Every Child Deserves the Experience of Belonging at Camp
Every summer, from third grade through high school, I was lucky to attend an overnight camp in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. I looked forward to it each summer, counting down the days until I could be back in the outdoors, back with friends and back in person with my camp community.
I’ve been thinking about that experience a lot lately, especially as I’ve been visiting different YMCA camps and seeing kids find that same camp magic that I remember. They were joyful, unplugged from screens and focused fully on trying new activities and having fun with friends.
In addition to reinforcing for me how pivotal overnight camp can be in a child’s development, my visits reminded me that camp offers young people two things that have become increasingly important to their well-being: a respite from their daily stressors and a positive sense of belonging.
The Benefits of Camp
Belonging always has been an important component of healthy youth development, and for today’s kids it is essential. Loneliness is on the rise for everyone—particularly children and teens. During the past two decades, the amount of time young people spent in-person with friends dropped nearly 70 percent, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. In addition, the number of teenagers (ages 13-17) who reported being online “almost constantly” has doubled since 2015.
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While camp alone can’t solve the crisis of loneliness and isolation for kids, it certainly can help. A recent study by the American Camp Association found that many parents said their children returned from camp with deeper friendships and a willingness to try new things. In addition, 58 percent of youth reported their time at summer camp helped them appreciate the importance of being present, enabling them to focus more on developing relationships.
Strategic L&D Leader Enhancing Growth Through Engaging Training | Expert in Digital Learning Solutions & High-Impact Experiences
10moThe team at Camp Seymour here in Pierce and Kitsap Counties are world class as is the facility! #ymcapkc
YMCA Enthusiast! Building a culture of philanthropy at the the Y and within the community. Let's walk and talk!
11moGena Runnion I thought you'd enjoy this read on why camp is so important! Some good takeaways as you continue to share Camp GVL's mission with alumni and friends!
Director Business Development - Ambulatory Surgery Centers at Virtua Health
11moMy kids all started at 8, and aged through and the eldest were/are counselors at overnight camp. The 12 year old camp home yesteday. I cannot sing the praises enough of camp and how much it shaped the development of my children!!
President and Chief Executive Officer at American Camp Association Inc.
11moThank you Suzanne! Beautiful!
Passionate & Experienced Unschooling Educator Looking to do "good" and figuring out what "good" is
11mo"I looked forward to it each summer, counting down the days until I could be back in the outdoors, back with friends and back in person with my camp community." A defining characteristic of being human is a fundamental desire to find community, to find your "people", and Suzanne hits the nail on the head with that statement. For the six or seven summers in the '60s and '70s when I went to camp, I, too, counted down the days, starting even before school ended (and including jobs I took to pay for camp!). I couldn't wait to get back to my friends and the place that was timeless like Brigadoon — it was magical that a whole lifetime could be lived in just a fortnight summer after summer. I think we need to be careful, however, to recognize that summer camp is just one of many magical places young persons experience and not to paint the other 50 or so weeks of the year with a bleak brush, something they escape from.