children for its last annual survey, they asked, “What do you think is the very best thing in the world?” The answers from the 10-&-Under group were: 1) Being a Celebrity, 2) Good Looks, 3) Being Rich. For the second year running God came in at number 10.
In response, one reader commented, “What a sorry job we adults (in general) seem to be doing in living lives worthy of example. The ancient virtues (courage, compassion, duty, faith in God, honesty, fairness, etc.) don't seem to count anymore.”
Another person exclaimed, “Even as an atheist I can't believe that children could choose a podgy neurotic ex-boyband member over the tenets of brotherly love! Truly disturbing.”
It is because of such concerns that The Camp-aign for American Kids was created. Founded by Jon Sherry of Richmond, Virginia, a Harvard trained non-profit executive and life-long ecumenist, The Camp-aign for American Kids is a non-profit organization dedicated to 1) raising awareness about the critical work of Faith & Values outdoor education Programs (FVPs) throughout the United States and 2) helping to provide camp-ership aid for young people who, because of financial hardship, are unable to participate in the FVP experience. 
Working in conjunction with an alliance of FVPs throughout the country, The Camp-aign for American Kids goes right to the heart of the problem by focusing on the process of preparing youngsters for life according to long-standing, generally accepted values, such as kindness, tolerance, moderation, faith, self-control, honesty, integrity, generosity, courage, and teamwork, to name a few. Thus, by definition, The Camp-aign excludes extremism of any kind.
After over thirty years of work in the ecumenical non-profit arena, including youth work, international disaster relief, and self-help development, Sherry came to the harsh realization that, “all too often, the business of relieving symptoms alone only produces other symptoms, allowing the root cause to continue growing stronger and more malignant.”
Alexander Pope once wrote, “Just as the twig is bent, the tree’s inclined.” It appears that the crisis of American youth has now grown beyond the reach of many of our best helping institutions: social services, public schools, religious congregations, and even parents. In fact, in many cases, these institutions themselves have become casualties of the times.
What can be done about it? We can begin bending twigs in earnest, by the tens-of-thousands, through The Camp-aign for American Kids! Now, rather than merely talking about the way things should, could and would be, we can move beyond the woulds. Please support The Camp-aign for American Kids by donating, spreading the news and becoming involved.
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