Camp: A Cure for Parents' Sleepless Nights

What keeps parents up at night? Parents constantly worry about how their children will succeed in life and how they will develop the skills necessary to thrive in the 21st century. Camps today are prepared to provide children with the skills necessary to stretch and grow beyond their lives at camp. A summer at camp may be one of the greatest stepping stones toward your child’s future. Here are several examples of the benefits of a camp experience: • Children at camp learn that it is healthy to take risks. • Children at camp are given the opportunity to succeed or fail in a supportive and safe environment. • Children at camp are given the ability to think creatively. • Children at camp develop strong verbal communication skills and learn to self-advocate. • Children at camp are given the ability to build collaborative relationships and negotiate and manage conflicts. The list goes on and on. Children at Camp Matoaka, each and every year, show significant growth in self-esteem, peer relationships, independence, adventure and exploration, friendship skills, values, decision-making, and social comfort.  Camps really are more than just the lakes, facilities, and bunks. Camps offer so much more behind the program. They are preparing children for the world around them. What are employers looking for in today’s society? Well, for starters they’re looking for individuals with a strong work ethic, the ability to work in a team environment, a person who possesses strong oral communication skills, as well as critical thinking and problem solving skills. Sound familiar? These are all skills that are developed at camp. The bottom line - summer camps are a complement to your child’s education and growth. The former president of Harvard, William Eliot, once said, “I have a conviction that a few weeks spent in a well-organized summer camp may be of more value educationally than a whole year of formal school work.” All camps have the potential to provide positive experiences foundational to practicing successful life skills. So, how can parents sleep better at night? The answer is CAMP.