Summer Camp is much more than a few days of fun. Camp offers children a unique opportunity for personal and social growth. Our summer programs are intended to provide area kids with a fun way to learn new skills, increase self-confidence, improve confidence in new social situations and encourage health risk taking. A positive attitude, teamwork, open communication, respect, and accountability are all values which are encouraged.
In the Psychology Today article Nurturing Resilience Michael Unger, PH.D., a family therapist and researcher at Dalhousie University, says "Summer camps are perfect places to help children optimize their psychosocial development. Looking at those experiences from the vantage point of my research on resilience, I know that camps help our children develop great coping strategies"
In the fall of 2023 we surveyed the parents of last summer’s campers, asking: “What changes did you see in your child after he/she attended summer camp?” While we did get a few answers like “none” and “nothing really”, the vast majority reported positive social and emotional growth. Answers included:
- New friends more willing to try different foods
- More independent, had a great time and made new friends
- A confidence boost
- More Independent and relaxed
- Words can barely explain it. Her confidence skyrocketed. So many lessons and so much independence developed
- He isn’t shy anymore. He has lots of friends now.
- Every year she comes back happy and more social which is exactly what I hope for.
- They wanted to stay at the camp.
- Knowledge of new activities, wants to try more new things.
- Happier more out going
- She was full of happiness on how her summer was going and was helping me a lot more around the house
- More confident, more outgoing
