The Benefits of the Summer Camp Experience
Summer camp can change lives!
Camp presents an opportunity for children to learn new skills, meet new friends, and develop independence and self-confidence. Most of all, camp is just a whole lot of fun!
There are plenty of resources available for those parents sending their child to camp for the first time and for the veteran camp parent as well.
One such resource is Camp, The Best Time of A Child’s Life!, an eBook written by CCA Executive Member Catherine Ross and produced by Our Kids.
The eBook features sections on:
The benefits of camp.
How to choose a camp.
How to register.
How to prepare your camper before camp.
What to expect once your child goes to camp.
Download a free copy of a complete handbook for camp parents, Preparing For Camp on the Our Kids website.
Happy camping!
The Benefits of Camp
In October 2011, Dr. Troy Glover and his research team at the University of Waterloo released a five-year study, The Canadian Summer Camp Research Project (CSCRP). It explored the outcomes of summer camp participation and concluded that “participation in provincially accredited camps promotes positive change in five key areas of development: social integration and citizenship, environmental awareness, attitudes towards physical activity, emotional intelligence and self-confidence and personal development.”
Click the headings below more to learn about the specific benefits of the summer camp experience.
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Camp friends become friends for life. Young people befriend others who sometimes are individuals perceived as different from themselves. They learn to resolve conflicts in a positive manner. Campers have a sense of belonging and develop a sense of pride in their camp.
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Current research shows that time spent in a natural environment is as essential to a child‟s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development as eating and sleeping. Campers learn to respect and appreciate the world around them. They learn how to protect the environment and develop environmentally friendly attitudes.
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Simple routines in a camp environment allow children to both anticipate and enjoy the camp day. When life is stripped of cell phones, television and computer-based social networking, children can discover core values upon which successful lives are based.
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After participating in a full day of activity often out of doors and enjoying regular, nutritious meals, campers are ready for a good night‟s sleep whether in their camp cabin or tent or at home after a busy camp day. The CSCRP reported that “61% of campers showed improved attitudes towards physical activity by the end of their camp session.”
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Emulating the example of camp leaders, children become co-operative, caring and considerate members of the camp community. As they enjoy novel experiences, acquire new skills and cope independently away from home, they become more capable and confident. Returning campers develop leadership skills. Sixty-nine percent of the participants in the CSCRP experienced positive development in the area of emotional intelligence i.e. the ability to recognize and deal with one‟s own emotions and the emotions of others at an age appropriate level.
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Camp provides a time of relief and rest from the pressures, demands, schedules and stress, which too often are a reality of young people‟s daily lives. Laughter and fun are as important to health and wellness as medicine or treatment.
Impact Stories
Camp is a unique experience. At camp, children and young people from local neighbourhoods and around the world come together to live, learn, work and play under the guidance and example of counsellors and directors. This occurs most often in a natural setting and almost always away from home and parents. This diverse group evolves into a cooperative community as individuals grow together. Growth is evident as each camper becomes more helpful, patient, respectful, caring, tolerant, capable, confident, independent and skilled.
Campers describe their experience:
“Camp has been the best experience. I’ve learned life is about creating yourself.”
“Before camp, I was an average kid who never did anything. I never tried any new adventures. Camp helped me experience things that every kid should do in their lifetime.”
“The relationships I made at camp will forever stay with me.”
“Camp is the best and they have good food for us, and good dances, and I am having fun and I am proud of myself.”
Change realized at camp is particularly inspiring in campers with special needs:
“I like [camp] because I help the workers - it makes me feel important. I love to swim in the pool...can go to camp without Mom and Dad. I feel safe at camp...would be very sad if I could not go to camp every year.”
“Summer camp has always been awesome...over the years [15], I have met a lot of good people and made a lot of friends”
“My daughters went to camp in July and came home with such a positive outlook on life. They enjoyed it tremendously and learned how to overcome fears and try new tasks.”
Parents describe the impact of camp on their children:
“Camp was the best experience of our son’s life...it gave him more confidence. He felt like he was part of this big family.”
“Since my son went to camp, he has a lot more confidence in himself and he is more helpful. He has stepped up as a role model to his younger siblings, and also his cousins.”
Camp staff discover that camp is a formative experience:
“When I look back at pictures from my first two years of the Leadership Program, I am so proud of what we accomplished.”
“My summer as a counselor... I really learned who I was and what I wanted to do with my life... Camp taught me that challenging yourself is important and that it’s okay sometimes if you fail and need to try again. I learned how to work with my peers, voice my opinion, and how to work independently or take direction from others.”
“Whenever I have a rough day, I remember the lessons I learned at Camp Ahead. There are no words to express the impact camp had on my life.”