Summer Camps - Finding Ways To Engage With Kids And Alumni Year Round
The memories evoked by the words summer camp or overnight camp are usually ones of
bunk house type sleeping arrangements, swimming lessons and smoky campfires surrounded by happy kids eating s'mores. Some camping organizations are taking steps to keep these memories fresh by touching campers' lives with year-long and even lifelong activities.Camp can help with the transition from childhood to adulthood in a safe and supportive environment. Attending a girls summer camp, for instance, can provide an extended family that supports a young woman's maturing abilities to spend time away from home, follow a schedule and operate well in a group setting. Being able to "play well with others" is a vital component of success in life.
How wonderful then, to go back year after year, renewing old connections and making new ones; perhaps progressing from camper to counselor. There are even alumni groups, complete with newsletters and annual reunions. When asked later in life what they gained from their camping experience, individuals cite enduring friendships; valuable skill sets and enduring memories of their escapades.
Some camps even offer winter and spring break camps; featuring learning experiences in a very casual setting. Others offer a chance to polish athletic skills. The venue can be at the local athletic club or in a ski area, with winter sports of snowboarding or skiing on the program. In any event, these spring or winter break versions of summer camp offer the opportunity to connect and enjoy the atmosphere that makes camping so much fun.
"Camp" can also mean an adult vacation center. These campers can choose to recreate the atmosphere of their childhood with accommodations along the lines of the old bunkhouse, or opt for a more hotel like lodging. Perhaps instead of a softball game or swimming lessons, a yoga class is more like it. Instead of horseback riding, a ballroom dance class offers good exercise along with some pleasant social interaction.
Adult camping grounds are often also retreat centers available for individuals or groups. Participants in a corporate retreat experience the same benefits in this environment as they did as children at camp - a supportive environment conducive to learning new skills and forming new friendships.
In a world that sometimes makes it difficult to try new things and make new friends, summer camp can be a space apart from busy lives at all stages of life. From second graders to seniors, those met at a summer camp can become an extended family that fosters connections, perhaps for life. So, the next time you hear, "I'm a happy camper," thoughts of the old swimming hole might be joined by thoughts about opportunities for growth and lifelong friendships.
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