Essay - The Importance of Summer Camps and Programs in the Development...

The Importance of Summer Camps and Programs in the Development of Children

Purpose of the Paper

The purpose ***** this paper is to represent to the reader ***** importance of organized summer camps and programs in youth development. A special emphasis throughout the paper is placed on the *****fluence ***** recreation on child development and pers*****al growth.

By defining ***** effect of the ***** camp experience and presenting relevant statistics from reputable opinion leaders, ***** paper will reveal that summer camp programs play a signific*****nt role in the youth development. There are three key ***** *****as discussed in this paper, which *****clude social skills, self-identity, and physical/ health.

Overview

There are nearly 10,000 camps in ***** United States accompanying over six million children each ***** (National Camp Association). Summer camps have been an American tradition dating back to the early 1900s. The summer curriculum of these ***** bring out the excitement of ***** season, while offering a myriad of opportunity for childhood learning and growth.

Some of the key positive outcomes of ***** camp experience as stated by Camping Magazine author Garavaglia-Maiorano include the following:

***** thinking ***** inquiry ***** used as primary ********** to examine issues.

Campers learn and increase collaboration with each other.

Active learning replace passive instruction.

Continuous and spontaneous reflection occurs ***** the entire process.

Campers develop a sense ***** civic and social responsibility.

Participants serve ***** be served by their involvement.

Campers increase self-esteem and self-knowledge.

***** develop communication, problem-solving, ***** social skills.

Garavaglia-Maiorano)

***** ***** influences are ***** social, interpersonal and physical growth areas. Camps allow children a safe haven to discover and express their individual character, learn about their social and environmental responsibilities, and to participate in *****y outdoor and recreational activities.

***** Development Areas

Social Skills Development

***** ***** are critical to the development of youth ********** successful adults. Social systems involve information sharing, problem solving, rules and procedures, ***** inter-personal interaction with peers and adults. Each of ***** ***** is prevalent in the camp environment along with an atmosphere ***** recreation.

Research conducted ***** Roper Starch shows that ********** value the role that ***** ***** plays in address*****g social concerns, particularly as they relate to *****.

***** in the case of tough social problems such as juvenile crime (71%), underage drinking (66%), and illegal drug use (64%), outdoor recreation is viewed by a strong majority as having a positive role to play (***** ***** Starch).

A camp ***** provides a vast ***** for the outdoor recreation experience, while ********** the expertise of ***** professionals in the building of social assets. Specific assets include ***** values and competencies, the constructive use of time, the understanding ***** and control of *****haviors, and ***** respect of social diversity.

Numerous camp pr*****essionals have noted social ***** and competencies as key development outcomes. Particular activities ***** ***** of the ***** ***** ***** affect the building of this asset ***** ***** opportunity to make new friends, to ***** positive ***** interactions with ***** and *****, and to