How summer camp teaches life lessons

A child’s experiences at summer camp help shape who he or she will become in the future. Life lessons summer camps provide are very valuable in every aspect of their lives: friendship, leadership and community citizenship.

Here are some life-enriching lessons that are sure to be in store for campers this summer:

1. Work as part of a team

Campers participate in some team building exercises to strengthen communication and collaboration with others. Collaborative skills are highly valued in college and in the workplace.

2. Bounce back from hardship and gain resilience

Campers are coached through tough situations to handle problems with positive attitudes and to learn how to be part of the solution.

3. Assess risks and examine possible results as a decision-maker

Campers learn to weigh their options and to make decisions as individuals and as part of a group. They take responsibility for the negative or positive consequences.

4. Live with others who are different

There is no better way to get to know a person from a different ethnic and cultural background than to share a camp experience.

5. Be more patient and understanding

Campers develop empathy and learn to accept other points of views when working, playing and living together so closely.

6. Resolve a conflict

Campers learn key social skills of negotiation and compromise.

7. Make and keep friends

Campers build and gain the social skills to meet new people and to create social networks in person.

8. Be more self-reliant and confident

Campers are encouraged to be as independent as possible, to better themselves in a variety of ways and to be proud of who they are.

9. Be more active

Campers enjoy a far more active lifestyle than the school year often allows. Of course, they enjoy different activities such as swimming, climbing and individual and competitive sports. Campers are moving all day long.  

10. Become more creative

Camp environments foster creativity throughout the day. Group and team building activities require creative thinking and much of camp programming — formal and informal — encourages campers to think and act creatively, whether they’re making jewelry, making music or making up a new game or adventure.

-- American Camp Association New England