The American summer camp phenomenon can be traced back to the early 1900s, and here in the UK the tradition has been noticeably taking root for almost thirty years. A true summer camp experience is more about an ethos than simple activities - the building and development of life skills, such as independence, interdependence, tolerance, responsibility, respect and loyalty.

Stays at camps can range in length from one day to a week. The National Camp Association says there has been a growing interest in adventure and specialty camps, and those that cater for older campers offer the opportunity to try out high-powered sports in a safer environment. Multi-activity camps offer children a wide range of choice and the opportunity to discover a talent or new interest.

The benefits of summer camp

There has, perhaps, never been a better time to introduce children to summer camp if they have never been before, and to keep packing them off if they have!
Mum Donna Donnovan says she was baffled when each year her children would pick camp instead of the alternative offered option of a traditional family holiday. Then after six years she finally ‘got it'.

“As my pre-teen children were screaming for freedom and independence, what they were actually longing for was structure and guidelines,” she says. “And that's exactly what they get at camp. There is great comfort in predictability. Knowing exactly what to expect makes you feel safe. And safe is good.”

“Deprivation brings appreciation. And the more we appreciate something, the more we enjoy it,” she adds. “At home we are rarely deprived so we rarely appreciate what we have. At camp we are deprived: we wait in line, we wait our turn. But when we do get that sandwich, orange juice or the warm shower, oh how we appreciate and enjoy it!”

Summer camp could also offer a solution to the loss of traditional methods of developing useful skills - climbing trees, stringing conkers, changing the wheel of a bike, the adventure of exploring outdoors. They can help ensure your child does not miss out on the learning benefits to be gained from the great outdoors and adventures they would not otherwise experience.

Jeffrey Solomon, executive director of the National Camp Association, says camp is an opportunity for children to learn more about different people, cultures and places in the world, too: “Children from all over the world come together to enjoy activities, gain an appreciation for the diversity of the world's many cultures, and to learn and improve communication while developing new friendships.”

Getting the kids more active

Parents may find camp a useful aid in the fight against obesity and inactivity as well. “We could never find anything to get our kids off the sofa,” says Jean Oliver, mum of nine-year old twins Patrick and Jonathan. “We'd never been to camp ourselves, so the idea of sending them off for two weeks of high adventure never dawned on us... We'd resigned ourselves to their chorus of woe and boredom every summer, and frankly, we were beginning to hope for year 'round schools so we wouldn't have to deal with keeping them occupied and out of trouble.”