Released May 15, 2009
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Nothing makes young people feel more wanted and part of an activity like summer camp, says Joshua Wright, Garland County extension agent for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
"Summer camps provide opportunities for young people to grow and to be themselves in an environment away from home," says Wright, a 4-H agent.
He cites a recent survey by the American Camp Association in which researchers found 96 percent of more than 5,000 campers reported that camp helped them to make new friends.
Wright says camp allows young people to feel a sense of belonging, one of the four basic needs in a child's life. The other three are mastery of a skill, independence and generosity.
Camps can broaden a child's outlook.
Wright said campers have fun with people they don't know, and it provides a chance for young people to get to know people who are not like themselves. This gives young people an opportunity to practice important social skills that will be used throughout their lifetime to help fulfill their need for belonging in a healthy manner.
"In a young person's eyes the mastery of a particular skill provides them with self-confidence and more insight into who they are, what they're capable of and what it takes to succeed," Wright said.
"At camp, youths are given the opportunity to experience independence in a safe and supporting environment," Wright said. "In some camps, youth are given a chance to serve as a mentor to new or younger campers. They're also given a chance to create their own schedule and be responsible for their own belongings. This allows campers the chance to experience what it is like to be responsible, having responsibility is necessary to learn responsibility."
Wright said campers become less self-centered and more willing to try new things.
"Generosity is about recognizing a purpose beyond our own self-interest. Generosity is more than just giving things it's also about giving of yourself and of the skills that you have mastered," Wright said.
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/may2009/0515fitness_summercamp.htm
Contact: Elizabeth Fortune, (501) 671-2120, efortune@uaex.edu
