opportunity to not only have fun — but
to unplug — and experience new activ-
ities and adventures in a safe and wel-
coming environment.

Plus, there are additional benefits.

Camp brings our children closer to
nature, and encourages social and emo-
tional development while encouraging
independence, resiliency, empathy and
adaptability. Alfred Adler, a noted philoso-
pher and psychiatrist (1870-1937), stressed
three things that are important to one’s
emotional health and well-being: the need
to feel connected, to contribute to some-
thing beyond the individual and to feel capa-
ble. While he introduced these ideas more
than 80 years ago, they are still true today.

Sleepaway camp addresses all of Adler’s
concepts. Children need to establish rela-
tionships and connect with peers and
counselors as they navigate their day.

Building friendships, learning empathy and
caring for others all help create a strong
emotional core. Helping clean the cabin,
writing a camp song, paddling a canoe —
all of these activities give kids a chance to
practice contributing through teamwork
and collaboration. Mastering the skill of
archery or wall climbing, through practice
and perseverance, strengthen feelings of
confidence and capability.

Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D., a pediatric and
adolescent psychotherapist and the co-au-
thor of “The Whole-Brain Child,” was inter-
viewed in the January ‘14 issue of Camping
magazine. She noted the very real physi-
cal effect of growing these social skills by
stating, “Bunks are good for brains … pro-
moting independence, confidence, friend-
ship-building, resilience, thriving, charac-
ter, grit, etc.” She further adds, “Experience
changes brains … it’s like a muscle. When
it’s used, it grows and strengthens.”
Other benefits from daily cabin activi-
ties include the development of fairness,
exploration and curiosity while maximizing
intellectual, moral and physical develop-
ment. With ample opportunities for kids
to be their best selves, camp life provides
countless new experiences for fun, happy
and healthy personal growth in a safe and
encouraging environment with friends and
caring counselors.

Sleepaway camp is not only an
extraordinary gift, but a life changing
experience. Children learn to persevere
when challenged by unfamiliar experi-
ences. They learn patience and confi-
dence when connecting with others and
the importance of working together for a
positive shared experience.

When exploring a camp program for your
child, you should consider developmentally
appropriate and nurturing environments
that promote self-esteem, leadership, inde-
pendence, conflict resolution and team
building. Understanding the camp philoso-
phy, leadership and culture is imperative in
finding the right program for your child.

Dr. Stern explains, “Camp provides
an opportunity for children to learn and
to grow … for many children this allows
them to try new things, voice new opin-
ions and do things that they may never
have been exposed to.”
Parents can help by choosing sleep-
away camps that encourage children
to experience new activities, form
new relationships and integrate the
camper into camp life in a nurturing,
safe and fun environment.

The right sleepaway camp can be a won-
derful life changing event for children — a
treasured experience that lasts forever. ■