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The Benefits of Sleepaway Camps for Children and Teens FREE
Volume 20, No. 3, Section A
A
Article courtesy of BPT
s a parent, you worry 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 one to four 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, self-reliance, and confidence is a huge gift - and parents can give that
r See ou n o article 3A page 1
March 2020
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 relaxed, supportive environment. “Parents and campers tell us the camp experience was life-changing,” said Brooke Cheley-Klebe, camp director and fourth-generation Cheley family camp leadership. “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.
Connecting with nature
As young people increasingly spend time indoors, they lose opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty around them. Spending time outdoors improves young people’s ability to live in the moment. Affinity for nature was one of the top benefits of camp found in the ACA study. Sleeping under the stars and exploring the outdoors foster an appreciation for nature that can’t be achieved any other way. continued on page 2A ...