Bringing Kids Closer to Nature at Summer Camp
Many kids across the country regard summer camp as one of the greatest times of their lives. Camp provides children with numerous benefits, including spending time outdoors in nature. Studies have shown that nature provides a more cooperative context for learning. Specifically, evidence suggests that nature can boost direct learning effects, rejuvenate concentration, and relieve learning-related stress. Since most summer camps are designed with nature at the core, parents can rest assured that their children can reap all these benefits and more.
As the summer season inches closer, here are a few fun and beneficial nature-centric camp activities that engage, uplift, and will excite young campers:
Sports and Vigorous Activities
Camp is a great opportunity to keep kids moving all summer, as illustrated in exercise stats shared in an earlier report from Camp Scatico. Various land sports, swimming, and activities that require walking around camp can teach children the value and the fun of maintaining fitness as a healthy lifestyle habit. Two children from Camp Scatico tracked their steps on their Fitbits every day and discovered that they had covered an average of seven to ten miles per day. Children often gain functional exercise habits at camp that they can carry over to daily life. This includes executing the correct form, building up their stamina, and creating a proper fitness routine. These are especially critical to instill in children as more communities are becoming digitalized and less likely to encourage physical movement.
Community Building Experiences
While camp is a great way to teach children independence, it’s also a practical exercise in the importance of community. Through a myriad of both solo and group activities, children are able to see firsthand how critical it is to work together. What’s more, these summer camp experiences can foster community-building traits like empathy. According to a SymptomFind article on teaching empathy, proven activities include storytelling, roleplaying, and volunteering, as they encourage awareness and care. Because these activities are often framed as a playful pursuit, empathy and other similar traits are instilled in an natural way that’s more likely to stick. Since most summer camps are rooted in nature, this can result in children learning to be valuable community members who are compassionate to others and to the environment.
Teaching About Animals
Interacting with animals has an important role in a child’s development — through these interactions, children build their sense of connection, compassion, and caring. They can also be urged to discover more about animals that aren’t typically adopted as pets, such as foxes, frogs, birds, and other wildlife creatures. Lastly, they can develop a sense of responsibility and learn how to correctly interact with animals by observing their body language, being cautious of other people’s pets, and handling small animals with care. In fact, just recently, education specialists from Swansea University released evidence that proves the benefits of animal interaction in children's emotional and social development. This includes developing a keen knack for communication and altruism.
Outdoor Play
Exposure to unstructured outdoor play can play a part in improving children’s physical activity levels and their overall well-being. Among the most compelling reasons why children should frolic outdoors, as noted in a report on Nature, includes better exposure to essential Vitamin D and reduced anxiety levels. However, statistics show that only three in ten children are getting sufficient outdoor playtime in their preschool years. Conversely, camps specifically adopt a nature-focused program and encourage supervised outdoor learning. This helps children develop a broader sense of the world around them. For many campers, summer camp can be their gateway to becoming more accustomed to spending time outdoors.
There are loads of possible activities that kids of all ages are sure to love at camp for a truly memorable experience. If you're looking for a transformative experience that will bring your child closer to nature and overall wellness, look no further than a summer spent at camp.
Article authored by Roslyn Jamila
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