When I was a kid, there were few things I looked forward to more than summer vacation. I couldn’t wait to laze around in the sun, sleep in and play all day. I got to spend time with my friends and my cousins at our family’s lake cabin up north. I had the opportunity to attend a Christian summer camp one year. I spent a week at Flaming Pine Youth Camp where we were not allowed to wear shorts, sleeveless shirts or walk to the beach without a cover up.
As my oldest child grew up, my cousin suggested that I send him to the camp where she was assistant director. Our family has had a long history with Camp Bovey. The camp is run out of the offices of East Side Neighborhood Services in Northeast Minneapolis where my sister began working in the early 90’s. Later, several of my cousins served as camp counselors. I thought it might be a good idea. He was apprehensive but he went off like a trooper and spent 5 days in Northern Wisconsin with other kids learning to be a good camper. When he came back, I noticed a difference in him. He seemed more adventurous; he seemed more willing to try new things. This made me think about camp in a new way. We started sending our son to Camp Bovey when he was 8. We have a daughter who is now 11. I wonder if it’s too late for her to reap the benefits of a summer at camp. When I began researching the subject, I had more questions than answers. Would camp benefit my daughter in the same way I thought it helped my son? If we decide to send her to camp, are there benefits to sending her to a specialty camp? How would I choose a camp? Could it be possible that camp is not only fun but also taught our son resiliency?
University of Missouri studies camp’s effect on self-concept
In 1970, a group of r...
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...on. The question isn’t “Should I send her to summer camp?” The question is “Why haven’t I sent her to summer camp yet?”
Works Cited
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Dan, Duett. "The Magic of Summer Camp." Camping Magazine September/October 2013: 72-73.
Koocher, Gerald P. "Swimming, Competence, and Personality Change." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (1971): 275-278.
Neff, MD, John M. "Specialized Summer Camps Provide Benefits for Children and Families Alike." EP Magazine March 2009: 34-36.
PBSkids.org. 2005. 28 03 2014. .
Steven Fine, PhD. "Parent Study Suggests Strategies for Effective Use of Camp Research." Camping Magazine September/October 2013: 59-63.
...and end of the film, it is clear that there is a substantial amount of freedom within a summer camp, and it can be as good as you make it. The camp counselors are portrayed in two lights – one as adult kids who are irresponsible, and the opposing as dictators who never give you a break. This film also sets a standard for friendships, as the kids were willing to look out for each other and help one another.
The summer camping season peaks with five summer day camp opportunities, up from three in 2010. Day camps offered an affordable but quality learning environment for younger youth. Each year Kanawha County provides two residential camps serving roughly 160 youth. The number of residential campers increased from 150 in 2010 to 164 in 2013. Continued efforts to provide quality programming through community partners such as afterschool providers, schools, and youth-serving organizations provide fruitful results. 4-H community clubs continue to see slow but diverse growth as there are three specialty clubs and five traditional clubs. Science programming is provided weekly at three afterschool programs; nutrition education is provided at twenty elementary schools yearly; two Energy Express sites served 40 youth; Heath Rocks! was integrated into camping, schools, outdoor classroom, and afterschool programming; and the Choose to Change research project began its third year.
Although the notion of being a camp nurse may summon up ideas of tranquil settings and a few weeks away from a "real" career, the truth is that the multidimensional role of the camp nurse is an exhilarating and thought-provoking to even the most knowledgeable nurse. The nurse must be equipped to deliver routine and emergency care to youngsters and the staff, screen children with chronic illnesses, train campers and staff on precautionary health matters, and work as a team with camp managers to implement rules that decrease the threat of harm or sickness. The camp nurse must have flexibility, critical thinking and problem solving expertise, as well as with a bit of humor and creativeness. The camp nurse must endorse and safeguard the health of the whole camp community. Children and staff at camps accredited by the American Camp Association are required to submit a current health history and physical exam.
