Nature's Classroom: Six Lifelong Benefits of Sleepaway Camp

Send us a text

The question of whether to send a reluctant child to sleepaway camp presents a significant parenting dilemma. Drawing on years of experience as an adventure camp director, I've seen the remarkable potential for growth — and the very real risks when children aren't emotionally ready.

Contrary to what some might expect, forcing hesitant children into wilderness camp situations often backfires spectacularly. When children feel overwhelmed by both the separation from home and anger at being forced into the experience, they may lash out at counselors and other campers — creating potentially dangerous situations in backcountry settings. I've witnessed firsthand the stress this places on everyone involved, including parents who must travel long distances to retrieve a child who cannot safely continue the program.

When children do feel ready for the challenge, however, sleepaway camp offers extraordinary benefits. Through our non-profit adventure camp, we've seen children blossom while working through social awkwardness to form lasting friendships, developing leadership skills through independent tasks, building resilience through judgment-free learning environments, mastering outdoor skills, deepening their connection with nature, and growing confidence by creating experiences entirely their own. For parents considering camp, focus first on preparing your child by developing core skills: following safety instructions, managing daily planning, contributing to team tasks, and properly packing for various conditions. Most importantly, respect your child's genuine feelings about readiness — the most successful campers arrive feeling nervous but willing to give it a chance, not resentful and resistant.

Ready to explore how outdoor adventures might benefit your child? Download our comprehensive guides at nnbl.blog or follow us on X, formerly Twitter @NNBLBlog for step-by-step plans to introduce your family to nature-based activities at a pace that works for everyone.

Support the show

Hi friends, welcome to the new normal, Big Life Podcast! We bring you natural news and stories about nature that we hope will inspire you to get outside and adventure, along with a step-by-step plan to help you practice what you’ve learned and create your own new normal and live the biggest life you can dream. I’m your host, Antoinette Lee, the Wellness Warrior.

Sign up for our newsletter for more health tips and natural health news.

We want to hear from you. Take a three-question survey. Tell us about your biggest health challenge. We'll do the research and publish helpful information about the topics that interest you the most.

Find us on X-Formerly Twitter @NNBLBlog

Email us at [e-mail]

Website https://nnbl.blog/new-normal-big-llfe-blog/

Thanks for listening & Live Strong, Explore Boldly, Be Ready!

We'd be grateful if you shared this podcast with someone who needs it.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
As a parent, you might be tempted to send your
child to sleepaway camp to buildindependence and resilience.
However, forcing a hesitantchild could do more harm than
good.
As the director of an adventurecamp, when parents ask if they
should force their child to goto sleepaway camp, my answer is
no.
If your child is nervous aboutcamp and says they don't want to
go, but agrees to give it achance after a discussion, your

(00:21):
kiddo might thrive at camp undercertain conditions.
Leaving home can be stressful.
Going into the backcountry canbe scary.
Consider respecting yourchild's intense feelings when
they insist they don't want togo to camp.
Firmly resistant campers canlash out at camp counselors and
other kids.
When forced into the experience.
This puts your child, the otherchildren and staff at risk in a
wilderness situation.

(00:42):
We've dealt with this scenariowith a teen camper, which was
very stressful for everyoneinvolved.
When children become a dangerto themselves and others,
parents must drive or fly a longdistance to pick up their child
at camp.
Leaving home can be stressful.
Going into the backcountry canbe scary.
Adding additional stressorslike anger and frustration over
being forced into a newenvironment might overwhelm your

(01:04):
child.
It can be hard for your childto make friends and master new
skills.
Under Thank you OutdoorAdventures emphasizes that kids
need to feel emotionally readyto fully embrace the camp

(01:25):
experience.
Forcing a child into a newenvironment like a sleepaway
camp can amplify stress.
Leaving home is already a bigstep, says child psychologist Dr
Laura Markham.
Adding pressure can make ithard for kids to connect and
learn.
Psychology Today explains thatoverwhelming emotions can hinder
social skills and resiliencebuilding key benefits of camp.

(01:47):
Instead, kids may shut down,missing out on forming
friendships or mastering skillslike teamwork and leadership.
When kids are ready, sleep awaycamp can be transformative.
Camps foster independencethrough tasks like setting up
tents or navigating trails.
Kids gain confidence bystepping outside their comfort
zone, says Thompson.
A well-run camp like the one weoperate through the non-profit

(02:10):
I founded and co-founded withMatthew J Barifato, will offer
your child six key benefits thatwill last a lifetime.
Here are the six benefits ofSleepaway Camp 1.
Working through socialawkwardness to meet new people
and make friends.
1.
Working through socialawkwardness to meet new people
and make friends.
2.
Gaining leadership,responsibility and teamwork
skills by accomplishingindependent and group tasks.

