Camp
Summer vacation offers students a
respite from lessons and the routine
of school. Children might
once have eagerly awaited those fi nal
days of classes so they could lounge
poolside, skip rocks across ponds and
spend the long days of the season playing
with friends. But many of today’s
youngsters spend much of their summer
vacations indoors playing with
their digital devices.
Perhaps that’s why one of the last
vestiges of the classic summer vacation
escape — summer camp — remains
such a viable option for parents
who want their children to get outdoors
once the school year ends.
Although kids needn’t be in camp
all summer long, a week or two can
benefi t campers of all ages. The following
are fi ve reasons why summer camp
might be the right fi t this year.
1. Explore talents. Summer camps
help young people explore their unique
interests and talents. Under an organized,
yet often easygoing, camp schedule,
kids can dabble in sports, arts and
crafts, leadership, community support,
and so many other activities that
may not be fully available to them elsewhere.
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2. Physical activity: Lots of camps
build their itineraries around physical
activities that takes place outdoors.
Campers may spend their time swimming,
running, hiking, playing sports,
climbing, and so much more. This can
be a welcome change for kids accustomed
to living sedentary lifestyles.
Regular physical activity has many
health benefi ts and can set a foundation
for healthy habits as an adult.
3. Gain confi dence. Day and sleepaway
camps offer campers the opportunity
to get comfortable in their own
skin. Camps can foster activities in
self-esteem by removing the academic
measures of success and fi ll in with
noncompetitive opportunities to succeed.
Campers learn independence,
decision-making skills and the ability
to thrive outside of the shadow of their
parents, siblings or other students.
4. Try new things. Camp gives children
the chance to try new things,
whether that’s learning to cook, exploring
new environments or embracing a
new sport or leisure activity. Opening
oneself up to new opportunities can
build character and prove enlightening
for children.
5. Make new friends. Camp is a great
place to meet new people and make lifelong
friends. Campers fl ood in from areas
near and far. This provides kids
with a chance to expand their social
circles beyond their immediate neighborhoods
and schools.
Camps benefi t children in a variety
of ways. Lessons learned in camp can
strengthen values, build confi dence,
develop coping mechanisms when adversity
strikes, and enable campers to
make lifelong friends.
Five reasons why summer
camp is a good choice for kids
summer
Ca MpS