Thursday, November 5, 2015

Connecting With Nature Through The Summer Camp Experience

Summer camp can be likened to a school setting without the boundaries of walls. Camps allow children to play outside and commune with nature in a safe, yet free, environment. This is one of the main reasons camp advocates encourage parents to enroll their children in a summer camp at least once. The importance of communing with nature cannot be over-emphasized. Two important benefits include:

Image source: birdsleuth.wordpress.com

Learning the importance of life: Children often forget – given that they grow up in communities devoid of trees – that they are part of a larger sphere. Summer camps gently remind them that each plant, bug, and animal is important. Children who learn to appreciate nature have been shown to be more tolerant adults. Additionally, extremely introverted children can learn to express themselves with animals or plants. The goal is not to change their personality but to give them the opportunity to find an avenue in which they can communicate effectively.

Learning the value of pain: It is inevitable that children will fall or get into an accident in a camp. Nature remains the same, regardless of the person. Children who connect with nature learn how not to let scrapes or small injuries defeat them. Research has also showed that children who develop a love of nature at an early age are more adventurous and less inclined to give up during times of adversity.

The beauty of summer camp is that children can learn these lessons while still being guarded and looked after by adults. No child is left unintended in reputable camps. This means that children can learn and develop without fear of actual danger.

Help your son grow into a productive and happy adult by allowing him to experience adventure at Greenwoods Camp. Learn more about its program here.



2 comments:

  1. I totally agree with you! Im borrowing a line from David Sobel, “If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it.”

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  2. Kids shouldn’t miss connecting with nature through summer camps!

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