Seek summer camps that encourage learning, fun
With the summer months fast approaching, parents are gearing up for warm weather, vacations and the pursuit of summer camp. Summer camp is very important for a child. It is a time of discovery, exploration, making new friends and uncovering hidden interests and talents. It’s a confidence booster, skill builder and memory maker.
It’s also a time when many youth can be left home alone, spending most of their day sedentary in front of a screen and less likely to engage in healthy habits and life skills. They are more vulnerable to participating in risky behaviors, including substance and drug abuse, and engaging in various social media platforms that can have an overall negative effect on their emotional health.
However, one of the most significant impacts of summer on children is the phenomenon of the “summer slide,” when children and teens can lose up to 40% of the information they learned in the previous school year. When children do not practice skills regularly, their brains tend to forget them. This “use it or lose it” principle becomes critical for youth during summer months when school is out. According to a 2015 study by Metis Associates, research showed that “unless young people practice over the summer, they’ll lose on an average, two months of math and reading skills.” This loss has only been intensified since the pandemic, which has left so many children and teens in a state of catching up.
When youth are given the opportunity to dive into enriching summer programs, they have a better chance of picking up where they left off when they return to school. Whether getting ahead of the summer slide by providing literacy programming, teaching a child to build on a 3D printer, or engaging children in exercise and healthy life skills, summer camp is an essential part of a child’s growth and development. Participation in such activities over the summer has been shown to be critical for positive academic achievement during the school year.
Children’s skills can grow not only cognitively but emotionally during summer camp as well. Camps can impact the social skills of a child or teen by providing opportunities for team building, problem solving and managing conflict. Studies show that children who are stronger emotionally are more likely to succeed academically. At Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley we believe in providing a space where children and teens can achieve success. These feelings of accomplishment nourish a youth’s selfesteem, ideally making them feel more confident and secure.
For teens, summer is often full of opportunities including jobs, independence, college tours and new experiences. With these competing priorities and interests, it can be difficult to engage them in summer activities. It can be challenging for parents to find programs that excite teens and accommodate their everchanging schedules. However, summer programming is just as essential for their growth and development.
When searching for a camp for your child or teen, look for camps that encourage learning and fun. Survey teens on their schedules and interests to determine the best fit. Camps should be safe, hands-on, engaging and promote inquiry-based thinking. They should give campers an opportunity to foster creativity, find and develop their passions and nurture a love for learning and curiosity. We also believe every child should have an opportunity to attend camps. Supporting organizations, wherever they may be, who share those same values is a great way to get involved in the greater good for our future generations. As singer John Mayer said, “a little bit of summer is what the whole year is all about.”
Cary Snowden is the chief executive officer for Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley. She has been with the local club since 2016 and has been part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America movement for 15 years.