Summer Camps Encourage Girls To Learn About The Outdoors

The world seen through the eyes of today's kids is one of technology

, computers, video games, and television. Left behind are the wonders of the outdoors and the educational activities that go along with experiencing it. Traditional summer camps for girls have retained their popularity over the years because they provide a break in this routine and an invitation for young women to get to know the natural world around them.

The majority of girls today are growing up in the city or the suburbs, with limited access to raw natural settings. For some girls, summer camp may be a rare opportunity to experience the outdoors for an extended period of time. Seeing flora, fauna and wildlife in its natural habitat is an experience that can't be had in the local zoo. Learning how to respect nature, as well as identify various species, is an accomplishment that can be a source of pride for young women.

Time in nature can help girls gain a new sense of connection to the environment. From a new perspective, it's easier to see the negative effects that pollution, littering, and excessive energy consumption can have on the world.

Camp is also a great way to counteract the sedentary tendencies that many of today's children develop, and a method of fostering interest in outdoor activities and other "fun" ways to get exercise that can carry over into the rest of the year. Activities like fishing, trail hiking, bird-watching, horseback riding, swimming, boating, and water skiing abound. In addition, some camps may go beyond traditional offerings to include skill-based learning in cooking, photography, and visual or performing arts.

Socially speaking, girls benefit in countless ways through these experiences. New friendships forged in this environment are special because of shared summer camp adventures in the outdoors. Girls who may be having difficulty with other children at school or in their neighborhoods may enjoy having a fresh opportunity to make friends amidst the solidarity of fellow campers.

In addition, this outdoor experience can give a sense of independence and self-reliance, increasing young women's confidence and self-worth as she interacts with peers, learns and grows while spending time away from her family. This can serve to help prepare her for going away to college someday. The opportunity for personal growth is tremendous.

Memories of camp are varied and treasured. Thoughts of hiking, swimming and singing songs around a crackling campfire while roasting marshmallows for s'mores with new-found friends will likely stay with a girl throughout her life. Many friendships that begin here become lifelong as well.

It's only natural that parents who remember their own adventures at summer camp would desire the same for their daughters. Parents who may not have had such an experience as youngsters can still see the physical, emotional, mental and social benefits their daughters can reap. However, parents should be aware that often, the girl they send to a traditional summer camp in the great outdoors will return a young woman, more self-reliant, confident and knowledgeable about her world than ever before.

by: Stephen Daniels

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