New Year, BEST You

While “New Year, New You” has been a common saying at New Year’s time, we’ve recently been seeing “New Year, BEST You,” which we like even better. You don’t have to completely and unrealistically transform to become someone else, but rather focus on the best parts of who you are. This resonates because it’s what happens organically from spending time at camp in Maine - where people are their best selves. Here are six reasons how and why:

TIME - At home, kids’ time may be limited by school (class time and homework) and very specific activities. There may not be much time to try out many new things. At camp, with five or six activity periods each day and different schedule rotations, campers get to do and try a lot! Campers spend time doing what they already love and exploring new opportunities. For example, campers who have never been in a show may find that they love to sing, dance, act, and be a part of an ensemble cast. And, campers who at home haven’t played certain sports may learn new skills, join a team, and play intercamp games.

ACCESS - Being at camp in Maine often provides access to opportunities many campers don’t get at home. They benefit from top-notch instruction and facilities in land and water sports, arts, and nature. Campers can sail, waterski and paddle board on huge, clear, natural lakes. They can ride horses and take care of farm animals. They can hike, whitewater raft, climb aerial parks and ropes courses, play golf, ride bikes, paint pictures, photograph landscapes, and more. And, even the foods campers may choose to try at camp may be different than what they eat at home - this expands their palette and horizons.

SHEDDING PRESCRIBED ROLES - Campers can be who they want and may shed defining roles they may have at home. For example, the “shy” kid at home may love telling jokes or doing magic in a camp talent show. The “baby of the family” at home may love being a camp “big sister or brother” to younger campers. Even the friends campers choose are the ones they pick themselves.

HELPING OTHERS - Campers benefit from living together and become better people by helping each other. One camper may show another how to make their bed. One may help another make friendship bracelets or braid her hair. Another may show a friend how to sink the perfect basketball shot or play a fun, new card game. Campers may also think beyond themselves and help others through participation in social action initiatives organized by Maine Camps. All of these experiences add to campers being an integral part of the camp community.

GOALS - Part of what makes campers their best selves is learning what makes them tick and setting and achieving goals. Campers feel good about themselves and grow when they find things they like and are good at, and when they accomplish what they’d like to learn. Examples include training for and completing a one-mile lake swim or running a race, learning a tennis serve, mastering a gymnastics skill, or making a chess board in woodshop. And, if they don’t immediately achieve, campers gain resilience as they figure out how to get where they want to be. Through these experiences, campers also gain confidence and independence.

NATURE - Time off screens and in nature provides peace, calm, and connection - all strong factors to being your best self.

So, as we start this new year, we’ll try to channel our camp selves to be our best selves.

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools: 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 contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.