Benefits of Summer Camp: Through a GRP Lens
How Does Attending Summer Camp Benefit Your Child? This 3-part series through a GRP lens features positive impacts that we see within our camp community and how those experiences can benefit your campers!
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.
Meaningful Mentors and Camp Bonds
Overnight summer camps like Green River Preserve are typically made up of people from many different walks of life. With a healthy balance of local and regional folks, and those who join us from other states and countries, the diversity of each year’s staff and camper base is a testament to the community here - unique, open-minded, authentic, respectful. One of our campers said it best when they declared, “I’m my best ME at GRP!”
At Green River Preserve, we pride ourselves in being intentionally small with an impressive 1:3 staff to camper ratio. Our camp sessions max out at only 112 campers, and every cabin group of 6-7 campers is assigned two Counselors and a Mentor. Yes, you read that correctly, every cabin has three assigned adults. Counselors provide day-to-day support, guiding campers through their daily routines and activities. Mentors, on the other hand, serve as experienced guides, helping campers navigate personal growth, reflection, and deeper connections with nature and their peers.
We watch our community welcome new campers and their families with open arms every season. Our community leads by example - radical acceptance, authentic connection, genuine investment, and present engagement drive us at our core. Our Counselors make it their mission each summer to make a positive impact on the lives of the campers they serve. Believe us, they are truly invested in your child! These college-age adults are often young enough to connect with campers on a level parents or other adults may not. Having that kind of mentor in your corner can be powerful in building kids’ confidence and self esteem! Counselors and Mentors work together every session to build meaningful relationships within their cabins by breaking down walls, being present with campers, and showing compassion at all times. Mentors join their cabin group for morning Mentor Hikes, meals, activities, and Rose Bud Thorn before lights out at the end of the day.
There are likely lots of adults in your child’s life that wear a mentor hat from time to time, but odds are they play another role more often - maybe a coach, or teacher. At GRP, Mentorship is not just a byproduct of camp—it is an intentional, structured part of our program, embedded in everything we do. Oxford Languages defines Mentor as an experienced and trusted advisor. This cornerstone of GRP promotes a culture of trust that encourages campers to open up, try new things, and reach their full potential! Summer camp offers a dynamic that is quite different from school, sports, or extracurricular programs. Summer camp is a place for youth to experience a concentrated period of self-discovery and growth. Campers are surrounded by positive influences and new experiences with the space and support to be themselves and make their own choices. GRP’s dedication to having top-notch Counselors and Mentors takes time and effort. We work hard to provide training resources that equip our staff with tools that best support them while being caregivers for campers, such as Restorative Practices, Behavior Management and Mental Health training, and being Unity Blaze certified.
There is something beautiful about the variety of experiences a child can have in the span of just one, two, or three weeks at camp. The growth observed, the lessons learned, the friendships made, never fail to leave us in awe on the last day of each session. The inspiration of this work builds, fueling our staff to invest more in their campers every year. As campers return to the valley summer after summer, we also welcome back many of the same Counselors and Mentors. The legacies here, campers turned counselors, whose kids are now campers or even staff, are the roots of our community. These are the families and GRP cheerleaders who have watched us grow into who we are today. Other camps often rely on seasonal staff who are new each year, but at GRP, our Mentorship program thrives because many of our Senior Mentors return year after year—some for over a decade! Senior Mentors are tenured summer staff members who spend every summer on the Preserve, watch campers become expeditioners, and bring a special type of magic to camp each summer through storytelling and cherished traditions. The privilege of having so many passionate adults join GRP’s summer staff is something we hope you value as much as we do.
At the end of the day, we attribute all benefits of summer camp to the bonds formed that result in trust within our community. When trust is the foundation, we can accomplish incredible things together. The authenticity, honesty, compassion, and confidence that emerges within our cabin groups every session is where the true magic of camp lies. Especially in a non-competitive, tech-free environment like GRP, the reverence of the relationships and bonds made within our community are undeniable. A sense of belonging is the real positive impact, and your camper belongs at Green River Preserve.
What Does Non-Competitive Really Mean?
In non-competitive summer camp environments, kids have the ability to be present and enjoy the process. When focused on competing, kids may experience the pressure to be perfect because they only care about the outcome - winning or losing. While competition may promote positive growth in discipline or teamwork, we tend to take a different approach at summer camps like Green River Preserve.
