Preparation for summer camps
Summer camps must compulsorily be attended by youth as they provide the opportunity to build character, acquire special life skills, enlarge circle of friends, and develop new interests. The key to selecting the right summer camp for youth depends on what he or she hopes to achieve from the camp experience. Are there any special interests the youth want to explore and learn further? After carefully analyzing these factors, you will be in a fit position to select the type of summer camps appropriate for the youth. Camps are generally of two types - the traditional camps and the specialty camps. Either type of camp is capable of providing a rich and fabulous summer experience. Presently most summer camps keep adding new programs to revitalize camp life. This is largely to arrest a trend in decreasing enrollment in summer camps caused by smaller family sizes, increase in supplemental educational programs and the popularity of internet and television.
Traditional camps offer a tight pack of activities that includes outdoor recreation, arts and crafts, individual activities, team activities, and more. Traditional camps are best for youth who love to a variety of things. The traditional summer camp can also provide a variety of activities such as hiking, canoeing and campfires. There are camps for the rock music, performing arts, magic, weight loss etc. Traditional camps can be day camps or overnight camps. Day camps allow the participants to indulge in camp activities during the day but return home by the evening. Sleep-away camps are camps where all campers stay at the camp under the supervision of adult guardians for a week or a pre-determined period of time.
Specialized camps focus the entire event on one activity like dance or a particular sport. This type of camp is geared towards youth intent on improving performance in his or her specialized area of activity. Youth who are extremely motivated in one specialized activity and who can concentrate on that activity for long periods are best suited to attend specialty camps. The primary purpose of many camps is educational and cultural development. A summer camp environment may allow youth to become adventurous in a safe and friendly environment.
Some youth camps are in the nature of spiritual enrichment program (SEP) where the youth will have lots of fun, opportunities to play games, meet new friends, understand the truth and meaning of life and go home a transformed person filled with hope for a brighter future. In today's scenario the youths are continually exposed to all sorts of evil influences and habits like drug addiction, sexual immorality, juvenile delinquency etc. Youths need a camp life that offers a congenial atmosphere to rediscover their personalities. They need to know what is right and what is wrong. They need to know about values and morals. here are also religiously-affiliated summer camps, such as those run bythe Evangelical Christian groups.
One of the key needs of a young camper is to feel a sense of belongingness. Some of the activities designed at summer camps are aimed at getting the campers to freely interact with each other and form friendships that could last a lifetime. Mealtime is probably the best and easiest way for a camper to know her dorm mates and other campers in a very relaxed setting. Campers eat together as a dorm and they are free to invite another dorm to share the meals with them. Campers are assigned a dorm as soon as they register to participate in our camps. A dorm is usually composed of 10 - 12 campers and 2 counselors. They do their activities together and sleep in their pre-assigned rooms and dormitories. A natural partnership among campers usually develops and this is highly encouraged because they learn team building.