The Power of Camp – 9 Reasons Why Every Kid Should Go

Below is a guest blog post from Jason, director of Camp Matoaka, a girl’s summer camp and proud MCE member. As camps, parents, and campers prepare for this upcoming summer, many parents are beginning to feel the anxiety of sending their “most prized possessions” to camp.  So to help us all remember the Power of Camp, here are 9 reasons about why every child should have an opportunity to have the experience of their lives: 1. All children want and need to be a part of a social group. 2. Being part of a camp family empowers the camper to become both a good team member, and an effective leader. 3. Camp is an opportunity to celebrate differences. 4. Camp helps children develop the skills they need to fix their own problems, rather than having their problems fixed for them. 5. Children learn to develop cooperative play skills at camp, which has proven critical for their future success in life. 6. Camp provides a constant connection between kids and their fellow campers, which allows social struggles to be handled in person, rather than hiding behind a computer screen. Camps ultimately provide kids with the necessary tools to work through these issues face-to-face. It’s part of why camp is the best place to unplug! 7. Camp provides a caring community, where campers learn to become a friend, helper, sharer, includer, encourager, and risk-taker. 8. Camp creates an environment for children to learn to make choices on their own, face challenges, and take healthy risks. They also learn to take responsibility for the choices they make, which are ultimately good for themselves and others. 9. Camp provides a place where children will enrich their character, and develop everlasting friendships. So after reading that list, we ask you - what more could you want for your child? This is the power of camp. How would you describe it in your own words?_ _Photo courtesy Camp Matoaka