Kamp Director

7 Benefits of Sending Children to Kamp

As Kiwanians, you work tirelessly within your communities, raising funds to positively change the lives of children in New York. When money is raised often the most difficult decision can be how best to use these funds. The Kiwanis organization is involved in so many great projects that it can be hard to pick.

All these projects give excellent help, experiences and care to those who need it most. With some such projects it is easy to see the direct value of your funds; with others it may be a little less obvious but no less important.

At times and with complete validity people may question how a Summer Kamp experience will benefit a child, thinking; is it just a fun week away? Or does it go deeper and have physical, mental or emotional benefits that rival the great work other Kiwanis initiatives do.

We here at camp know it does and have the privilege of seeing this every day throughout the summer and year after year as the children learn, grow and develop into young adults that they themselves can be proud of. In front of our eyes, day to day it is obvious how children are gaining from the experience. We extend an open invitation and welcome all Kiwanians to visit Kamp during the summer. In the flesh the energy of the children the passion of the staff and the growth and development of campers is undeniable. Obviously it is not always possible for Kiwanians to take the time and visit Kamp so we would like to highlight some of the benefits of sending children to camp.

1. New Relationships. Not just with peers, but with trusted adults other than their parents. Just think about how useful a skill like that is: being able to negotiate on your own for what you need.

2. A Powerful Identity. This makes the child feel confident in front of others. A child may not have found that one thing they can excel at, but chances are that a good Kamp counselor is going to help your child find something to be proud of that he can do well.

3. Better Problem Solvers. Kamp helps children feel in control of their lives, and those experiences of self-efficacy can travel home as easily as a special art project or the pine cone they carry in their backpack. Children who experience themselves as competent will be better problem-solvers in new situations long after their laundry is cleaned and the smell of the campfire forgotten.

4. Fair Treatment. Camps make sure that all children are treated fairly. The wonderful thing about camps is that every child starts without the baggage they carry from school. They may be socially awkward or the child with special needs. At Kamp they will both find opportunities to just be kids who are valued for who they are.

5. Physical Fitness. At Kamp kids get what they need to develop physically. Ideally, fresh air, exercise, a balance between routine and unstructured time, and all the good food their bodies need. Not that smores (marshmallows, chocolate and graham cracker treats) don't have a place at the campfire, but a good camp is also about helping children find healthy lifestyles.

6. Belonging. Perhaps best of all, Kamp offers kids a chance to feel like they belong. All those goofy chants and team songs, the sense of common purpose and attachment to the identity that Kamp promotes go a long way to offering children a sense of being rooted.

7. Cultural Awareness. And finally, Kamp can offer children a better sense of their culture. It might be skit night, or a special Kamp program that reflects the values of the community that sponsors Kamp, or maybe it's just a chance for children to understand themselves a bit more as they learn about others. Camps give kids both cultural roots and the chance to understand others who have cultures very different than their own.

Summer camps are part of the fabric of American lives and have been active for over 150 years in this country. Attending a summer camp has benefitted generation after generation of American and continues to do so today.

What makes Kamp Kiwanis special and those who choose to donate their money and time to it equally special, is that we provide an opportunity for those children who would otherwise be overlooked. We care for children who without your help could not have afforded the experience and for those with special needs who are otherwise not offered the camp experience. In effect those who would most benefit from the experience.

Summer camps serve as a valuable part of any child's education. As Kiwanians who donate to Kamp you are helping all children within New York have access to that educational experience.

"The organized summer camp is the greatest contribution America has made to education."
(Former Harvard University president Charles W. Eliot, 1922)
 

Column Posted on Web Site April 20, 2014