Five benefits of summer camp
Many parents turn to summer camps as a child care solution for those long two months when kids are out of school, but a well-designed camp should offer much more than just a place for children to be while their parents are at work. Spending time at either day or overnight camps can help kids build skills and character in different ways than they would during the school year.
No matter what areas of interest the camp explores, there are some fairly universal ways that camp can benefit growing minds:
1 Building friendships and social skills
Connecting kids with new friends and helping them build meaningful relationships is the key goal of YMCA outdoor camps. Not only are the new friendships fun, but based on the YMCA’s own research, even if those friendships end after camp, the process will pay off in the long run.
“Children who form positive peer relationships become happier adults,” says Rob Brown, general manager of the YMCA’s Camp Chief Hector. “We know empirically that they will be happier citizens who are more likely to engage in making their community a better place.”
2 Developing independence and leadership skills
Being away from their parents — either overnight or just during the day — and having to interact with unfamiliar kids and camp leaders, helps kids develop a sense of independence. Camps like Camp Chief Hector also purposely put campers in situations such as overnight hikes and canoe trips where they have to think for themselves and discover a sense of leadership in a controlled environment.
3 Learning practical skills
Skill-specific camps — be they focused on sports, art, or other arenas — offer learning experiences where kids can develop expertise that will stay with them throughout their lives. STEM+A (Science Technology Engineering Math + Arts) camps, offered by not-for-profit Roots 2 STEM, let kids work with electronics to learn science and technology in a way that goes beyond what is typically taught in school.
“The kids have a lot of fun, but they’re also getting that STEM element,” says Dean White, founder and CEO of Roots 2 STEM. “They’re learning to build and question how it’s done.”
4 Physical activity and an appreciation of the outdoors
Even if a camp’s ultimate goal is to encourage friendships and leadership skills, an outdoor or sports-based camp is going to get their bodies moving. Mountain camps are especially good for busy families that aren’t able to make it out to the national parks as much as they’d like to, helping kids form a lifelong appreciate of nature.
5 A sense of belonging
Another huge benefit of choosing a few specialized camps is kids get to be among peers who share their unique interests — be it cooking, art, or technology. White says he sees a lot of campers who may not fit in with classmates at school, but are thrilled to be among like-minded tech-enthusiasts when they come to Roots 2 STEM. This can build self-esteem and give kids the confidence to continue pursing what they love.