Camp Friendships
Updated: Jun 12, 2019
Summer camp is a place where amazing friendships are formed.
As a young child I attended summer day camp at my grandmother's house. In my teen years Cadet Camp, Church Camp and overnight hikes with the Duke of Edinburgh Award were the highlights of my school holidays.
I loved camping and as a teenager it gave me an opportunity to meet people from across the Caribbean region. As an adult I had the privilege of spending a few summers working at a camp in the USA where I formed friendships with persons from all over the world; from Colombia to South Africa. In fact, one of my best-friends today is a Jamaican I met at this camp.
The mission at Camp Purple Tree is to build character and, inspire creativity … amongst our campers. In order for us to do this, friendships must form. Campers need to get to know each other and counselors are trained to help campers to begin to connect. Creating friendships help children to develop socially and emotionally; friendships, which emerge at summer camp can last for a lifetime.
The first day at camp for a camper can be the most challenging which is why icebreakers and organized games are always handy tools for counselors to have under their belt. The counselor sets the tone for the campers so it's important for them to greet each one with a smile, make eye contact and introduce them to the campers who have already arrived.
Children can sometimes be very unkind to each other which is why it's important to spot teachable moments which pop-up in every activity and teach children to give compliments and recognize the accomplishments of their peers. We need to teach children how to be good friends to each other. Praise campers for small things like tidying up and assisting another child who has fallen and, soon they will begin to model your behaviour.
Research shows that most campers admit that camp helped them to either make new friends or to know persons who were different from them in one way or another. A relaxed camp atmosphere, without the rigours and competition of academia, allows children to be their own unique selves thus enabling authentic friendships to form.
If you're sending a child to camp this summer remember that it should be more than just a baby sitting service; it's an opportunity for them to create lifelong friendships and have amazing experiences.
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