Did you know that over TEN MILLION American kids go to camp every summer? Whoa!

Summer camp has been a U.S. tradition for over 150 years. Back then, before air conditioning was invented, hot city summers were miserable and even unhealthy for children, so escaping to the country for a few weeks became a popular trend. Today, kids have different reasons for making camp a part of their lives, such as:

To Meet New People
Camp gives kids a change to other kids diverse backgrounds. It’s a great way to make cool new friends and learn about new and different activities.

To Try New Things
Camps offer games, sports, and activities that you probably can’t do in your backyard or even your neighborhood. You might try archery, sailing, pottery, dance, challenge courses, and a hundred other cool things! Staying home and doing “the same-old same-old” can be boring, and camp can let you mix things up.

To Challenge Yourself
Not all the things that kids do at camp are easy – they’re not supposed to be! Fresh challenges — like trying new sports, learning new crafts and games, or pushing yourself to achieve something — can be very rewarding. Take it from Bella, 11, who told us:

“I went to summer camp and I passed my swimming test! I can barely swim, so it was a big accomplishment. I felt great afterwards. Since I passed my swimming test I got to canoe!”

To Appreciate Nature
There’s a great big natural world out there, and going to camp helps you learn how beautiful and important it really is. Without trees, soil, water, and wildlife, the Earth (and all the people on it) couldn’t survive, and getting out into the woods and in nature can give you a better understanding of how the web of life works.

To Get a Change of Scenery
Sometimes it’s important to get away from familiar territory and find a “new place” for yourself. Camp offers the perfect opportunity to make a fresh start, see and experience a variety of things, and find out how you think, feel, and act outside of your normal surroundings. It can even be great to get away from you and friends for a while and just be you.

To Learn New Skills
All the activities and instruction at camp are great opportunities to learn something new — such as sailing, archery, challenge course, horseback riding — that could end up being your favorite hobby. Camp can also help you develop important life skills like independence, self-reliance, and confidence. Since you’ll be living with a whole group of people, it’s also a great way to learn about cooperation, compromise, and tolerance.

To Get Healthy
With all the fun, games, and physical activity, going to camp can be a great way to get exercise and fresh air. Swimming, hiking, and playing sports are a much healthier alternative to hanging around at home all summer.

To Have FUN!
When you get right down to it, going to camp is all about having a good time.

We offer resident camp, mini-resident camp, horse camps, travel camps, day camps and community day camp. Summer camp can be a great activity for all kids.

Robin Howard
Senior Program Specialist