Residential Summer Camp provides a place where boys and girls can practice Teamwork and Independence http://swiftnaturecamp.com
Often when campers reflect upon their time living at summer camp they recall 3 critical things: 1- Living in a cabin with 9 other children, 2- Playing from sun up to sunset, 3- Being out in nature and most recently a 4th has been added that of being screen free!
These areas have been the foundation of summer camps for boys and girls for over 100 years. Today's children require these experiences even more than in the past.
Because like all of us, children have become too dependent on technology.
Adults have paved the way for children to learned that screens are their reality. So playing outside, making face to face connections and being responsible are less important than just a generation ago. Residential summer camp for boys and girls still provides these opportunities.
Because like all of us, children have become too dependent on technology.
Adults have paved the way for children to learned that screens are their reality. So playing outside, making face to face connections and being responsible are less important than just a generation ago. Residential summer camp for boys and girls still provides these opportunities.
"Once you take a screen away from a child they return to explore their physical environment" says, Jeff Lorenz Director of Swift Nature Camp. Free play is often the result. at kids summer camps, children get out side they run, jump laugh and play for fun. Fun then has a new meaning because it is no longer digitally found like on MindCraft but in all the physical activities camps have to offer. Fairly quickly children realize how much time they spend on line and how they could be doing other things.
When girl and boy campers put down their phones and look up they notice the trees, animals and sky's that residential camps provide. Nature now takes on a new meaning because no longer is it a pixel on a screen but something they touch and become a part of. Jeff Lorenz, believes that the stick is one of the best toys a child can have. It promotes creativity, sharing and safety. Plus, they can even learn the science of a stick. Sadly many schools and parents feel they are to dangerous to be a toy.
Often, play then leads to face to face relationship building. When we look up from our screens we see the faces of those around us and begin to learn the skills that are needed to responsibly interact with others. A valuable skill this day, which is being lost.
Kids Summer Camps provides Campers a sense of independence and responsibility. How? By being responsible to their cabin mates to help keep their cabin and area clean during the summer. Campers learn to make their bed, wash their clothes and work with their camp friends . So in this one activity children learn: to communicate with each other, to problem-solve, to be responsible and to be accountable.
The best residential summer camp directors dissect all parts of a camp day and look for ways to give campers the opportunity to try new things and gain from those experiences. After all, camps in the Midwest are all about helping children live with others, Play outside, appreciate nature and become responsible parts of society.
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