Camp Guide
As a parent, you worry
The benefi ts of sleepaway camps for kids and teens
about your child’s
future. Will they be
confident enough to
weather life’s ups and downs?
Will they find happiness and
success? How will they navigate
their future challenges?
According to research by
the American Camp Association
(ACA), a traditional
sleepaway camp - where a
child or teen spends 1-4 weeks
away from home - helps them
experience growth and development
beyond a specialized
day “camp” or class.
Rather than spending
a week learning computer
coding or at a hyper-focused
sports camp, a sleepaway
camp develops qualities that
last a lifetime.
Enhanced self-development
It may seem hard to let
your child spend so much time
away, but camp can be a huge
boost to their confidence, independence
and resilience. It
also builds social-emotional
skills to benefit them through
adulthood.
* Confidence comes from
doing. A child who must do
things on their own, without
a parent nearby, learns they
can accomplish much more
than they thought.
* Becoming self-reliant and
developing a feeling of competence
comes from attempting
- and sometimes failing - until
they succeed.
* Learning to persevere
through discomfort helps a
child feel like they can handle
anything, creating resilience.
A camp experience that
builds independence, selfreliance
and confidence is a
huge gift - and parents can
give that gift to their children
by finding a camp that boosts
a child’s sense of self.
For example, Cheley Colorado
Camps, a traditional
sleepaway camp celebrating
its 100th year, is designed
to give children a chance to
slow down, learn about themselves,
connect with nature
and explore new things in a
CORE ACADEMIC &
RECREATIONAL OPTIONS
Martial Arts • Cooking • Drama
Arts & Crafts • Swimming
Computers • Day Trips
and More!
TIMESLEDGER | 28 QNS.COM | FEB. 21-27, 2020
relaxed, supportive environment.
According to Brooke
Cheley-Klebe, camp director
and fourth-generation Cheley
family camp leadership,
“Parents and campers tell
us the camp experience was
life-changing. It is not only
a mechanism for growth, but
an experience that shapes
their life in a positive way for
years to come.”
Expanding horizons
Being away from home
means your child leaves their
comfort zone. Sharing space
with kids they’ve never met,
from different backgrounds,
states or countries is also a
completely new experience.
Exploring challenging activities
expands your child’s
world, which can be fun, exhilarating
and self-affirming.
If your child or teen has
never ridden a horse or gone
rafting, these activities may
stretch their abilities beyond
what they thought they could
achieve. Cheley campers partake
in dozens of outdoor activities,
crafts and more.
Trying a variety of new
things changes a child’s idea
of what they’re capable of
- much more than camps focusing
on one subject - fostering
curiosity, perseverance,
a love of learning and inner
confidence.
Lifelong friendships
Kids at sleepaway camp
bond with other campers in
a deep, lasting way. Sharing
the camp experience creates
a sense of community, fostering
lifelong friendships.
In the ACA research, children
and teens said making
new friends was the best part
of camp. They - and their parents
- said social skills learned
from camp helped them develop
friendships at school, long
after camp ended.
While you may initially
feel reluctant to send your
child to camp, giving your
child this gift can be lifechanging.
To learn more,
visit Cheley.com.
— Courtesy of BPT
ALL CHILDREN
Entering Pre-K to 8th Grade
Are Welcome!
For more information or to schedule a private tour,
visit www.kewforest.org/summer or call 718.268.4667 x108
JULY 6 – AUGUST 14
M onday th rou g h Fri day
9:00am – 4:00pm
Register by the Day,
Week or Full 7 Weeks!
Before & After Care
is Available SAVE
119-17 UNION TURNPIKE • FOREST HILLS, NY
$100
REGISTER BY
APRIL 15
OPEN
HOUSE
APRIL 4
10am-12pm
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