Making new friends is nearly always a goal of any parent sending a child on an overnight summer program. Yes, they want their child to try new things, develop independence, find inner resilience and grit, and improve on a skill, but they also want them to make new friends. For kids who struggle socially during the school year, the hope of making a new friend at camp or on a teen program is particularly important.
Friendships formed at camp come with no baggage, no strings attached. Kids are not saddled with whatever identity or social group they may have at home and can make a friend in the most organic way possible. And without the distractions of screens and social media, friendships develop in real life – what a concept! Friendships form at camp or on a teen program at a much faster pace than those formed at home. Communal living accelerates these bonds, whether it be in the cabin, in a tent on an adventure trip, or with a roommate on a teen tour or academic program.
These relationships endure and can be a source of comfort during difficult times of the year or when a kid just needs a break from their social group at home. I’ve loved watching my kids connect with their summer friends throughout the year. They immediately become the carefree, summer versions of themselves – they giggle, joke, drop all pretention, and cease caring about what they are wearing, the social pecking order, or if their posts received any “likes.” Having friends from other parts of the country and around the world broadens their perspective and breaks them out of their bubble, not to mention giving them lots of options for travel and visits.
The summer friend is yet another gift of an overnight camp, trip or academic experience – and one that keeps giving throughout the school year! Reach out to a Tips on Trips and Camps advisor – we can help match your child to the right overnight summer program and make a new friend too!
There is a sign that hangs in our summer cottage that reads, “If you get lost, come straight back to camp.” The quote is attributed to L.L. Bean, who posted this directive on the wall of his own hunting camp in Northern Maine in the early 1900s. I am reminded of it as the kids go back to school and the memories of camp slowly begin to be replaced by classes, sports commitments, and the rhythms of the fall schedule.
In his latest book “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness,” Jonathan Haidt explores the rise of anxiety in children and teens. Haidt details many factors contributing to increased anxiety and a decline in youth mental health, and points to two key issues: 1. a lack of unstructured play and appropriate risk-taking, and 2. the rise of technology and widespread use of smart phones. As parents, we know his observations are true. Kids are on their phones too much and missing out on real connections with their peers. As a result, we are raising more anxious, lonely, and depressed kids. Despite these disturbing trends, Haidt is hopeful and prescribes four key solutions we can implement as a community:
