Why Summer Camp is a Game-Changer...

As a child, I attended a number of different summer camps. My parents and I were on something of a quest to find the perfect summer camp for me, and all of them offered many benefits to me. Today, there are a wider range of camp programs than ever, and nearly all of them offer a chance for kids to “unplug” and enjoy screen-free fun!

The first camp that I ever attended was a day camp run by the Recreation Department in my hometown in Connecticut. I discovered that camp was very different from school, and it allowed me to nurture friendships in a less structured setting. I strengthened existing friendships and made new friends who shared my interests.

The next camp was a day camp in the woods. We spent the full day out in the natural world, exploring nature and pursuing outdoor activities. This camp pushed me out of my comfort zone, as I was challenged to do unfamiliar outdoor tasks and activities.

My next stop on my camp journey was a Jewish overnight camp in southern Connecticut. Overnight camp helped to promote independence by providing me with my first experience of being away from home for an extended (four-week) period of time. I played a lot of different sports and learned new skills, such as sailing, which in turn, built self-esteem. I remember thinking that the lake was enormous and challenging, but when I returned to drop off my son, 30 years later, it looked like the world’s smallest lake! I found myself surrounded by Jewish kids and young adults for the first time in my life, and this experience served to strengthen my identity as a Jew.

Seeking less of a focus on sports, I next attended an overnight camp in Maine. I allowed my counselor to convince me to go on a backpacking and camping trip, and it was a much more arduous trip than I expected. At many points along the way I was certain that I couldn’t go a step further. But I made it, learning a lesson about resiliency, and discovering a new interest – camping. (Car camping, that is!)

My penultimate camp proved to be a poor choice. My parents sent me to a day camp that was a tennis camp. They chose it because my brother loved tennis, and they didn’t have the bandwidth to send us two different camps that summer. I learned that I neither liked tennis, nor was any good at it, but I reconnected with a friend from a previous camp and also had the opportunity to be physically active throughout each day.

The story has a happy ending – and my final camp was the perfect camp. It was a day camp focused on creative and performing arts where I had the opportunity to strengthen my talents in music, theater, and photography. After attending as a camper, I returned as a counselor-in-training, then as an assistant counselor, and then as a counselor. In these roles, I developed my leadership skills and cultivated my passion for working with children, which ultimately led to a career in education.