Page 16 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & III • May 11, 2011 SCHOOLS & CAMPS The boy in the boat: Life lessons learned at camp by Stephen Wallace, M.S. Ed., and Ben Seifer As summer begins, parents are finalizing post-school plans for their children. Often, those schedules will include camp for a week, a month, or more. Some kids will attend day programs, others will enjoy overnight experiences. Their activities may be specialized, or include a little bit of most anything. Regardless of the exact ingredients, these children will learn the true meaning of what summer camp is all about. Among other things, camp provides children with the opportunity to connect with nature, to participate in humanpowered activities, and to benefit from personal relationships. Many young people who attend camp experience an increase in their self-esteem (independent research has found 92 percent of them say that the people at camp helped them feel good about themselves) and are able to establish a true sense of independence. Kids also say that because of camp…“I developed lasting friendships”...“I became a team player”... I learned how to care.” One Boy’s Journey through Camp Ben was the boy in the boat. He was a gregarious gogetter whose journey through camp was inextricably linked to sailboats on the water. The lessons he learned at camp originated from, or were reinforced by, the challenges he faced as a skipper, navigating the uncertain and constantly shifting conditions of wind, tide, crew, and competition. Learning lessons about self-reliance, self-confidence, exploration, and responsibility -- all important metrics of a successful summer camp experience and harbingers of what follows. Below, Ben and I take turns talking about what those metrics mean to each of us. Self-Reliance SW: Developmental dictates eventually steer young people away from dependence on their parents and toward independence and self-reliance. In psychological terms, it’s called developing an “internal” as opposed to “external” locus of control -- meaning that what formerly was otherdirected (“Do this”; “Don’t do that”) is now self-directed (“I should do this” and “I shouldn’t do that”). Shorn of long-established support systems, kids at camp must identify the resources that can help them meet personal and group goals, resolve conflicts, and find success. BS: When my parents’ SUV moved out of sight, I was, for the first time in my nine years of life, on my own. It didn’t hit me right away that the next morning my mom wouldn’t be there to wake me up, my dad to help me sail, or even that I wouldn’t come home at the end of the day to find my bed nicely made. My camp counselors introduced me to something new: adults who would show me the way but not hold my hand the entire time. I did a lot of active learning. I would always try something the first time and if I couldn’t figure it out on my own, my counselors would be there for guidance. Self-confidence SW: For campers, becoming self-reliant is predicated on having the self-confidence to succeed educationally and socially. In turn, self-confidence is born of a positive sense of oneself: the experiences one has (and one’s evaluation of those experiences) and how closely one’s achievements match one’s expectations. Campers gain self-confidence when they find meaningful, fulfilling educational and social experiences at camp, interpret those experiences correctly, and have reasonable, achievable expectations for success. BS: At my summer camp, activity awards were handed out at assemblies. Campers’ names were read aloud as they walked onstage to the sound of applause. In retrospect, I realized this simple act served a much greater purpose than just handing out certificates. It is not always essential for campers to become the best at whatever they choose to do, but it is essential that they feel they’ve accomplished something. Publicly recognizing a camper for his or her accomplishments builds self-confidence. Exploration SW: Camp is, in short, about learning: learning about oneself, learning about others, and learning about new ways to approach the world. Self-confidence leads to (continued on next page) REPORT CARD #1 BASEBALL CAMP IN AMERICA Located on the beautiful campus of SINCE 1981 OVER 30,000 ALUMNI Ramapo College of N.J. in Mahwah. Campers 7-17. Select one or more weeks July 3 thru Aug. 7. Overnight, Day Camp or Extended Day Camp. Major League Stars featuring Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees. College coaches. A/C dorm and campers lounge. Batting cages, indoor pool. All-you-can-eat meals. Free video games. 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