Young children are not the only ones to benefit from summer camp. Teens, especially in middle school, get just as much, if not more, out of a summer at camp. Unlike younger campers, teens have many opportunities to apply their leadership skills to real-life situations, such as helping out the younger campers or assisting their counselors.
An article by Anne Archer Yetsko gives 7 Reasons Why Your Middle Schooler Needs Camp, and here are some of our top reasons why teens today need camp more than ever.
Independence through New Experiences: Teens are in the middle of growing up, and at this age, they want a sense of autonomy. Camp provides an opportunity for them to get out of the house and away from their parents. At camp, they get to spend most of day away from home, where they get try new things, take safe risks, meet new people and experience new things. They get a chance to be independent and learn responsibility in a safe, supported environment, under the guidance of an adult counselor.
Friendships and Close Relationships: Camp is very different than school. Campers are arranged into groups, which makes it very easy to meet new people. This provides teens with an opportunity to branch out of comfort zones and create their own identity. They have a chance to unplug from technology and form authentic relationships with others.
Guidance from Positive Role Models: At camp, teens get to spend time away from their parents under the guidance of their counselors. Campers can talk to their counselors differently than they talk to their parents, while the counselors are there to help their campers learn about themselves and grow in new ways. They keep their campers safe, give advice, and offer support.
Teamwork and Collaboration: In a group setting, campers learn how to work with each other through daily activities, like coming up with a group name, or voting on a code of living. These are team efforts, and the suggestions and opinions of everyone in the group are considered. This is a way for teen campers to learn the importance of communication and practice the qualities of good leadership, like listening to the concerns of everyone in the group.
Leadership Experience: Camps offer teen campers many real leadership opportunities and ways to develop and practice these skills in real life. Many camps offer leadership programs, like “Counselor-in-Training” (CIT), or “Camper-in-Leadership-Training” (CILT). These programs are specially designed for older campers, and they offer hands-on leadership training where they can help younger campers and assist counselors. They create skits, plan group activities, organize the food menu at an overnight, and help out with the younger campers. They learn how to be counselors and gain leadership experience while still benefiting from the support of the adult staff.
Future Employment Opportunities and Resume Building: Many camps prefer to hire alumni campers who had participated in leadership programs during their time at camp. Teens can earn community service hours for school, and leadership positions can be a valuable addition to a resume or college application.
Great Leaders who Went to Camp: Many camp alumni go on to do great things, and their camp experiences help them get there. They become well known leaders in business, politics, scientists, the arts, music, and sports. Do you know what Anne Hathaway, Albert Einstein, and Michelle Obama all have in common? They all went to camp! Here are some Well Known Leaders who Went to Camp. Hear what they have to say on the video, “Because of Camp.”
Start your future by coming to camp this summer!
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