Summer sleepaway camp is mostly known for being
just plain fun with friends in the great outdoors. However, along with all the
swimming, canoeing, crafts and campfires, a lot of valuable life lessons are
learned at camp, and kids will use these skills long after the end-of-camp song
has been song.
Persistence
Campers at overnight summer camp learn that even
the seemingly impossible can be achieved with persistence. Whether they’ve set
a goal of swimming across the lake, making it across the suspended bridge on
the high ropes course or designing and building the perfect mini Ping Pong
table, kids get the right combination of help and support at camp to meet their
goal - or at least come close!
Safe Risks
Kids get the chance to take risks in a safe,
supportive environment. Maybe a youngster has always wanted to try acting,
singing a solo or learning to wield a hammer and saw. Sure, there’s always a
chance of failure, but it’s important throughout life to learn from your
mistakes and keep trying.
Personal Achievement
The joy of personal achievement is a big gift of
overnight summer camp. Away from parents, kids face challenges and beat them
all on their own, savoring the joy of independence and personal victories.
Maybe a child is a little afraid of the water and doesn’t really like swimming
class or canoe trips, but they do it anyway, on their own or with help from
friends and counselors. For kids who struggle with a tough mountain hike, dare
to try out for the camp musical or overcome a bad bout of homesickness, that
independent victory is sweet.
Living Cooperatively
Summer camp kids get used to living in a different
community. For a lot of kids, camp is the first time they’ve had to share
sleeping quarters, take care of their own things or even do their own laundry.
So, they loads of get valuable life lessons in organization, respect for
other’s property and maybe even laundry!
The Value of Teamwork
Kids at sleepaway camp learn to interact as a team
rather than just individually. Everyone works together for the common good,
whether pitching a tent at a camp-out, participating in a relay race or working
to put on a campfire skit. With the increased emphasis on teamwork in the
workplace, kids in summer camp are getting an early start on a skill that will
serve them well throughout their lives.
Love of Nature
For many kids, summer camp is the start of a
lifelong love of nature. Particularly for campers who hail from the city, the
world of the woods and the lake are like a foreign land, full of fascinating sights
and intriguing nighttime noises. This connection to the natural world can lead
to a lifelong respect for nature and interest in environmental protection.
Leadership
At school, the same kids may seem to be class
leaders year after year, but at camp every kids gets to try on the leadership
hat and many who never knew they had the chops find they do a great job at
directing the camp skit, navigating a hike in the woods or organizing the
completion of a special project. Camp gives everyone a chance to try on new
roles, and some kids are delightfully surprised at what they can do when given
a chance.
Value of Perseverance
Many parents give kids a little slack on getting a
job done, settling for less than a best effort. At camp, however, counselors
will encourage youngsters to try harder, make that final attempt that leads to
success and find the inner exhilaration of completing a difficult task.
If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting. Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime. http://www.campwalt.com.
