SoCal Summer Camp’s Biggest Benefits for Kids
With summer just around the corner, many parents recall their childhood summer days as carefree and full of joy. Despite the good memories, some parents may have mixed feelings about what this season means for their own kids. What summer activities you can get them involved in? How do you manage childcare while working? How can we avoid the endless strains of “I’m bored?”
There are two magic words that offer a great solution to these questions: SUMMER CAMP! SoCal summer camp is fun, for sure, but did you know that summer camp provides a wide range of benefits for children? Here are just a few:
Friendship-building and social skills
During summer break, kids often find it difficult to form or maintain friendships with peers their own age. Besides their siblings or cousins, most kids would say that they mainly interact with adults when they are not in school. One of the greatest benefits of summer camp for youth is that they get to socialize and meet new people their own age! Catalina Island Camps’ sleepaway summer camp program provides a safe environment for children and adolescents to develop social skills, decision-making skills, and incredible opportunities to sample a wide range of outdoor activities while making new friends.
Moving away from the screen means more exercise and more fun
Summer camp is a perfect solution to get your kids off the couch, away from the screen, and into the great outdoors. Sending your kid to a SoCal summer camp not only gets them out of the house to have some fun, but they are sure to get some solid exercise in as well – from activities such as hiking, archery, gaga ball, swimming, zip-lining, and paddleboarding, just to name a few. Allowing your kids to explore the outdoors and interact with new children is an excellent way to broaden their perspective and experience a whole new world for their summer break.
Social development and personal growth
When looking for a fun summer camp for your kid, there are many different camp types to consider, including sports camps, cooking camps, art camps, science camps, sleepaway camps like Catalina Island Camps, and many more. Sure, camp is all about having fun, but a quality camp experience means your child will not only be entertained but also educated and challenged at the same time. While having fun and exploring their own interests, they are also increasing their own capacities for learning, teamwork, problem-solving, knowledge, and self-awareness. The vast majority of parents report that their children’s self-confidence soared while at camp. Attending summer camp can positively impact your son or daughter by helping them learn about themselves. Summer camp offers kids a unique opportunity to learn about the world outside the traditional classroom setting while doing wonders for their personal growth and development.
Positive adult role models
Typically, camp counselors are younger adults who work over their summer break from college. Not only are these counselors energetic, but kids see them as “cool” and relate to them very easily. Sometimes, it helps kids to see what their own lives could look like in just a few short years. The formation of these role model relationships helps kids to develop the confidence, self-esteem, and skills they need to be successful in school and in life. Overall, the more healthy, positive adult relationships that a child or youth has in their life, the more likely they are to thrive in all areas, long after summer camp has ended.
Memories for a lifetime
Kids today are missing out on of the simplicity of life before the era of technology. Many adults would say that some of their fondest memories were those sunny, summer camp experiences as they were growing up, in a time before screens, keyboards, toggles, and VR headsets.
At Catalina Island Camps, your child may miss their phone, tablet, or gaming system at first, but once they start exploring, interacting with their peers, engaging in a variety of activities, and having new adventures, they are sure to leave summer camp with stories, photographs, friendships, life lessons, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Catalina Island Camps – A SoCal Summer Camp
Want to learn more about Catalina Island Camps? Read through our mission statement, meet our staff, and more! If you have any questions or concerns, contact us via phone or email.