A growing body of research in camp-based youth development suggests that summer camps play an important role in the growth and progress of young people, providing an opportunity for youth to grow socially, to acquire and practice important life skills (including critical workforce-related skills) and to experience nature – all in a fun, hands-on setting. Research tells us that camp experiences are distinct from other learning environments because kids learn skills at camp that they do not learn in the same way in school, and that the skills campers learn at camp last far beyond their camp experience, and specifically help them in school, when they attend college, and in their first jobs.
A national research study by the American Camp Association provided data-driven evidence that camp is a positive force in youth development, fostering:
- Independence
- Confidence and Self-Esteem
- Leadership Skills
- Social Skills
- Willingness to Try
- Adventurousness
- Family Citizenship
Our own research shows that through their time at camp, our campers develop critical life skills and grow key social and emotional attributes. We record nine metrics of growth:
- Friendship
- Independence
- Teamwork
- Affinity for nature
- Citizenship
- Responsibility
- Competence
- Interest in exploration
- Problem solving
By most any measure, a high-quality summer camp experience creates a positive impact that ripples out from the kids we serve into their families, communities and beyond.
