SeriousFun Children’s Network is excited to announce that we’ve been selected as a grantee in the American Camp Association’s Character at Camp Grant Program, a competitive national initiative supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. The program is designed to strengthen character development in camp settings and highlight camps as impactful environments for youth growth.
In 2025, SeriousFun and the American Camp Association completed a groundbreaking joint exploration that resulted in a Character Development Framework. The free guide equips camp teams with practical tools to foster empathy, resilience, and connection for young people through Counselor-in-Training programs.
When experiences are designed with intention, children build confidence, gain independence, and form meaningful connections—outcomes that shape how they see themselves and what they believe is possible.
Through this new grant, SeriousFun will join a national cohort of leading camps working in partnership with the American Camp Association to advance best practices in character development and share what makes camp a powerful setting for youth learning and growth. The grant provides access to specialized training, evaluation tools, expert guidance, and peer collaboration, enabling SeriousFun to further strengthen its programs while contributing to field-wide best practices.
During the one-year grant, SeriousFun’s Director of Research Dr. Ann Gillard will secure academic research partners, advance research project design, develop a knowledge framework, and conduct a camp readiness assessment—all to enhance programs across our Network.
This work ensures that every moment at camp is not only meaningful in the moment, but part of a broader, evidence-informed approach to helping children develop the resilience, connection, and sense of self that changes the way they experience their lives long after a camp session ends.
We look forward to sharing what we learn, and the impact it creates, with you in 2027!
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The American Camp Association® is a national organization with more than 10,000+ individual members and 3,200+ camp members. The American Camp Association is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. The American Camp Association provides advocacy and evidence-based education and professional development, and is the only national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. Camps accredited by the American Camp Association meet up to 260 health and safety standards. Accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s commitment to the health, safety, and overall well-being of both campers and staff.