Benefits of Summer Camp: Through a GRP Lens
How Does Attending Summer Camp Benefit Your Child? A 3-part series through a GRP lens highlighting positive impacts that we have seen within our camp community and how these experiences may benefit your camper!
When someone says “summer camp,” what is your initial thought?
Perhaps you picture your own summer camp memories, or crafts and field games. Maybe you think of friendship and campfires. I would not be surprised if a song or chant comes to mind!
This blog series will highlight perspectives and ideas that may deepen your understanding of summer camp and inspire you to recognize the full potential of this opportunity for your child.
How Do Campers Practice Detachment at Summer Camp?
We have all heard about the benefits of “disconnecting” when it comes to screens and media. The thing is, it is much deeper than that.
It is not the connectedness but the attachment to devices and being connected at all times that can have a negative impact on us all. It is especially important for children to learn coping skills and have experiences that support their ability to practice detachment. Learning to detach requires us to step outside of our comfort zone, so we encourage campers to try new things, which almost always results in a major boost in confidence, independence, and curiosity!
Green River Preserve is tech-free in that staff and campers alike do not have access to their devices during a session (nor do we have cell service!). As Administrative Director, I am the point person for parent communication. It is very common for devices and communication to be the first topic of discussion when getting to know a new family interested in summer camp for their child. It may come as a surprise that it is 50/50 on whether the attachment lies in the camper or the adult inquiring!
Summer camp promotes independence. When thinking about other ways detachment shows up as a benefit at camp, homesickness comes to mind. Sometimes just overcoming the feelings of missing home and the unknown of camp are a huge first step. Just as often as I talk about devices at camp with new families, I talk about homesickness. There is a big difference in just getting through something and working through it. At camp, when homesickness shows up, we work hard to help campers practice coping skills. It’s in these moments that we see some of the most growth between years one and two at GRP. It is almost always our most homesick and nervous camper absolutely beaming on the last day of camp talking about all the adventures they had. The best part is when they say they want to attend a longer session the following summer!
The special bonds created in a summer camp environment are undeniable. These bonds become more noticeable when devices are not present from start to finish. Today, the majority of youth reference something directly related to screens as a way to connect with each other. Maybe they show each other a video, or a meme; maybe they stream games online together or are friends on Instagram. Do they hang out by watching their favorite YouTuber? At summer camp, friendships and connections are, more often than not, formed from organic interactions that are embedded in the summer camp culture and structure. When a camper is engaged, they find their voice and sense of self within the camp community.
We pride ourselves in the diversity of our community and the unwavering effort to continually learn and evolve our practices to be inclusive of all. The culture at GRP encourages campers to learn from and celebrate each other’s differences; we cultivate an environment for campers to express their unique personality, style, and interests. As we learn more about each other, we discover more about ourselves. Lifelong friendships are made at GRP. Campers and staff travel from all over the world to join us each summer in the Green River valley - one thing we all have in common is we will be part of the GRP family Forevermore.
By choosing summer camp enrichment for your child, you are giving them the gift of growth. Growth shows up in many ways throughout the camper journey. From homesickness turned into independence, or nerves turned into confidence; we observe positive impacts in real time at Green River Preserve.
