The Time for Camp is Now: Why Summer Camp is More Important than Ever
If you have been wondering whether to send your child to summer camp, experts agree kids need camp now more than ever. Camp Quinebarge is a place of learning, community, and intentional and purposeful play. According to the Children’s Bureau, summer camp has immeasurable benefits on a child’s social, emotional, and physical health. This includes increased socialization, eliminating screen time, and exercise. This is important especially after the year children had at home during the pandemic. Children have shown heightened anxiety, depression, increased screen time and social media. A study by the Children’s Hospital of Chicago found that 67% of parents wish that at the beginning of the pandemic they would have been more vigilant about their child’s mental health.The study showed social isolation as the unhealthiest aspect of the pandemic, followed by virtual learning and too much screen time. Summer camp can offer the physical, emotional and mental benefits they all need now after living through a stressful pandemic for over two years.
Less than 25% of children in the U.S. ages 6 to 17 are physically active every day. According to the CDC, regular physical activity can help children improve cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Camp Quinebarge encourages kids of all physical abilities to get active and play regularly through all our regular camp activities. At camp, the ratio of sedentary hours versus active hours is almost inverse from a typical school year. If you’re wondering what life at summer camp looks like, click here to see a typical day!
According to the study by the Children’s Hospital of Chicago, 71% of parents believe the pandemic has taken a toll on their child’s mental health. Licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. David Swanson, said he’s seen more cases of anxiety and depression amongst youth and feels this is due in part to lack of social interaction during the pandemic. Being a part of the intentional community overnight summer camps like Camp Quinebarge create can be beneficial to campers mental health. Together, campers physically play and process in real time how to interact with their peers and learn social skills. Campers also learn about consequences in a social setting, and how to be part of a unit living together. When disagreements arise, they cannot walk away from problems or just turn off the screen. At camp, they learn valuable problem solving skills which will benefit them far beyond the camp experience. Our most important goal at Camp Quinebarge is to foster a nurturing environment for all children, where they can grow as individuals and as a group.
Want to give your camper the benefits of a fantastic summer experience? If you have not enrolled in summer camp yet there is still time! Visit our website to learn more and enroll today.
Casey