Each summer many ICCP participants discover that the living conditions at
their camps are considerably different from what they expected. ICCP participants are placed in camps which greatly differ in programs and facilities. Some camps offer programs in which
campers and counselors all live in primitive “wilderness” conditions. ICCP participants working in such camps should not expect to find modern toilets, showers, or buildings. If, for
example, you come from a country where you are accustomed to several showers daily, you will need to cheerfully adjust to a different standard at a primitive camp. Other adjustments might
include living in a tent for the summer; dealing with new plants, animals, and insects; or learning how to properly care for a pit toilet. At the same time as you learn to accept a
different standard of living at camp, it will be your responsibility to make sure your campers are excited about the experience.
The camps which feature primitive conditions are following a long tradition in
the United States. Organized camping began in the United States at about the same time that pioneer settlements appeared in the last frontier areas of the country. Many historians in
this country believe the most dominant United States cultural values were formed by the experience of settlers going into remote areas to establish new communities in spite of great
challenges. Many camps try to recreate for their campers the experience of going into the wilderness to build a sense of community away from the influences of “modern life.” Each year
some ICCP participants ask, “Why would anyone want to go back to primitive conditions?” The answer: It is our way of recreating the historical experience that formed our nation.
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