Stamp Camp USA was first introduced in 1995 in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, in the Northern Tioga School District area. The program encouraged campers to combine their artistic and creative talents with organized philately, stamp exhibiting, and open exhibit competition.
The fundamentals were developed by Knoxville, Pennsylvania, postmaste Cheryl Edgcomb with the assistance of two elementary school teachers, Suzanne Harer and Sylvia Wood.
The philatelic experience expanded from Mrs. Wood’s class project — a letter-writing campaign with her third grade class. Four years later that activity culminated in the issue of a Manatee stamp as part of the Endangered Species issue, and an opportunity for these small-town students to participate in the first day of issue ceremony at Sea World in Florida.
How is Stamp Camp USA Growing?
Stamp Camp USA was conducted the first four years in Knoxville, Pennsylvania. As interest increased and the program developed, the first out-of-area Stamp Camp was held at the United States Postal Service building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The results were promising and in August 2001, the first national stamp camp was held in conjunction with the National Association of Postmasters in New Orleans, Louisiana. A short time later, Elmira Stamp Club in Elmira, New York, hosted their first Stamp Camp program. Today, Stamp Camp USA is connecting with vital youth prevention programs, such as Communities That Care, clubs, and latch-key children’s programs that emphasize positive educational activities for kids.
Who is involved with Stamp Camp USA?
Stamp Camp USA operates under a collaborative program structure, that includes the United States Postal Service; The American Philatelic Society, the national nonprofit stamp collecting organization the National Association of Postmasters of the United States; and community volunteers and resources on the local level.
