How many kids do you think go to camp in the summer? According to the ACA (American Camp Association) website, 14 million kids and adults attend camp every year. Camp is an $18 billion industry.
To understand why kids love going to camp, I spoke to 5 adults about their camp experience when they were kids. They shared with me how going to camp helped shape them into the people they are today. Here are some ways they benefited from going to camp:
Learned New Skills
Attending camp gives kids the opportunity to learn new skills they might not be able to learn elsewhere.
“I learned how to juggle and play guitar at Camp Kingsmont. I vastly improved while there each summer because one of the counselors offered daily lessons as a free time activity. Juggling lessons was also a free time lesson from one of the counselors who went on to become a puppeteer on Sesame Street,” says Andrea Simokonis, 38 from Quincy, MA.
At Chen-a-Wanda I learned swimming, boating, and jewelry making,” says Kim Liberman, 38 of North Andover, MA.
“I learned to sail, leather work, water ski, camping (map reading, pitching tents, fire building), canoeing, woodworking and cribbage at Camp Kabeyun,” says Jake Wolf-Sorokin from Brookline, MA.
Discussed Social Challenges
Since camp is more interactive than a school setting, kids have a chance to discuss social issues.
At camp we would talk about the hard issues that teens face like using drugs and alcohol, love, peer pressure, and often we talked about how God impacted our decisions in these areas.” says Simokonis.
Developed Connections
The social setting of the camp helps kids to make new friends and develop a sense of camaraderie.
“At the end of the day, we raced back to our cabins to have time with our friends while we got ready for whatever evening activity. In our cabin, we had endless conversations. I don’t think anyone ever really slept. It was 20 of my closest friends all hanging out in our goofiest PJs, having girl talk and eating junk food all night. It truly was amazing,” says Simokonis.
“At camp, I developed a set of friendships with campers and counselors that continues to bring me joy and fulfillment to this day,” says Wolf-Sorokin.
Developed Independence and Confidence
Camp provides an environment that encourages kids to try new activities or select activities kids want to learn which helps them to develop independence and build confidence.
For me, Camp Kabeyun’s enduring legacy, was building independence, confidence and self-reliance by treating children as ‘grown ups’ by entrusting them with more responsibility than they may otherwise take on during the year. At camp, I got to choose what I did every day, be it out of camp hiking and paddling trips, or in camp sailing, tennis and leather working. This was a stark and refreshing contrast from my hyper-scheduled life at school during the year. The camp’s non-competitive focus encouraged me to take risks and push myself, knowing I could return to my supportive set of cabin mates and counselors, even if I had just wiped out on the water-skis or lost a tennis match,” says Wolf-Sorokin.
“Camp always gave me a great sense of freedom, independence, and community. I could participate in a wide variety of activities every day from land or water sports to art and music classes. I was away from home which gave me a sense of independence but I had the support network of my peers and the many different staff members. Being in this kind of setting, in the woods on a lake, and sleeping in a cabin gave me an incredible feeling of freedom,” says Linsey Pimentel from Andover, MA.
“I went to Camp Yomechas and I liked the adventure and fun that went along with each day,” says Darlene Cofran 38 from East Bridgewater, MA.
“Every morning, the entire camp would get a sheet of paper with a bible passage on it and then some questions to help you reflect on the verse and how it pertained to your own life. Then you could sit and meditate on it for 15 minutes. The camp was entirely present, yet completely silent everyday. It truly was magical to get 500 teenagers to sit in silence for that long,” says Simokonis.
Found A Mentor
Camp counselors often develop mentor relationships with their campers.
“The camp counselors shared their experiences as a teen and were truly mentors to me. I loved my counselors and I keep in touch with them. It’s kind of amazing,” says Simokis.
Developed A Career
Most of the people I spoke with either became a camp counselor as a teen or went on to be a camp director or serve on the Board of Trustees of the camp as an adult.
“I went on to be a counselor for 7 summers after I graduated high school and had just as much fun as a counselor as I did when I was a camper,” says Simokonis.
“My love for the camp experience led me to go back to work in the camp field. After sending my kids to camp Jori, I then worked there as a counselor. After that I was offered the camp director role,” says Liberman.
“I attended Camp Kabeyun, a boys camp on Lake Winnipesaukee for 6 summers when I was growing up. I then worked there as a counselor for 3 summers, and I now serve on the Board of Trustees of the non-profit organization that owns and operates Camp Kabeyun,” says Wolf-Sorokin.
Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling
Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, Parents Magazine, AARP, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessing, Your Teen Magazine and many other publications.