May 9, 2008

Outdoor Time for Kids

Kids having sustained outdoor time is one really great benefit of camp. When most kids’ lives are spent inside (at school, at home, in the car) and therefore usually “plugged in,” it’s really nice to experience the beauty, complexity, and intensity of nature— the awesome view from a mountain top (“That’s so far!”), the wonder of discovering a creature (“Cool, look at this!”), or the freedom of just relaxing in the shade with a friend. These kinds of outdoor experiences open kids up to seeing new things, to truly enjoying what they do. It rekindles their enthusiasm. Sure camp is about all the fun, but some of it lasts far beyond just the summer as well.