Why send your child to camp?
When children go to camp, they are on their own, sometimes for the very first time in their lives. They have to decide what to wear, what to eat, which activities to participate in. Of course counsellors are deciding this with them, but in essence the campers soon learn that they can make decisions on their own and as a result they develop self confidence and become self-reliant.
As self-esteem develops from learning to be on their own, children continue to try new activities. Children do not experience success in the same way at school and often think of themselves in negative terms. We believe that every child is made in God's image and teach that He has a special plan for each one. It is amazing how children can blossom without a burden of having to perform or being compared to others. At camp achievement is rewarded based on effort and we celebrate a child's effort and teach them to learn from their mistakes. A well directed camp will focus on trying to make every camper experience a success and it is that feeling of success that translated into self-esteem. This is accomplished by hands on discovery or experimental learning whether in the cabin or at an activity.
And of course learning skills at each activity is a great benefit for campers. By being exposed to so many outdoor recreation programs campers not only have fun but they develop self-esteem. They also learn skills that they can then pursue and enjoy for the rest of their lives. Camp offers a diverse community of people and a diverse choice of activities.
Of course one of the greatest benefits of a camp experience is that children develop social skills. One of life's most important skills is learning to get along with others and appreciating other people. In a camp setting, a good counselor will make sure that every camper is included in the activity and that each child interacts with the others in a positive way. They learn the give and take of group living, they learn how to work and even depend on others and more importantly that others will depend on them. Something as simple as clean-up, is not only there to get the cabin clean, but to foster a team atmosphere of working together which in turn results in friendships.
The obvious benefit of camp is that campers make long lasting friendships. These friendships can often be more unique and extra special because campers are living with each other and see the true personalities. Because campers and staff come from all over the province,children learn to see others from a different perspective. Children tend to be accepted for who they are and do not have to be as concerned with what they wear or what they are good at, or how they look. This is because in a camp setting, respect and caring ultimately win out over materialistic or short-sited objectives.
But maybe what is most compelling is that the reason camp staff are uniquely empowered to make this happen is because children look to adults as barometers of their progress. Much of what they think of themselves during this critical transition phase into adulthood is a direct reflection of how others perceive them. When that other is a trained young adult staff member who cares so much about them, that is the ultimate booster of a child’s self-esteem. The end goal is that campers not only make new friends but make new kinds of friends, friendships that will last a lifetime.
The most important thing that can happen at camp is not that child believes himself to be worthy because of his successes or that the cabin leaders say so but because God believes the child to be of infinite worth. If the camper is waiting all year to come back to camp because it is "fun" we have failed in our mission. We desire that every camper knows their best best friend, Jesus, intimately so that they will experience those special camp feelings all of their lives because kids are worth it.
Much of this article is excerpted from the Camp Manitou website