Learn How to Do Woodworking at Summer Day Camp

It seems today that all you see are kids playing video games and watching TV. It can be discouraging, especially since there is little long-term value in these kinds of activities.

While many parents fret over the idea of their growing children leaving home to go to a sleepaway camp, the truth is that overnight summer camp experiences are not only great for building incredible memories and lasting friendships, but they also encourage kids to develop fundamental skills.

Among these skills is woodworking.

Safety Comes First

The primary concern for counselors is safety.

When woodworking, children learn that there is nothing more important than being safe. This includes eye and ear protection at all times, adult supervision, and always adhering to the safety rules that are in place.

The best part of these activities is that the children learn to work with their hands and their minds, gaining a better understanding of the kind of work that requires one's mind and body, as opposed to just their thumbs.

More Than Just a Digital Creation

In a world full of Warcraft and Minecraft kids are getting very good at building things that are intangible. That's not going to be the case when they go to camp and get into woodworking.

Rather than unlocking a fake world full of things that are not real, they are going to learn to make something that they can actually touch and feel. This can include birdhouses, toy cars, or even a shed.

One summer camp group took part in creating a gazebo that is still in use today and others took part in a project that built sheds donated to families who had suffered from Hurricane Sandy.

The beauty and wonder that comes with working with one's hands can go a long way, and the skills will not only last, but will help them when they graduate into the next phase of their lives.

The Lasting Effects of Woodworking

The truth is that most of the children who attend overnight summer camp will not become life-long laborers. The skills and confidence they develop through their adolescence leads them to be more suited for positions of authority.

However, learning to woodwork assists in this development. Not only does it help with such skills as spacial recognition (understanding the dimensions of objects) and math (measuring in inches and centimeters, and using fractions), but it also encourages them to realize that they can rely on themselves to create things.

It may sound odd, but creating something as simple as a bird feeder. or whittling chess pieces. will give one the confidence he needs to see that he can create complex and simple objects, as well as systems. Lastly, by learning to use tools, kids grow in their basic knowledge, which will help them later on.

While it's true that sleepaway camp is not the only place to learn woodworking, it is nice to know that while your children are away they will be doing constructive work and learning in a fun and useful way. This, combined with incredible memories and lasting friendships, will lead to a better quality of life.