As parents and educators, we pour our energy into guiding students from August to May. But what happens during those crucial summer months of June and July? According to Dr. John Lepine, Principal at Crossover Prep, summer camp plays a vital role in bridging that gap and fostering growth that the classroom alone can’t always provide.
Here is why kids need camp, straight from an educator's point of view.
1. Building Confidence Through Challenge
One of the most immediate benefits seen in students who return from camp is a surge in confidence.
"The first thing that comes to mind is confidence... students who have had that experience and kind of stepped out of their comfort zone a little bit, they come back and they're just more willing to take initiative, more willing to lead, more willing to stand up and do what they need to do."
Camp naturally pushes kids out of their comfort zones. It removes them from the familiar and normal routines of home and school, presenting a "fun test" of independence.
When students navigate this new environment, they come back more willing to:
- Take initiative.
- Lead their peers.
- Stand up and do what needs to be done.
2. Cultivating Empathy and Servant Leadership
Another profound change observed in campers is an increased sense of awareness and empathy.
I know that that's something that they might be picking up from their counselors: "Oh, I observed how my counselors acted, how they treated people, how they were helping, and so I'm starting to emulate that a little bit myself."
For older students participating in leadership development programs, the lesson is even more explicit: Leadership is service, and service is leadership.
3. Transforming the Classroom
The impact of these summer experiences ripples back into the school year. A student who has embraced the camp mindset transforms into a student who notices the needs around them.
That turns into a student who is noticing what needs to be done in the classroom, noticing that somebody needs help with setting up, and without even being asked, will just volunteer, step up, and fill the need that's there.
Camp offers unique lessons in character, confidence, and service that are hard to replicate in day-to-day life. It turns summer downtime into a powerful season of growth.
