As the summer time is upon us many children are finishing up with the hardships of school, and looking forward to kicking back, relaxing, and celebrating their achievements of the endless year. For me it’s more “’tis the season for the smell of sunblock, chlorine, and bug spray”. I will be spending my summer making my annual mecca back to my second home for the fifteenth year! My journey for camp started at the ripe young age of five and I will be turning twenty at the tail end of this summer. So camp has been there for me my entire life: nurturing me, challenging me, and shaping me into the woman I am growing into.
Over the past couple of years, day camps have been getting more and more recognition. Rightfully so. Being a former camper (inner kid at heart) and a teacher in training, I love to really take the time to suggest and rally for summer camp. There are very few things in life that have only positive consequences and summer camp is at the top of the list. As a soon-to-be teacher, I need so many hours under my belt in a classroom to observe and analyze the many aspects of teaching. I get to witness the structure and stress students have to deal with on a daily basis. I see the emphasis placed on numbers and percentages rather than the growth of a child. And to tell you the truth, there are some days I get so disheartened to see how shaping an individual to become a decent human is swept under the rug to squeeze in another lesson that in the grand scheme of things is useless.
Summer camp picks up the slack of classrooms that are becoming stricter by the second. The most important lesson from camp that I have seen myself is the true transformation of a child’s confidence. Take a child who is quiet in school, doesn't really interact with other children, and put them in an environment that puts them at ease while still challenging them daily and from week to week you can see the difference. This comes with making new friends. Introverts come out of their shells, and become the most talkative child you have ever heard. Camp works on all of the social skills. Children today grow up with technology more integrated in their lives than ever before. Although we are a generation obsessed with technology, it is good to take a step back and unplug. With the emphasis placed on skills like communication, teamwork, friendship, cooperation and acceptance, the role of technology fades slowly to the back and becomes less important.
Camp also promotes healthy competition between peers that sparks bonds that will truly last. I love seeing the growth between campers from stranger, to peer, to friend, to forever friend. I feel that camp allows children to fail without fear. Summer camps introduce new experiences to children. Archery, zip lining, cooking, swimming etc. are all unfamiliar activities. Instead of a child feeling self conscious (like some do in a school setting) they barrel in knowing that no one will judge them. Lastly and probably the most obvious: children just get to be children. They get to play to their hearts content. They get to use their imagination to the max. They get the chance to expand their dreams while staying fit and healthy. With every parent that expresses interest in a summer camp I always say that when you find the right camp, you will know it. The motto of the camp that I proudly work at is “Children First”. I honestly think that is what every parent should look for when looking into summer camps. Happy hunting!
