Lisa Pawlak
How Summer Camp Supports Healthy Child Development Summer camp often conjures happy images of playing outdoors, trying new activities and making friends. Because camp can provide such a positive and safe environment away from home to do all these things, many campers (and their parents) look forward each year to the next fun-filled, camp experience. According to the American Camp Association (ACA), summer camp is about much more than “just” fun. It helps kids develop social skills — leadership, communication and participation; build personal traits — responsibility, resourcefulness and resilience; and gain adeptness in community living — caring, fairness, citizenship and trustworthiness. Read on to discover the many ways that camp enriches the lives of children and, ultimately, makes our community a better place.
Kids Grow and Develop at Camp “In the camp community, the skills and traits that kids get from camp are often referred to as the four Cs: compassion, contribution, commitment and character,” explains ACA staff. “For years, campers’ parents have reported that when their children return home from camp they are more caring, understand the importance of giving, are more equipped to stand up for what they know is right, and are willing to be more responsible.
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American Camp Association (ACA) Youth Outcomes Studies show: • 96% of campers said camp helped them make new friends. • 93% of campers said camp helped them get to know kids who were different than themselves. • 92% of campers said that people at camp helped them feel good about themselves. • 74% of campers said they did things at camp that they were afraid to do at first. ACA accreditation acknowledges programs committed to the health, safety and overall wellbeing of both campers and staff.
