Summer 2016 | Sea Island Life Magazine Spring/Summer 2016 | Page 16

F A M I LY F I R S T
Sea Island offers a variety of
activities that teach children
about the local environment.

HAPPY CAMPERS

THE BENEFITS OF SUMMER CAMP TRANSCEND SPORTS, FUN AND FRIENDSHIPS, IMPARTING
LIFELONG LESSONS AND SKILLS THAT CHILDREN CAN APPLY IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND.

i

ce cream, swimsuits and sunscreen
symbolize the arrival of warm weather
every year, but nothing says “summer” like camp. A longstanding tradition for youngsters, summer camp brings to
mind cabins with bunk beds, paddling canoes
around a lake, making lanyards and roasting
marshmallows over the fire. But through the
decades, these programs have expanded, with
both day and overnight options offering a wide
range of activities.
Some focus on one pursuit—like art or
building robots—while others are an all-in-one
resource for families, providing an outlet for
physical activity, artistic expression and social
engagement that kids lack once school lets
out. In recent years, programs have further

BY MATT VILLANO
evolved to provide what child development
experts recommend for growth: Many camps
now build curriculum around activities that
encourage kids to interact with positive role
models who listen, talk, relax and reflect with
them. The programs also teach kids to work
together, make healthy choices, take responsibility, develop creative skills, build independence and self-reliance, and gain confidence.
These experiences are a critical part of how
kids grow, according to Peter Scales, a senior
fellow with Search Institute, a Minneapolisbased organization that specializes in child
development. “… Camps help young people
discover and explore their talents, interests
and values,” he says.
Scales adds that many experiences at camp

16 SEA ISL AND LIFE | SPRING/SUMMER 2016

can help children excel once they return to the
classroom. Other experts note that the friendships kids make at camp are more meaningful
and often more lasting than friendships they
make anywhere else. A 2013 article from the
American Camp Association (ACA) indicated
that camp experiences allow young adults to
pursue relationships with mentors, practice
challenging themselves with positive risks
and, ultimately, build a healthy sense of self
that fosters positive character traits.

Plenty of Choices
Camps come in many shapes and sizes,
allowing parents to select the one that best
fits their child’s interests and personality.
But regardless of whether the focus is on