The data is clear – young men and boys are struggling. They lag girls in school, with lower GPAs, graduation rates, and levels of college matriculation. They are also more likely to lack social connections. Later in life, young men report more loneliness, lower rates of participation in the workforce, and saddest of all, higher levels of suicide than women of the same age. On their podcast Lost Boys, hosts Scott Galloway and Anthony Scaramucci delve deep into the causes of the crisis and speak to several thought leaders on what can be done to support young men and boys. Their first guest, Richard Reeves, author of Of Boys and Men, highlights the lack of strong male role models as a key element of the problem.
As a summer program advisor who has sent hundreds of boys on life-changing, overnight summer experiences, my first thought was, “Summer programs are full of strong male role models!” Boys at camp have so many male role models: cabin counselors, division leaders, coaches, department heads, and many others at the administrative and director levels. In addition, the younger boys have older campers who function as big brothers, teaching them traditions and helping them work through conflict, forge friendships, and manage homesickness.
Teen travel programs are also an incredible source of male role models. Adventure programs offer leaders trained in wilderness survival and outdoor skills. They also guide students in appropriate risk-taking, working as a group, being prepared, and finding resilience in the face of adversity. Male leaders on teen tours or service programs help develop positive group dynamics, facilitate friendships, and create lasting memories of the experience.
As parents, we recognize the increasing struggles of boys, and we worry about the potential for social isolation and a lack of connection. Thankfully, overnight summer camps, trips, and academic experiences can help foster those social bonds and provide young men and boys with positive, supportive male role models.
Want to learn more? Tips on Trips and Camps advisors can help you find the right overnight program for your child!
Spring break season is wrapping up, which means summer is around the corner! For many parents of teens, all of the “togetherness” over spring break can bring worry (or is it dread?) over having their teen home all summer with not enough to do. Jobs are wonderful but hard to come by, and they still leave too much time for hanging around and endless scrolling. Thankfully, there are so many incredible, overnight options for teens that fit every interest, passion, and schedule.
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Secondly, there is a level of comfort in a brother/sister camp that makes for a great benefit. Sometimes one sibling is more hesitant to venture off to camp, while the other is counting down the days. In this situation, it is comforting to know siblings have each other. If there is a bit of typical homesickness in the beginning, the directors can arrange for siblings to see each other. This situation was what my daughter experienced at camp during her second year. Even though she attended camp the previous summer, she was bit homesick at the beginning of her second summer. Luckily, my daughter was able to connect with her younger brother after dinners. This small moment of togetherness helped her quickly overcome her homesickness and instead became immersed in her side of camp. Furthermore, there is a deeper connection and bond that can occur between siblings when at a brother/sister camp. Although each child will inevitably have their own unique experience, they also will bond over shared specialty counselors and evening events. My son and daughter each came home rattling off their favorite meals, comparing favorite counselors, and competing over who swam the most laps for SCOPE, their camp charity event.
