Summer Youth Camps So Simple Even Your Kids Can Do It

summer youth camps

It was 1966 and it was my first year at Camp Minocqua, a boys camp in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Dr. John P. Sprague founded Camp Minocqua for Boys in 1905 on Tomahawk Lake. The history of the camp was part of the camp culture. Historically, the camp was designed to taking young boys out of the cities and the finer things in life and allowing us boys to live out in nature with others boys, while our counselors just seemed like older brothers.

Such was the beginning of residential boys camps in America. Later camps for girls were established by the Girl Scouts of America and Camp Fire Girls. Sleepaway summer camps continued round World War I when many charities opened summer camps for working-class children giving them a chance to get away from urban life.

Anyway, here I was at a residential camp where I would be staying for 7 weeks, that was a long time away from my parents. Was I ready? Absolutely not. I cried often during those first few weeks and when the storms came I was even more scared. But, I made friends that I still remember today, maybe better than my school friends. Camp gave me a chance to make decisions without my parents. Some were good and made me feel great, like when I got to name the sailboat "Stormy Weather". Others were not so good and resulted in me taking a bite out of a bar of Ivory soap. But they were my decisions and the natural consequence fell where they would. From this independence, I learned that when I make decisions and fail, I learn more than when my decisions result in success.

I returned to Camp Minocqua for 7 summers giving me almost one complete year living at camp. So I guess it was not all that surprising when at the age of 38 I got this idea to start a summer camp. Shortly thereafter I opened Swift Nature Camp. Yes, some of camp Minocqua’s history can be seen at SNC but times have changed and so has the overnight summer camp experience. No longer is Ivory soap cut in wedges nor are kids left unsupervised. No, Swift Nature Camp is an intentional place, filled with support and encouragement, a place that comforts children on their journey to adulthood. We help give kids the skills they need to be productive parts of society. Sleepaway camp should be part of every child’s summer.

Summer Camp In America

USA Summer Camp

If you are not from the United States and considering sending your child to a USA summer camp, you should consider a few things. Chances are, you have probably heard about all the benefits of a summer camp experience. It truly is a totally life-changing experience. And that is why you are considering an American summer camp. Plus, international campers have the added bonus of language immersion. So every day is like school, learning English in a fun way.
Most important to consider

So now you think you are ready to come to a USA summer camp. That’s great but is your child ready? This is just as important question. There are 2 areas to consider. First, are they mature enough to be away from you in another country? Obviously, the camp is prepared to help children with all the things that they need to be doing, like teeth brushing, cleaning up, changing clothes etc. So what I am talking about here, is really whether they are excited to go camping and participate. Will they miss you and being back home more than they are excited to be at camp? If so, this might not be the year to go to a summer camp in America. Second and even more important, does your child have a good grasp of the English language? This is very important. The camp is a social network, most of the campers’ time is face to face communications. If a child cannot make friends at camp, they will feel left out and will remove themselves from interactions. So, it is very important that your child can carry on basic communications and understand the basic language.

How to pick a camp?

Not all camps are the same. Picking the right camp is very important. First, is to match your child’s likes with that of the camp. For instance, some children may look forward to going on camping trips and so they would want to find an Adventure Camp that takes a frequent canoe, hiking and biking trips. Other children may love swimming and want to find a camp that has a lake and does a lot of swimming. The reason this is important is, that your child will no longer have a phone and so they will be actively doing rather than watching. Doing things that they enjoy helps in this transition... So now that you have this in your mind, a few other questions might be: time away from home? Where in the USA do you want your overnight summer camp to be? Coed or single gender? Religious or not? TO learn more about picking a summer camp visit SummerCampAdvice.

Where & When to Look?

Now is the time. Overnight Summer Camps in America do fill up fast. Some parents start looking as early as October for the following year. So it is important to start looking as soon as you have come up with a list that is important for your child. Next hit the internet. Every camp has a website and they are all filled with marketing information. Remember, they are trying to sell camp, so just be aware. Once you have found what you believe is a good camp then call or email the director and start asking your questions. I believe that Privately owned summer camps like Swift Nature Camp will give you more personal attention and will help you better customize your child’s experience. If you need more help please contact us Lonnie & Jeff at swiftcamp@aol.com 

The Secrets To Kids Summer Camps

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.

"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.

Science & Nature Summer Camp in Minnesota

Often Parents from Minnesota, ask us “Where has this camp been”? Well Swift Nature Camp has been giving children a wonderful overnight Summer Camp experience since the 1960’s. But what I think they really mean is that they have been looking for a special overnight summer camp that meets their child’s needs. You see they are looking for an Animal Summer Camp or a Nature Camp, maybe a Science Camp all near Minneapolis. Why? Because their child generally is not sportsy type and really thrives being outside going on frog hunts and doing other Nature activities. So when a parent finds a small camp like SNC, they are very happy that their child will have the opportunity to play and be with kids who are also Nature Nuts.

You See at SNC we are not school so children learn about animals and nature hands on. Matter of fact one of our favorite activities is going on a frog hunt. See at SNC we believe when campers see, they remember. But when campers do, they understand. If we can increase a campers self discovery and natural curiosity, it entice children to learn about and play Outdoors in NATURE and if children value our environment they will in the future see a reason to protect it.

What many parent enjoy is that camp is only 2 hours form Mpls., so on a weekend they can stop on by and see how their camper is doing or even take him or her out of this Animal Summer Camp for Lunch. It allow parent to stay in contact with their camper. However, don’t be surprised if your child has other plans, so often parents are happy to see that their camper has found a nature summer camp they can call home. But, get discouraged when their child would prefer to play in nature or do science experiments rather than go out for lunch. But that’s OK, camp is all about helping children feel comfortable in their new surroundings and giving them the independence to do so.

Animals are why kids love Swift Nature Camp, we have plenty. Each summer children enjoy adopting a pet and taking care of it. They need to be responsible to feed, water and play with it before any play time. This helps build responsibility and empathy for their pets. Speaking of Pets, SNC is one of the few camps that allows children to bring their animals with them to summer camp. How Cool! Little Billy can bring his pet hamster with him, one less thing for parents to worry about while your camper is at summer camp.

But it is more than just an active Nature Center, Pet Zoo, and Department of Natural Resources sponsored programs that keep bringing campers back to Swift Nature Camp it is our special recreational activities that include canoe and backpack trips, horseback riding, swimming, arts & crafts, team courses, archery, sailing, water skiing, tubing and sports, over 20 different land and water activities.

As a parent to learn more about this Overnight Minnesota Animal Camp, read more about how we encourage children to be more responsible and to be accountable for themselves as well as being kinder. For Campers at this Kids Nature Camp learn more about the cool activities, the friendships and the animals. Hope to see you at Swift Nature Camp

Source:-https://swiftnaturecamp.com/snc-blog/item/685-animal-camp-in-minnesota