One of the great luxuries of my teaching career was spending summertime with my children. My kids took field trips as part of their everyday life, spending the lazy days of summer in museums as often as swimming pools. But as my children grew I always forfeited some of this special season to sleep away camp.
The benefits of camp go far beyond a simple vacation for mom and dad. While it might be nice to have some time off parenting duty, children’s time at camp is well spent. Here are seven ways camp can help children grow:
1. Exploration
At camp kids get a smorgasbord of activities that would be near impossible to explore at home. Although there are some camps that specialize in certain areas, many offer kids chances to participate in a wide variety. As a kid, I loved riflery but hated archery. I would never have even known had it not been for camp.
2. Leadership
As campers grow older, they can focus on the activities they enjoy most and eventually help teach the younger children. When I first sent my kids to camp, I researched the hiring practices to ensure I was sending them somewhere safe. I was told that the camp had to do very little by way of getting to know their hires: most of the counselors were former campers. Now that my older kids are on staff, I know what they mean. The people who hired them have known them since they were just small, occasionally see my kids outside of camp, and definitely know their strengths and weaknesses.
3. Independence
When my daughter went off to college, I was certain she could operate without me at least for a time. She already had and so had my son. The transition to college will be a big one no matter what, but children who have been to camp have the advantage that they’ve been away from home successfully for extended periods of time. The best camps offer children increasing independence with enough supervision to maintain the children’s safety.
4. Values
The truly great thing about camp is that it encourages independence while supporting the parents’ values. When my kids were in elementary school, I was a single parent. I relied heavily on my family and community to help me. Camp was part of that community, reinforcing the lessons I tried to teach my children at home. And every time I hear someone say that my son or daughter is a “good kid,” I know that it is in part because their camp helped me raise them. Not only that, but camp makes the learning painless, fun even. Finding a camp that reinforces your values may be as easy as choosing one that reflects your religious beliefs, or it could be that you may need to find out more. Often camps offer shorter school year programming (such as a family weekend over spring break) for families so that you can get to know the camp ahead of time.
5. The Great Outdoors
At camp kids have the chance to explore the outdoors. Hiking, biking, swimming or even boating or horseback riding might be on the agenda. This can be a new experience for children who spend much time indoors or reinforce the love they already have for these activities.
6. Community, Bonding, Lifelong friends
Last year as I delivered my daughter to camp, we were all treated to a great surprise as one camp alumni proposed to another. Romantic interests aside, when my daughter visits new places, it is often her camp friends she looks up.
7. Time Unplugged.
Time at camp allows kids relief from keeping up with their virtual world, be it friendly or dramatic. It fosters real life relationships. For some children, especially those who have had difficult online relationships, camp can be a welcome respite.
Related:
What do you Want From a Camp Experience for Your Child?
Washington Parent’s Camp Fairs 2023
10 Last-Minute Tips Before Day Camp
