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Camp gives kids a world of good. It is a building
block and a bridge to the successful development
of young people. Parents of campers have documented
that as a result of camp, their child felt successful,
made new friends, gained new skills, learned
to get along better with others, and found out
what he or she was good at.
It takes courage to send your child to camp.
If you've ever been a camper,
then you already know the value of a camp experience.
If you have not had that fortune, then you
probably need a little more support to understand
that it's
the greatest gift you can give your child.
Children experience numerous positive changes,
thanks to their camp experience, including:
- Increased social competence (friends, teamwork,
getting along)
- Increased self-identity (trying new things,
finding successes, knowing it's okay
to make mistakes)
- Increased positive values (respecting others,
sense of responsibility, standing for what
is right)
- Increased cognitive skills (learning about
the environment and how things work)
- Opportunities to participate in the adventuresome
outdoors (learning motor skills and “having
a blast”)
Camp is one of the few places that provides
a positive community for kids to practice growing
up. They gain a sense of competency, a feeling
of connectedness, a belief in their ability to
make decisions, and a stable identity (learning
their skills, getting helpful feedback).
Kids also learn to navigate on their own: they
develop social skills, coping skills, responsibility,
and engage in sensible risk-taking.
The life skills and behaviors learned at camp become
habits of the heart. You could say that camp is
an important thread in the fabric of child and
youth development opportunities.
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