“Blue Mind” – Benefits of Lake Life at Maine Camps

Feeling “blue” can be a good thing! If you or your child have spent time on beautiful Maine lakes, you know that there’s no place to spend a summer like camp in Maine. The vast, beautiful lakes upon which each Maine Camp Experience camp is set can be restorative and provide a sense of peace and wellness. We were recently introduced to the “Blue Mind,” a book about the physical and psychological benefits of water by Wallace J. Nichols, Ph.D., a marine biologist, in a great Conde Nast Traveler article. There’s an undeniable peaceful and calm feeling from spending time on the lake, surrounded by pine trees, while swimming, boating, paddle boarding, and more. Maine campers have plenty of time for daily waterfront activity which is beneficial because studies have found that being near the water lowers our stress and provides a sense of peace and wellness. Nichols shares that there’s an “immeasurable sense of peace that we feel around water.” It’s “a chance to escape the hyper-connected, over-stimulated state of modern day life” and “that humans are pulled toward Mother Nature’s blue for, in part, its restorative benefits.” For some, “time spent in the water is an opportunity for insightful thinking, creative output, and quality conversations.” Reading additional articles about the “Blue Mind” led us to learn that Nichols also shares that “water is the antidote to ‘red mind’ a state of anxiety created by increased urbanization and near-constant reliance on technology. A 2017 American Psychological Association report on stress and technology noted that just under half of all adults and 90% of young adults have become ‘constant checkers,’ engaging with screens and social media all the time.” We can likely assume this has gotten even worse since then. Nichols also shares that connection with water also helps counter a dulled effect that Nichols calls “gray mind.” He shares, “Spending too much time inside, glued to screens, consuming news and entertainment, can lead to lethargy, lack of motivation, and dissatisfaction. Getting in, on, or near the water improves moods.” We would assume that the pandemic has heightened this further, too. If what Nichols shares is true: “Without water, then, we miss a part of ourselves, perhaps. Water is medicine, for everyone, for life,” then there’s no place we’d rather be this summer than on the beautiful lakes at Maine Camps! Sources: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/why-being-near-water-really-does-make-us-happier https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2017/11/13/blue-mind/857903001/ https://qz.com/1347904/blue-mind-science-proves-the-health-benefits-of-being-by-water/ Thanks to Inn By the Sea for introducing us to the CNT “Blue Mind” article. Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

You can share your own Maine camps memories & expressions of gratitude on our Memories of Camp section of our website.

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child?  Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks).  It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates.  Then you can research these camps in more depth.

Next, be sure to  to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.