Camp for children is akin to a whole week of fun with twenty or thirty of their closest friends, and not a parent in sight. For parents, it is a week of living near the telephone, always ready to answer that call for help, to respond to the call that an accident happened and the camp staff wants to know what blood type the child has, or to answer a hospital’s call that wants to know where to send the bill for the broken arm or leg the child has suffered. Generally speaking, the parents are usually the ones who have the hardest time with the separation from their kids. The children, on the other hand, may have an initial hesitation about being away from the parents, but by the time the bus pulls away from the curb, they are generally fine and ready for a week of fun.

Camp counselors have long since been aware of the many benefits camp for children has, and quite often they are at the front lines of assuring and reassuring parents that there is nothing to worry about and that their children will be just fine. Of course, while accidents sometimes do happen, it is important to keep in mind that a sprained ankle or even a broken arm is not the end of the world! Quite possibly in a list of things camp counselors wish the parents would know, here are some of the highlights that illustrate why camp for children is not only a good idea, but actually a much needed rite of passage.
1.Kids like to have fun. While this in and of itself may not be news to you, it is important to recognize that camp is generally set up so as to allow children to have fun while they are also learning something. Fun does not always have to be well structured, but sometimes just happens with spontaneous silliness, while at other times it means experiencing new things, such as bonfires on the beach. Camp counselors know this and will set up plenty of opportunities to have scheduled fun but also leave enough room for spontaneous fun.
2.Kids will learn to be independent. While junior knows that at home he can always count on you, at camp he knows he is hours away from home. And yes, while deep in the back of his mind he knows that an anxious phone call will most likely summon you within a few short hours, he or she will still need to learn to exist on their own. This means that everyday chores, such as rinsing their breakfast dishes, fetching their own food, picking out their own clothes to wear, and even making their own beds is up to them. Parents often find that after a week at camp, for children it is much easier to do these things independently at home as well.
3.If your child has a hard time making friends, camp is the perfect experience. After all, your child will be surrounded by other children day and night, and without having to worry about school, grades, and impressing classmates, all the kids are equal in their pursuit of fun.

As you can easily see, camp for children is what a vacation at a prestigious club resort is for adults: a chance to do that which they never thought possible at home, to learn new things, experience new things, and above all – to have fun!