By Emily T
Many of us attended summer camp as a child. For most of us
that did, it is easy to say that camp had a very positive impression on our
childhoods, and really on the rest of our lives. I attended camp 3 times as a
kid, and I truly cannot put into words just how much those experiences helped
shape me as an individual. So, why is camp so great? Why do kids always go back
to summer camp?
To display the positive outcomes of sending a child to
summer camp the American Camp Association sent out a survey to parents of
children that attended a variety of summer camps across the country. The survey
asked the parents to rate from a scale of 1-5 (1=strongly disagree, 5=strongly
agree). Here were the results of the top 5 outcomes parents saw in their
children after camp:
My child felt successful at camp (Average score: 4.63)
My child made new friends (Average score: 4.60)
My child gained new skills (Average score: 4.39)
Camp encouraged my child to get along better with others
(Average score: 4.35)
Camp helped my child have a better idea of what she or he is
good at (Average Score: 4.20)
Summer camp allows a
unique opportunity for children to learn, grow, and become more independent
through educational experiences and recreational activities. Camps such as the
YMCA Storer Camps have the children role play and engage in activities that
pertain to historical events in a fun and educational manner. They also can
teach children about science in regard to ecosystems because camps often have
access to lakes, ponds, etc. And as for outdoor recreation, camps usually
provide some combination of horseback riding, rock climbing, canoeing, hiking,
etc. for children to participate in. Summer camp is where I learned how to do
all of these things.
The positive outcomes of going to summer camp are something
that truly cannot be put into words. If you attended camp as a child, you
probably agree with this. I had the privilege of watching kids have this
experience when I was a camp counselor last year. Even if you never attended
summer camp as a child, I would encourage almost anyone to be a camp counselor
for one summer. There is so much that can be gained from watching kids
experience and grow at summer camp. As a Sustainable Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
Major, one of my possible career paths would be being a camp director one day.
I truly cannot think of a more rewarding career for myself.
Sources:
"Benefits of Camp: Skill Development." Benefits
of Camp: Skill Development. American Camp Association, 2015. Web. 03 Apr. 2016
Images:
"The Watershed Research and Training Center – Hayfork,
CA." The Watershed Research and Training Center Hayfork CA.
WordPress, 2016. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
"Keeping Kids Safe on the Internet." Summer
Camp –. N.p., 2016. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
This was a very interesting article. I never thought that summer camp would influence kids so much.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting article. I never thought that summer camp would influence kids so much.
ReplyDeleteToby K.
ReplyDeleteThis was a super cool article. I know firsthand how summer camp can give children great memories. I went to camp for years and always loved it. Having those experiences actually led me to become a camp counselor and help to give many more children a great summer!
Toby K.
ReplyDeleteThis was a super cool article. I know firsthand how summer camp can give children great memories. I went to camp for years and always loved it. Having those experiences actually led me to become a camp counselor and help to give many more children a great summer!