It’s May and that means summer is only a few weeks away. The kids will be out of school and the question of how to keep them busy will be foremost on your mind.
If you have ever attended a summer camp as a child, you probably have fond memories and connections that still impact you as an adult. However, if you have never experienced a summer camp program for yourself, you may not know why so many parents choose to send their kids to a quality summer camp program. Here is a list of the top ten benefits of summer camp programs:
# Ten: It provides time for unstructured play. The benefits of play to a child’s social, emotional and cognitive development is well documented. Unfortunately, recess and the like is becoming less and less prevalent in American schools. Summer camp is a great way to make up for this lost time.
# Nine: Summer camps encourage physical activity. More and more kids are spending the majority of their time in-doors and sedentary. Summer camps encourage activity: running, jumping, swimming, climbing…
# Eight: Kids learn and evolve their social skills. Summer programs become a community for children. They learn cooperation, respect for each other, and how to resolve conflict.
# Seven: It provides time to “Unplug”. Take a break from TV, iPads, and the Internet. Kids won’t miss it as they will be too busy experiencing real people, real experiences, and real fun!
# Six: They learn failure is ok. Camp is a safe and encouraging environment where kids can learn that if they fail at something the first time to not give up. Try, try again. This lesson of resiliency can last a lifetime.
# Five: Kids can gain confidence in themselves. Programs offer a variety of activities and opportunities to feel successful. They take away the competitive academic, athletic, and social programs found within the school year and offer a time for them to find their own successes.
# Four: It helps build extra-curricular skills. A whole program that provides instruction, opportunities, and facilities for kids to enrich their athletic abilities, artistic talents, or just discover a new interest.
# Three: Children grow their independence. Programs offer a safe environment for children to make decisions for themselves without parents or teachers guiding their every move.
# Two: They connect with the community and the world around them. New experiences outside of school and home enrich a child’s perspective of the world. Our program this summer will expose them to the traditions of this great country and teach them what it means to be a good citizen.
# One: Camp goers make new friends. The summer program experiences are designed to bring children together. They will meet new people and make new connections that could last way beyond summer.
Your kids can experience all these benefits and more at our 2016 summer camp program Citizens of Summer. They will participate in fun activities (think swimming, ceramics, sewing, and cooking!), field trips (like Gettysburg), and learning experiences with a patriotic theme. You can read more about our summer program and find links to our registration and information packets on our Summer Camp page.
