One of the best reasons to send kids to camp is for them to learn the things they often fail to learn in school – 21st century skills.
What are 21st Century skills?
They are the life skills that kids seem to get less and less of a chance to build in our over-scheduled, overly protective, competitive and busy lives. Things like collaboration, teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking. These things used to be a natural part of childhood. Nowadays, they’ve fallen by the wayside as we do math drills, explore virtual reality and focus on team sport outcomes, rather than process.
When my grandmother was a girl, she was sent “down the shore” in the summer for her health. Camp was a way to escape the heat and dirt of the city. It was also a place where a kid could be a kid. When I was kid, we were free to explore the neighborhood but the middles of our summers were long, hot, boring and lonely in my cul de sac. Everyone was off in the Catskills and camp was just something you DID. Camp, therefore, made sense to our parents
But does this still apply to our generation?
So many parents here in Southern California ask me why I bother sending my kids away to summer camp at all. After all, we have great pools in our neighborhood and there is a daycamp program not more than 100 yards from my front door. There are specialty camps teaching rocketry, art, tumbling, baseball, fashion, computer programming and much more more at all the local clubs, schools, tutoring centers and gyms. We have the beach and the park. It’s hardly a ghost town like my own suburban summers. There are kids around and there is plenty to do. Plenty for parents as well.
Many of my fellow moms draw up summer plans and schedules like their school year teachers draw up a curriculum. Every day scheduled. Every park playdate and pool day planned.
I know they mean well and I’m sure their kids have fun. But I can’t bring myself to do it.
It’s just more of the same types of activities that our kids get all year round. Sure they pick up skills at sports camps and academic camps. They perfect a swing or get a jump on math. There’s nothing wrong with that.
But for me, and for my kids, I want summer to be a time when more abstract life skills are taught. 21st Century Skills. 20 years from now that swing isn’t going to make or break my kid. Nor will their ability to recite math facts. Their ability to collaborate and their leadership skills, however, may be the key to their lifelong happiness and success
Thank goodness for camp. No matter how well I planned, I don’t think I could teach all those important life skills at home as effectively. Some lessons require a little unfamiliarity and risk to take root.
Camp is time away and time to explore themselves and their role in society. Without the protection of their regular social group and the obvious structure and rules of their home territory, kids are forced to adapt, evaluate and interact in new ways.
This can be scary for both kids and for parents. For many parents, the initial instinct is to protect our kids from anything unfamiliar or challenging.
I hear that reasoning from a lot from parents who don’t “believe” in summer camp, and I can sympathize with that urge to protect, truly I can. It’s a little like wanting to not get your child vaccinated. It might hurt a little!
But the reality, in most cases, is that it only hurts for a second. Most children adapt beautifully to camps and most good camps rarely have to send homesick campers home. Campers come home from camp stronger, more confident, proud of new life skills and ready to take on the world in a new way.
I’ve spent countless hours questioning my decisions about schools and academics and sports. But for me, camp is a no brainer. I truly believe the lessons learned at camp are some of the most important ones my kids will ever learn.
I cannot imagine a better way to learn 21st Century Skills. Just like I want my kids vaccinated, I want them prepared for the real world… for life.
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