Kids Need More Time Outdoors. Maine Camps Make it Happen.

Children need time outdoors. Whether they’re swimming in a lake, climbing trees, exploring the woods, playing sports, painting the scenery, or simply enjoying the freedom of a summer day, outdoor experiences are an important part of growing up. Boys and girls alike benefit from opportunities to move, explore, take on challenges, and connect with the natural world.

But are today’s children getting enough of that time outside?

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and featured on Good Morning America caught our attention. A new study examining two decades of outdoor activity among American adolescents found that boys are spending significantly less time outside than they once did, while spending more time in front of screens.

The study focused on older adolescents, but the larger conversation is relevant to parents of younger children, too. Developing an appreciation for the outdoors, enjoying physical activity and having opportunities to explore the natural world are important throughout childhood. So how do we make sure our children have those opportunities?

At Maine camps, getting outside isn’t an occasional activity. It’s part of everyday life.

Outside Is Where the Action Happens

Picture a summer day at a Maine camp.

The morning might begin with a swim in a beautiful freshwater lake, followed by sailing, waterskiing, kayaking or canoeing. The afternoon could bring a hike through the woods, a game on the athletic fields, a tennis lesson, archery, fishing or an outdoor adventure with cabinmates.

And that’s just one day.

At Maine camps, the outdoors is woven into the rhythm of summer. Children spend their days moving, playing, learning new skills, and discovering things they might never have tried before. They’re not simply being encouraged to put down their devices. They’re finding so many exciting things to do that they become immersed in the experience.

There is something special about jumping into a lake, paddling across the water, climbing a trail, playing a pickup game, or sitting around a campfire with friends. These are experiences that happen naturally when children have the time, space, and encouragement to explore.

More Than Fresh Air

Time outdoors offers children much more than a change of scenery. It creates opportunities for growth in ways that are difficult to replicate indoors.

Physical activity: Swimming, running, hiking, playing sports, and participating in waterfront activities keep children moving throughout the day. They develop coordination, build skills, and discover new ways to challenge themselves.

Confidence and independence: Trying a new activity, learning to sail, navigating a trail or mastering a challenging climb gives children opportunities to take appropriate risks, work through challenges and experience the satisfaction of accomplishing something on their own.

Friendship and connection: Outdoor experiences bring children together. Whether they’re working as a team, cheering on cabinmates, building something, exploring the woods, or sharing a laugh on the waterfront, they’re creating connections through shared experiences.

Curiosity and discovery: Nature provides an endless classroom. Children can discover wildlife, learn about the environment, explore the forest, observe the changing weather, and develop an appreciation for the natural world around them.

These experiences help children build a relationship with the outdoors that can extend well beyond the summer.

A Summer That Naturally Balances Screen Time

Parents spend a lot of time thinking about screen time and how to establish healthy boundaries around technology. It’s an important conversation, but sometimes the most effective approach is to offer children something wonderful to do instead.

At traditional overnight camps, the focus shifts. Days are filled with activities, friendships, instruction, traditions, and adventures. Children have opportunities to be fully present, engage with the people around them, and discover interests that don’t require a screen.

It’s not about making technology the enemy. It’s about giving children the chance to experience a different kind of day, one filled with movement, fresh air, face-to-face friendships, and the freedom to explore.

And in Maine, the natural setting makes that experience even more special. With beautiful lakes, forests, mountains, and wide-open spaces, the outdoors is an integral part of camp life.

Give Kids the Gift of an Outdoor Summer

The recent research is a reminder that children need opportunities to spend time outside, and those opportunities don’t always happen on their own. They need time, encouragement and environments that make outdoor exploration part of everyday life.

Summer is an ideal time for children to be campers and discover the joys of being outdoors. Trying something new, developing physical skills, building confidence and making friends through shared adventures can help shape how children experience the world around them.

Maine overnight camps provide just that.

Children return home with new skills, wonderful memories, and perhaps a newfound appreciation for everything that happens beyond their screens.

The best part? They aren’t thinking about how much time they’re spending outside. They’re too busy having fun. The same goes for counselors, too.

This summer, give your child a chance to unplug, get outside and experience all that a Maine camp summer has to offer.

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child? Try out our helpful Select-A-Camp 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.