We aim to teach our campers valuable life skills. From learning to identify wild plants and animals to soft skill development in patience or leadership, being non-competitive allows our campers to hone in on specific strengths and interests that inspire them. At GRP, campers learn about challenge by choice. This practice is adopted in many non-competitive environments and establishes a culture where campers have a choice in their level of participation. For example, if campers visit the cave on our property during a Mentor Hike, some may challenge themselves to step inside the entrance, while others may challenge themselves to explore a little deeper. Challenge by choice gives campers the opportunity to choose how far they push themselves, when they want to try something new, what they want to improve on, where they are most comfortable, or who they want to be. By focusing on teaching and learning new skills, instead of winning or losing, we enjoy the process and build trust along the way.
At Green River Preserve, we offer many activities and programs you may find at other summer camps. What sets us apart are the intentional programs and curriculum specific to GRP that we have practiced and perfected over the last 35+ summers.
CampOut is a highlight of summers on the Preserve. Two- and three-week campers embark on a two-night, three-day backpacking trip on our own private 3,400 acres! CampOut as a whole consists of more than just backpacking. Whispers of CampOut start to fill Cabinville the first few days of camp. Whether it is a camper’s first time backpacking or not, they may start to experience some anxiety leading up to such a big adventure. This cornerstone of GRP is a perfect example of our non-competitive culture and the opportunity for campers to realize their full potential through low, calculated risks that result in high rewards!
After about a week of camp, we start to see friendships blooming and connections being made; when cabin groups return from CampOut, their bonds seem unbreakable. The idea that they all tackled a major challenge together and each person’s experience is honored and valid is one of the remarkable things about CampOut. The support given to campers by our Leadership Team, Counselors, and Mentors during this pivotal program of GRP is one way we use the non-competitive approach to lower anxiety. We are able to make accommodations, and campers may feel remote but are aware that Basecamp is accessible in an emergency. When we brief campers to prepare them for CampOut, we often focus on the individual experience, while teaching them to work together to support one another.
Anxiety shows up in different ways for different people, but no matter what it looks or feels like for you or your child, learning to navigate it can be tough. This beginner-friendly backpacking program is one of the ways we practice what we preach as an organization; it is a large part of what makes GRP, well, GRP. CampOut allows campers to develop and practice coping skills, build relationships rooted in trust, and realize their full potential when it comes to hard things. We can do hard things!
Another unique program to Green River Preserve are our Group Learning Projects, or as we like to call them - GLPs. Again, like CampOut for our two- and three-week sessions, we shake up the daily camp schedule every once in a while with a special program or GLP day! There are a few popular GLPs that we almost always offer like spending the day at the Farm, painting the buses, or visiting the Carl Sandburg house in Flat Rock. Our summer staff are given the creative freedom to come up with and pitch their ideas for GLPs to campers a few days in advance. Campers rank their top picks, and staff get to work sorting and assigning campers to their groups. With new, diverse staff every summer, we see all types of creative opportunities for campers to discover new talents and interests! By giving campers autonomy when it comes to GLPs, they are able to use their voice and choose their own adventure. When campers are an active part of the decision making for themselves, they show up more engaged and ready to face the challenges that may be presented to them. Group Learning Projects are a way for campers to challenge themselves to try something new, or hone in on a skill or interest, without the pressure of competition at the end. These focused days are intentional and teach us to take our time, be present in new experiences, and enjoy the process.
Goal setting, emotional maturity, respect, and self-reliance are just a few of the positive outcomes we see in our non-competitive environment and programming rooted in challenge by choice. Instead of being attached to a punctuated outcome and being disappointed if it’s not what they want or expect, children learn how to be an active participant in creating the outcome they desire. Some camps choose to end sessions with awards or badges - maybe even superlatives, but we recognize accomplishments within our community in sustainable ways that are symbolic to our programs and culture. Though non-competitive, many achievements at GRP are celebrated. We have cherished traditions that are associated with milestones that you and your camper will have to discover for yourselves! Our camper community is made up of lots of different types of kiddos. If you’re looking for a camp that fosters independence, emotional growth, and self-discovery, Green River Preserve is the perfect place for your child to thrive.
How 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!). 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. 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.