Summer camp has a special place in my heart. I spent seven summers at a month long all girls camp in northern Alabama and those summers are some of my fondest childhood memories. I cried when I had to leave my tiny cabin and go back to the real world, and met some of the coolest people from all over the country. I think that sending your child to camp is one of the best things you can do to them.

I know it seems odd to choose to spend your money on camp. The summer prospects of sports, internships, or even summer school, seem like more direct ways to better your child's future. Camp is right up there with all of these other prospects as a way to make your child into a better and more productive person.

Sending your kids to camp is an investment in their future. Whether it's a week long or a month long, any time away from their regular life at home can help them become more independent. It seems scary to let your precious angel spend time away from you, but this time will allow them to grow in independence and learn to cope with life away from their parents.

According to the American Camp Association, at camp children learn to problem-solve, make social adjustments to new and different people, learn responsibility, and gain new skills to increase their self-esteem. Even psychologists say that the community created around a camp environment is beneficial to your kids. Camp can even help ready your kid for college by decreasing their dependence upon their parents and allowing them to enter an environment where they get to make their own decisions.

Aside from the opinions of a former camper and a current camp worker, there are even spectacular opinions from other parents on why camp is good for your child. "As a parent, there are things that you cannot do for your children, as much as you might wish you could. You cannot make them happy (if you try too hard they become whiners); you cannot give them self-esteem and confidence (those come from their own accomplishments); you cannot pick friends for them and micro-manage their social lives, and finally, you cannot give them independence. The only way children can grow into independence is to have their parents open the door and let them walk out. That’s what makes camp such a life-changing experience for children."

So what are you still doing here? Pack the bug spray and load up the trunk of your car, camp could be the best thing you do for your child's confidence, independence, and happiness.