Summary: <br> It’s those deep relationships that are formed at summer camp that really have a dramatic influence on them.<br><br> -Stephen Gray Wallace<br> In Episode 32, I’m talking with <a href="https://ecareforkids.org/about/director/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen Gray Wallace </a>about his recent article for <a href="https://www.teenlife.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Teen Life</a> : <a href="https://www.teenlife.com/blogs/10-reasons-why-high-school-students-will-get-lot-camp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 Reasons Why High School Students Will Get a Lot from Summer Camp.</a><br> Adolescents’ Three Primary Developmental Tasks<br> Forming an identity<br> Gaining independence from parents<br> Making friends<br> <br> The Top 10 Outcomes of Experiential Learning at Camp<br> “Camp is an experience every child deserves,” according to the<a href="http://www.acacamps.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> American Camp Association</a> (ACA), which accredits more than 2,400 camps serving more than 7.2 million children and teens. Specifically, ACA points to the “joy” kids experience when they make new friends and the inherent value in unplugging from their electronic devices, enjoying being out of doors, connecting with other young people, and learning about themselves.<br> And the ACA adds that, from a quantifiable perspective, the outcomes of a summer camp experience include the following.<br> <br> <br> <a href="http://sunshine-parenting.com/2015/03/27/children-learn-social-skills-at-camp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Friendship skills:</a> Make friends and maintain relationships.<br> <br> <br> <a href="http://sunshine-parenting.com/2017/10/31/independent-self-confident-resilient/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Independence</a> : Rely less on adults and other people for solving problems and day-to-day activities.<br> <br> <br> Teamwork: Be more effective working in groups of peers.<br> <br> <br> Family citizenship: Gain attributes important to being a member of a family.<br> <br> <br> <a href="http://sunshine-parenting.com/2016/07/09/why-kids-need-to-get-uncomfortable/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Perceived competence:</a> Believe that they can be successful in the things they do.<br> <br> <br> Interest in exploration: Be more curious and eager to learn new things.<br> <br> <br> Responsibility: Learn to be accountable for their own actions and mistakes.<br> <br> <br> <a href="http://sunshine-parenting.com/2016/06/10/7-reasons-to-get-outside/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Affinity for nature:</a> Develop feelings of emotional attraction toward nature.<br> <br> <br> <a href="http://sunshine-parenting.com/2017/08/08/5-steps-raising-problem-solver/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Problem-solving confidence</a>: Believe they have abilities to resolve problems.<br> <br> <br> Spiritual well-being: Develop purpose and meaning in life.<br> <br> <br> Camps are also being recognized as incubators for the highly valued non-cognitive or “soft skills” and as places to <a href="https://www.kidsinthehouse.com/blogs/stephen-gray-wallace/got-camp#KRJ4cCKSt9LIYJwh.99" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hone leadership and social entrepreneurship skills</a>.<br> <br> Abbreviated Excerpts<br> Audrey: Is there an amount of time teens need to be at camp to get these benefits?<br> Stephen: I would argue the longer the better, but these types of outcomes transfer quickly, so even if they are only attending for a week or two, you’d see gains in those areas. Certainly, the longer they stay at camp, the deeper those benefits flow.<br> Audrey: What do you think are some of the mechanisms that help teens in all these areas?<br> Stephen: I think it’s the intrinsic nature of what we’ve been talking about. They’re away from home. They’re away from their normal support systems.
