Has your Child Lost Their Electronic Connection?
In many books and movies summer camp has been the scene. To name a few, “The Parent Trap” and “Indian Summer”. Yet, the majority of these movies and books are not realistic. Either they sugar coat the camp experience or they make it just horrible. “Summercamp!” , the documentary is one of the most realistic true stories about kids at summer camp. Filmed at Swift Nature Camp in Wisconsin, it truely shows how the kids interact and what makes camp so special. During the filming over 300 hours of film was shot to make this charming 90 minute feature. This documentary shows camp like it really is, this is no glossy brochure or promotional DVD, it just shows kids living life with new friends and in new siuations.
These days parents heavily schedule their children making it more difficult to plan for summer camp. In addition, we parents, have given much more importance to technology than nature. After all the boogie man outside rarely comes in to harm your child. Thus making the world of mature unsafe. It is estimated that most children spend nearly 6 hours a day in front of some sort of screen.
Richard Louv,, author of the ground breaking book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder finds this an unfortunate development. He calls this phenomenon nature-deficit disorder and he links it to some of the most alarming trends for our kids. Including rises in obesity, attention disorders and depression.
Summer Camp is a place that can help children grow to love nature as well as teach all children independence and friendship. This connection with others and nature is imperative to raise a generation that is in tune to preserving and protecting earth. With so many specialized camps how do we find a camp that has traditional values and a nature focus?
Here are a few questions to ask yourself about your summer camp Are electronics allowed? Ipod, computers and cell phones take away from the camp experience. Often these electronics allow some children to hide in their electronics and not participate. Louv feels child could be easily distracted if his or her tent mates spent all day playing the latest hand-held video games or text messaging their family back home. Plus it does not help children get into the camp mindset.
Does the camp have an Outdoor Focus? Louv suggests some camps are trying to be all things to all people. No longer are camps seen as a traditional time in the woods. Historically, summer camps used their natural settings, and encouraged chlidren to to play in a outdoor environment. Today this is no longer true, many camps take place on college campuses.
Is there independence for play ? Nature-deficit disorder is almost always due to the agressive overscheduling of children, Louv points out. Thus giving kids less time or energy to explore their world on their own. Quality camps have figured this out and set up planned and non-planned times for play. Much can be learned when kids just play on their own with out adults setting out the rules.
Does the camp have a nature program? Does the camp have actual class time where nature can be explored and discovered? These classes should be hands on and not classroom activities. Does this Nature theme run throughout all the programs? Is the camp aware of its environmental footprint and does it teach this to the children?
Camp Food? For years camps have had a less than steller reputation for its food. Lately this has changed. With more vegetarians, camps have had to adapt. Be sure to ask about fried foods. How about a salad bar with fruits and yogurt? Don’t forget about catering to food allergies as well. Within all this, the meals must taste good and be kid friendly.
If any of this sounds like something of interest to your child, try looking at Swift Nature Camp. This is a small coed camp for children 6-15. It has a very strong emphasis not only on developing a desire to learn more about nature but also understanding why we need to respect it. This Outdoors Camp engage kids in hands on, fun-filled learning. A child’s natural curiosity and self-discovery make this program work… This Environmental Camp is NOT School.
Campers can bring their own small critters from home and let them live in the Nature Center for all to see and learn about. Combined this learning with the beautiful natural surrounding and canoe and backpack trips, children cannot help but form an appreciation for the nature.
A wonderful community is born each summer when kids from all over the world come together to learn more and appreciate nature . This community helps a child mature by providing support and encouragement. SNC encourages campers to be more self-reliant and in-tune to others. Thus creating more sensitive and understanding children. Do you feel Earth might just need a little more understanding of its inhabitants while needing to understand and respect nature? Swift Nature Camp mightbe the place for your child this summer.
If you are just starting to look at summer camps and would like more information, please see Summer Camp Advice Camp Guide.