Summer Camps and Youth Development: Skills, Identity, Health

Introduction: The Value of Summer Camps

There are nearly 10,000 camps in the United States, serving over six million children each summer (National Camp Association). Summer camps have been an American tradition dating back to the early 1900s. The summer curriculum of these camps brings out the excitement of the season while offering a wide range of opportunities for childhood learning and growth.

The purpose of this paper is to represent to the reader the importance of organized summer camps and programs in youth development, with a special emphasis on the influence of recreation on child development and personal growth. By defining the effect of the summer camp experience and presenting relevant statistics from reputable sources, this paper will reveal that summer camp programs play a significant role in youth development. Three key development areas are discussed: social skills, self-identity, and physical health.

Some of the key positive outcomes of the camp experience, as stated by Camping Magazine author Garavaglia-Maiorano, include the following:

Particular camp influences operate across social, interpersonal, and physical growth areas. Camps allow children a safe haven to discover and express their individual character, learn about their social and environmental responsibilities, and participate in healthy outdoor and recreational activities.

Core Development Areas

The sections that follow address the three core development areas most prominently associated with the summer camp experience: social skills, self-identity, and physical health. Each area reflects findings from industry research and real-world program examples.

Social Skills Development

Social skills are critical to the development of youth into successful adults. Social systems involve information sharing, problem solving, rules and procedures, and interpersonal interaction with peers and adults. Each of these areas is present in the camp environment, alongside an atmosphere of recreation.

Research conducted by Roper Starch shows that Americans value the role that outdoor recreation plays in addressing social concerns, particularly as they relate to youth. Even in the case of difficult social problems such as juvenile crime (71%), underage drinking (66%), and illegal drug use (64%), outdoor recreation is viewed by a strong majority as having a positive role to play (Roper and Starch).

A camp environment provides vast opportunities for outdoor recreation, while offering the expertise of camp professionals in the building of social assets. Specific assets include social values and competencies, the constructive use of time, the understanding and control of behaviors, and respect for social diversity.

Numerous camp professionals have identified social values and competencies as key development outcomes. Activities and influences that affect the building of this asset include the opportunity to make new friends, to have positive social interactions with peers and adults, and to work together as a team. Not only do campers participate in team sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball, but they are also frequently engaged in team-building functions such as backpacking, camp crafts, rafting, and outdoor cooking.

Team and community spirit is also fostered through work groups, assigned chores, and activities such as collecting firewood, food preparation, and various other group functions. Campers and staff work together to accomplish the many tasks of daily camp living. In this cooperative environment, the result is a common sense of social pride, accomplishment, and contribution to the camp community as a whole.

The constructive use of time can be learned through the various camp activities outlined on a daily schedule. Camps are managed through day-to-day structure with clear boundaries and expectations, enabling youth to better understand the necessity and value of productive time management.

The understanding and control of behaviors can be developed as campers interact with others under camp guidelines and procedures. Summer camps bring together youth from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds for extended periods. This diversity provides great learning opportunities for young campers to understand the value of people and to develop respect, honesty, caring, and sharing. According to research conducted by Roper and Starch, influential Americans — or "thought leaders" — endorse the idea that kids who take part in outdoor recreation are less likely to engage in vandalism and other criminal activities (57% strongly agree versus 49%).

There are also a number of camps created specifically for at-risk children, including children living in poverty, kids with poor social skills, and children with parents struggling with alcohol or drug abuse. According to Roper Starch, two-thirds of these children are expected to be at high risk of making serious life mistakes — such as drug use, teen pregnancy, low educational attainment, and antisocial behavior.

Children who witness or experience violence in the home are more likely to become perpetrators or victims of violence later in life. This means that children living in homes where domestic violence or sexual assault occurs are at higher risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of violence themselves (U.S. Department of Health). It is therefore critical for society to develop programs, including special camps, to aid in violence prevention.

One program example is Trail Blazer Camps, which "serves at-risk children and encourages the development of academic and social skills as well as self-esteem," focusing on hands-on workshops and academic development. Other examples, such as New Horizon Youth Camp and Blue Star Camps, operate recreationally focused environments with activities including fishing, hiking, evening bonfires, swimming, pool parties, talent shows, and awards banquets.

The purpose of these camps is to offer at-risk youth an opportunity for a fresh start in a non-judgmental atmosphere. Campers are expected to put their best foot forward; individuals are taught how to resolve conflict without intimidation or inappropriate behavior. They also participate in positive recreational activities, and efforts are made to aid in violence prevention. Individuals are taught to be responsible, cooperative, and to look out for others.

A number of camps operate "buddy systems" in which participants are paired with another individual for specific tasks or activities. For example, one camp uses the buddy system for swimming: participants are required to keep an eye on their buddy, and if a buddy needs help, the other contacts a lifeguard. The effect of this program is instilling responsibility and accountability in individuals.

Statistics show that students who spend one to four hours weekly in extracurricular activities are 49% less likely to use drugs and 37% less likely to become teen parents than students who do not participate in these types of activities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

Camps offer attendees broad exposure to people from different walks of life. Campers come from diverse socioeconomic classes, different backgrounds, and different family structures. As a result, the development of compassion and empathy for fellow human beings is a core social development area. Children learn to share stories around a campfire, to contribute their thoughts and ideas, and to acknowledge the feelings of others — naturally developing compassion for each other. Learning to be understanding, civil, and accepting of others will serve campers well in social situations as they grow into adults.

Environmental awareness is another social value nurtured by the outdoor recreation experience. Children learn a general appreciation for the outdoors, and they are taught to conduct themselves in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Camps offer children the opportunity to explore wilderness areas, outdoor skills, plants and vegetation, animals, and ecology through hiking, backpacking, bicycling, horseback riding, and other adventures.

Some camps take the environmental approach further by specializing in outdoor education and nature studies. Examples include Barry Conservation Camp, Outward Bound, YO Adventure Camp, and Westcoast Connection Outdoor Adventures. Travel camps such as the Lost Coast Environmental Wilderness Trip in California offer remote wilderness experiences featuring 30 miles of "roadless coast, forests plunging to the sea, creeks and spectacular beaches, bald eagles, and bears," concentrating specifically on environmental education and recreation.

Of course, traditional Girl Scout and Boy Scout camps also operate throughout the country, offering a wide range of recreational and outdoor experiences. Evenings are filled with campfires, music, games, and stories, and children are responsible for daily outdoor and indoor chores. Programs such as Camp Wilderness in Missouri feature open tents rather than cabins, mosquito nets instead of screens, and no running water — teaching children to be resourceful and environmentally conscious.