First of all, doing nothing sparks creativity. While parents create schedules for their children to attend multiple activities or summer camps they tend to forget what they did as a child. When I was growing up we played in the field, went exploring and rode our bikes through
“The Pros and Cons of Sending Your Child to a Boot Camp for Naughty Kids.” Teen Boot Camps. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Mar. 2014. .
Klara, a 4 year old African-American female, has been attending the Child Development Center of College of San Mateo for 2 years. She is an only child and resides with both her mother and father in San Mateo. English is Klara’s primary language.
There are dozens of benefits that camp graciously gives to campers which influence their daily life including friendships, independence, community, and competence. These universal values and skills are learned at all 7,000 sleepaway camps across the nation, creating more aware, socially conscious, and community oriented children from a young age. The tradition of camp will continue to exist due to the benefits it patently has. Although an adult can be successful without going to sleepaway camp; the exposer camp gives kids at a young age is incredibly beneficial. While camp influences who you become as an adult, it achieves its goal through a magical and memorable experience - something a lifetime camper will recognize and be thankful for as they reach adulthood.
Vacation Bible School is an amazing program that gets kids invested in their faith. I was gifted the opportunity to guide preschoolers through their Vacation Bible School experience and watch them grow in their faith. Vacation Bible School takes place at Hales Corners Lutheran Church, where I am a member. I helped with the set-up of the camp as well as be a leader for two days of the camp. The theme this year was “Cave Quest” and it focused on using God to find your way through life. Everyday of camp we started with devotion and songs. This part of the day always had a powerful impact because you could see the excitement in the kids eyes just coming to camp to learn about God. Next, we would go do a craft. The first day we made crosses out
While these teen wilderness camps may look like a great solution to a parent who believes they have run out of options, it is not. Sending your teen to one of these camps could leave them with physical and emotional scars, and possibly even death. There are many other options parents can look into, but no matter how troubled a teen is a wilderness camp should never be an option, because it is like sending your child on a possibly death wish.
Wade, C. E., Cameron, B. A., Morgan, K., & Williams, K. C. (2011). Are interpersonal
Whether it’s a summer camp that is away from home or one that is a day camp, both offer children learning opportunities. Summer camps keep the children physically active. Hiking, running, swimming, climbing are just a few activities that will keep them busy. Too many children spend most of their time these days inside sitting down in front of a TV either watching movies or playing video games. One big advantage for summer camps is that it lets kids be kids. According to Rock Brook Camp, it is important for kids to “have free time for unstructured play – Free from the overly-structured, overly-scheduled routines of home and school, life at camp gives children much needed free time to just play. Camp is a slice of carefree living where kids can relax, laugh, and be silly all day long.”(Rock Brook2) Summer camps help build life-long skills and make a child more confident in themselves. Camps can provide the right equipment and facilities for children to enhance their sports abilities and their musical talents. Summer camps also offer a variety of activities that makes it easy for kids to discover what they may like to do. Without parents and teachers guiding their every move, children can learn to make decision for themselves; build self-confidence and self-esteem. Finally, summer camps help children learn social skills, make new friends and reconnect with the
there will be good days and bad days and the counselor must be careful not to allow the emotions of helping others become the main objective in
Having spent the better part of six summers hiking, cooking, orienteering, and practicing archery on the trails of Huddart Park, California, summer camp became a very precious time of my life. When I entered high school, I began working as a Unit Aide at my camp which meant I had the privilege to now teach young girls a whole slew of tasks such as survival skills, first aid, and knife skills. While attending Woodside Priory High School, I heard about similar activities such as archery and overnights that Mountain Camp counselors hosted. Chris Gregory encouraged me to look into the camp and see if it was something I might take interest in, and I soon discovered that it definitely captured my attention. I adore working with kids and would especially
...ly prove that swimming directly effects specific mental and physical diseases in ways that other rehabilitation methods can not.
Summer vacation is legendary. An integral part of American culture, it is loved by students and loathed by parents. Its influence stretches as far as the economy and media of the country. Nevertheless, such a famed part of American educational customs is unnecessary and even detrimental to students. Its institution hinders learning and it can have a damaging effect on the families and students involved.