Why We Need Camp

I have worked at a summer camp in New Hampshire for four summers and it is the place that peaked my interest in outdoor education. Summer camp is the epitome of a place where children can learn valuable life lessons in outdoor settings. Last year the camp I work at came out with an advertisement type video, but really the video was about the value of summer camp in general.  Below is the video that came out during the camp off season in December that reminded campers, staff and families about the value of summer camp. 

The video has some cliches, but overall paints a good picture of what summer camp is as a whole. Although many consider camp a place to send kids for part of the summer, it really is a place where kids can learn different values and skills. At one point Camp Executive Director John Tilley says, "Fun isn't our business, growth is our business. The growth we seek isn't about the number of acres we have, or even the buildings we walk into. The growth we strive for everyday is personal, individual and human." The video then goes on to list a few of many things a child can learn in a summer camp setting. This includes communication skills, patience, compromise and caring for others. The video ends with, "Our world can't handle us settling, giving in and giving up. This is why we need summer camp." The takeaway is that summer camp can provide life lessons and skills for the outside world that can help improve the world and the growth of children. 

So maybe this video helps you see why camp is important or maybe it makes you think that camp is a valuable place for kids. Maybe if you have kids you are thinking about sending them to camp! Whatever the impact this video had on you, I can tell you from my own camp experience that most of my qualities and skills with human interactions stemmed from the past 12 summers I have spent at this summer camp in the woods. 

Happy Trails

Daisy