Camp Tamarack’s program is designed to provide campers with unforgettable opportunities and exposure to an incredible array of sports, arts, waterfront and other special programs and activities.

Showing posts with label summer camp learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer camp learning. Show all posts

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Summer Camps Shape Character

If your kids have been looking for a way to spend their summer this year, something that doesn’t involve camping out in front of the television, playing video games, or watching brainless reality shows, then summer camp is just the thing for them. Summer camp isn’t just a rite of passage; it helps kids build their confidence, creates lasting friendships, and helps shape their character - something they’ll carry with them as they grow into emotionally healthy and fulfilled adults.



At camp, there is no shortage of fun activities that will both test and build important skills and values that will be essential in your child’s mental and emotional growth.

Here are a few more ways summer camps help shape character:

1. Gain self-confidence - At summer camp kids are encouraged to become more self-reliant. Mom and Dad won’t be there to nag them to brush their teeth, make their bed, or finish their chores - they’ll be expected to do all of that themselves. In turn, their self-esteem and confidence grows with each task they complete by themselves.

Through a series of games and confidence-building activities, kids will learn to trust themselves and to not rely too much on others, especially when they have all the tools to achieve so much on their own.

2. Build leadership skills - Kids get some of their first taste of leadership at summer camp. Whether it’s guiding a group through a particularly thick patch of forest, or leading their team to victory in a game of dodgeball; it’s through these simple tasks and activities that the foundation for leadership is cultivated and honed.

3. Become more adventurous - It’s no secret that, these days, because of modern conveniences, parents go out of their way to keep their children away from any kind of danger; whether it’s by sterilizing their environment of germs or by safe-guarding every nook and cranny of their home so that it’s one hundred percent kid-proof.

At summer camp, kids are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and to take calculated and adult-supervised risks, even if it’s just by hiking a mountain trail, swimming in a lake, or participating in a sport they’ve never tried.

4. Increases social skills - Perhaps the reason summer camp is most memorable is because of the friendships forged during the camp’s duration. At summer camp, kids can be themselves with other like-minded kids, and the friendships that come out of nights sitting in front of a campfire are ones that can last a lifetime.

Friday, August 15, 2014

What Kids Learn at Summer Camp

Going away to summer camp is a thrilling time in a kid’s life. They’ll learn lessons about independence, build their self-confidence and help foster a sense of community and collaboration at camp. If you’re thinking about sending your child to summer camp, you may want to read on.



Here are some of the valuable lessons and skills your kids could learn at summer camp:

1. Friendship - Summer camp is where friendships are forged and bonds are strengthened. It’s where kids can learn to be comfortable with other people their own age, find new ways to engage each other and discover common interests and bond over them. The friendships fostered at summer camp can last a lifetime, and it’s a great way to bring the shy ones out of their shells.

2. Self-confidence - During camp, they’ll be able to benefit from a variety of confidence building exercises. Whether they’re interested in performing arts, sports, or visual arts, they’ll gain the confidence needed to navigate the world outside of camp, while equipping themselves with the new skills and knowledge.

3. Self-reliance or independence - It’s easy for kids to fall into a routine of dependence, especially when they’ve got you to clean up after them all the time. Summer camp nurtures a spirit of independence by encouraging self-reliance in campers and giving them the confidence to do things on their own. It helps kids gain the maturity needed to work things out on their own and to be conscious of their various responsibilities, like helping out with chores at home, completing their homework on time, and being respectful of their environment.

4. Detachment - If your kids are prone to homesickness, you might think summer camp will be too much for them to handle. But feeling homesick is a natural part of going away to camp, and it’s a problem that resolves itself within a few days, sometimes even hours. While it may be hard for them initially, they’ll eventually learn how to detach themselves from being overly involved or attached to home, and they’ll be free to spread their wings and apply themselves in other activities like sports and arts, in ways they never have before.

5. Spirit of community and collaboration - At summer camp, your kids will learn valuable lessons in collaboration. They’ll be able to build on ideas with fellow campers and foster a spirit of community through collaboration. They’ll be both student and teacher for other kids as they exchange ideas and learn new skills.