(02:30):
3.
Learning new skills in achallenge-by-choice environment
where kids can failjudgment-free and gain
resiliency by trying again.
4.
Mastering new outdoor skills.
5.
Developing or deepening theirrelationship with nature.
6.
And learning how to use natureto cope with life's stressors.
Six growing confidence bystepping outside their comfort

(02:52):
zone in several ways going to anew place far from home, meeting
new friends and havingindependent experiences and
stories to share with friendsand family when they get home.
Your child should learn a fewskills before going to sleepaway
camp to make them betterprepared and more self-reliant.
Parents could start allowingtheir children to practice these
skills well before camp.
Topping the list is how tofollow important safety

(03:14):
instructions.
Knowing these basic skills willhelp your child have a safer
and more enjoyable campexperience and prepare them for
other types of overnight stayswithout you.
Teaching your children how toplan for their day is a vital
sleep-away camp and life skill.
While at camp, children will beasked to start their day in
their water sports clothes andshoes, for example.
They should know which clothesand shoes are meant for hiking,

(03:37):
water sports and chilly nightsby the campfire, and how to keep
up with their belongings.
For example, they should alwayshave summer necessities in
their day pack, like lip balm,sunscreen, a refillable water
bottle, a sun hat, a rain jacketand closed-toed shoes in case
the weather turns rainy or cold.
Kids who can't followinstructions and constantly lose
things aren't ready for campand may struggle with these

(03:59):
skills at school.
Practice team tasks at home,such as helping with chores or
cooking dinner.
Many children attend campwithout knowing how to pitch in,
such as helping with chores orcooking dinner.
Many children attend campwithout knowing how to pitch in,
help or work together as a team.
These steps build confidence,making camp feel like an
adventure, not a chore.
We found that kids love whenit's their turn to volunteer
with preparing, serving andcleaning up after meals at camp.

(04:20):
Try this at home.
Most camps provide a packinglist, which we do at our
adventure camp.
However, many parents stillhave additional questions about
what their child should bring tocamp.
So here are some general tipsto help alleviate your fear of
not packing enough of the thingsyour kiddo will need and to
avoid packing too much.
Definitely, pack everything onthe camp packing list.

(04:41):
Pack early and double checkyour child's bag after you've
packed it.
Pack clothes for the camp area'smost extreme potential high and
low temperatures.
In July, the Colorado mountains, where we host our camp, range
from 100 degrees Fahrenheitduring the day to 32 degrees
Fahrenheit at night In climateswhere winter conditions can
occur in the summer or earlyfall.

(05:01):
Bring one set of sweats with ahoodie, a waterproof jacket and
a warm winter jacket.
Pack a with a hoodie, awaterproof jacket and a warm
winter jacket.
Pack a cozy throw blanket,their favorite pajamas and a
stuffed animal or doll ifthey're into that.
Ensure they have running shoes,hiking boots with ankle support
and water shoes that they canlace up or strap on.
Do not wear flip-flops forwater sports.
Safety first.
Packing correctly is crucial.

(05:22):
Follow the camp's packing list,including clothes for extreme
weather.
Avoid scented hygiene productsand snacks.
To prevent attracting wildlife,camp counselors should have an
endless supply of healthy snacksthat campers can access any
time.
The counselors will also takemeasures to store food in
bear-proof containers that willnot attract bears and other
wildlife into sleeping areas.
We don't want to attract bearsor other critters to our cabins

(05:46):
and tents, and it's too hard tosearch multiple acres of wooded
land for lost, expensive orsentimental items, personal
hygiene products that smell likefruit, honey, other foods or
flowers For snacks.
The camp will provide manysnack and meal opportunities.
Avoid bringing expensive toys.
We're okay with your kiddobringing their cell phone for
selfies, but leave other costlygadgets at home, although most

(06:09):
camps have an officialphotographer to capture photos
of your child at camp.
Pocket knives are fine forolder campers, but not at camp.
We prefer that you leaveanything sharp at home.
If your camper needs a sharptool for an activity, the camp
will provide it undersupervision.
Respect your child's intensefeelings against sleep-away camp
.
If your child resists camp,listen.

(06:30):
Forcing kids can lead toresentment, says Markham.
Psychology Today suggestsgradual exposure to outdoor
activities to build readiness.
When kids feel in controlthey're more likely to embrace
the camp's challenges andrewards.
Over the past four years,children from all walks of life
have arrived at our adventurecamp and immediately bonded with
camp counselors.
We are often empatheticprofessionals, background

(06:54):
checked, trained to listenwithout judgment and advise kids
to talk with their parents andcaregivers about the complex
emotions and challenges theyconfess to us at camp.
When done carefully, sleepawaycamps and day camps can
positively change a youngperson's life while learning new
skills.
After camp, parents reportedimproved socialization and
confidence, less anxiety anddepression, improved behavior

(07:16):
and focus and a love for nature.
Download this importantinformation and other natural
health and adventure sportsstep-by-step plans at nnblblog.
And other natural health andadventure sports.
Step-by-step plans at nnblblog.
Be sure to catch our article inX posts formerly Twitter at
nnblblog to learn archery basicsFrom selecting a bow
identifying your dominant eye.
No-transcript.