Summer Camp ... Where Teens Unplug To Reconnect

Ever y year tons of teens head to summer cam p to immerse themse lves in the unkno wn. And doesn’t it seem like it would be tough on them to willingly give up their phones and other comforts of home to spend time away from friends and family in a totally new environment? Yet more teens than ever are enrolling in summer camp because, particularly at this age, they yearn for something new and challenging … something they can do on their own. While all camps (day, overnight, weeks) offer the same benefits and adventures to all age groups, we take a look at why teens tend to thrive at camp: © Y a n l e v | D r e a m s t i m e . c o m

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Inter persona l Skills In the unplugged, noncompetitive camp culture, teens build important face-to-face communication and relationship skills. Whether on a backpacking trip, encouraging each other through obstacle courses, or sharing stories around the campfire, the interpersonal skills that teens build are essential life badges.

Safe Risks and Cha llen ges It is a teen’s job to challenge the norm and take risks, and at camp kids have the opportunity to do just that under controlled, supervised circumstances. Climbing a rock wall or completing a ropes course, jumping waves on a wakeboard, or finishing an endurance hike are all healthy risks they can take at camp.

Character Gro wth Camp also teaches teens about leadership, responsibility, and decision-making abilities. They grow considerably in many psychological, emotional, and cognitive areas while away from their home environment.

Pos itive Ro le Mode ls In today’s crazy techno world, teens may have trouble finding strong folks to emulate and learn from … but stroll on into any well-run summer camp and you’ll be surrounded by wholesome, outdoorsy young people. Camp counselors are most often hard-working college students who are friendly, personable, and genuinely want to help others.

Self-Disco ver y The teen years are so focused on grades, sports, SA Ts, college prep, etc. that kids often get wrapped up in that one-way mode of achievement which can lead to a lot of anxiety in a young brain. Camp provides a chance to step back from their over-scheduled, sleep-deprived world and focus on what is really important to them. Many campers report feeling less selfabsorbed after spending a few weeks at camp, learning to focus on others and be of service to their fellow campmates. They also may discover new interests, hobbies, and educational/career paths that they hadn’t considered before.