Are you considering sending your teenage daughter to overnight summer camp?
There’s no denying that our world is immersed in technology and screens. So, taking a moment to disconnect and spend time in nature can be exactly what the doctor ordered.
It’s this reason that more than 14 million children and teenagers attend summer camp in the United States.
Summer camps for teen girls present campers with life lessons and the development of positive qualities. As teenagers grow older, these qualities become engrained in who they are and help to ease life’s many transitions.
If you’re considering sending your daughter to summer camp, you’re going to want to read this. We’re uncovering the five most important life lessons that your daughter will learn at summer camp.
1. Develop a Sense of Leadership
There’s no denying that high school is a natural environment for teenagers to face peer pressure. In fact, a recent study revealed that only 10% of teenagers felt they had not experienced peer pressure in high school.
To help encourage our teenagers to resist peer pressure and make their own decisions, they must have leadership skills. These skills must be strong enough to rise above the pressure and encourage others to do so as well.
Summer camp provides teenagers with a natural environment for fostering this sense of leadership. For those that have summer camp experience, they are more likely to be natural leaders than those who succumb to peer pressure.
With the influence of camp counselors and program facilitators, campers have no shortage of positive role models. These role models help to encourage good decision making and instill lifelong morals.
2. Building Lasting Relationships
Summer camp also provides the opportunity to create special bonds with friends outside of a teenager’s natural circle. While school friends are important, it’s also important to have friends outside of these circles.
Because overnight summer camp is such a close-knit and intimate experience, the bonds formed throughout camp have proven to be very special. Since these friendships are often segregated by distance, it teaches teenagers how to maintain special bonds from afar.
As teenagers grow older, natural changes and transitions will occur throughout their life. This can be anything from moving states to going away to college. Teenagers can use these coping mechanisms learned in camp to overcome these changes.
3. Promote Independence
It may prove challenging for parents to free children of their watchful eye. But, there’s no denying the positive effect that summer camp has on a teenager’s independence.
Compared to their home environment, campers witness a natural sense of independence. Without parents and hometown friends to depend on, campers are must deal head-on with their issues.
Once it is time to flee the nest, teenagers will be able to use the life lessons they learned in camp. With independence, this can be anything from the ability to make new friends to being responsible for themselves. The independence fostered through camp is sure to make these transitions easier.
For first-time overnight summer camp parents, read our guide here for reducing feelings of anxiety when sending your child to camp for the first time.
4. Foster Confidence
When teenagers go to overnight summer camp, they don’t have their parents or school friends to help with social challenges.
Without their natural support system, campers are more inclined to put themselves out there in social situations. These situations help to instill the confidence that will be a key player throughout their development.
Learning these skills at a young age put teenagers ahead of others that are missing out on these opportunities.
Camp also encourage its campers to step outside of their comfort zone. Be it physical, mental or emotional, these challenges help campers overcome fears and insecurities. In overcoming such challenges, the camper continues to grow their confidence and feel more capable in their abilities.
5. Embrace and Connect with Nature
Did you know that teenagers spend an average of nine hours each day consumed with media?
From movies and video games to social media and web apps, it’s clear that technology has become ingrained in the lives of today’s teenagers. In a world that is so connected, it’s essential for teenagers to take time to step away from the world of technology and decompress in nature.
Summer camp is the perfect opportunity to give teenagers a break from their media routine and disconnect.
Being disconnected, teenagers are able to focus on the outside world and become immersed in the natural environment. This can include anything from learning about nature and hiking to stargazing and canoe trips.
At the end of the day, summer camp serves as a much-needed reminder to teenage girls that a life exists outside of their screens. Sooner or later, they’ll begin to look forward to this digital escape each summer.
Summer Camps for Teen Girls
We hope this has helped shine a light on the ways in which summer camps for teen girls can benefit their development.
Sending your teenager to summer camp may feel intimidating to some parents. But, it’s a fabulous investment in their physical and mental health. As they develop into adulthood, they will continue to use the lessons they learned in summer camp.
Overnight summer camp provides for the opportunity to step away from everyday life and experience a whole new way of life. From helping to build meaningful relationships to instilling confidence, it’s hard to deny the allure of camp.
If you’re looking to learn more, be sure to visit our blog. We cover anything from what to know before sending your child to camp and essential camp packing lists!
