Parents who have sent their children to summer day camps already know the benefits of doing so for their children’s growth and development. Camp does much more than keep a child occupied and safe. It enriches their lives for years to come.
According to the American Camp Association in an article by Andy Kimmelman, “Ninety six percent of campers say that ‘camp helped me make friends,’ and 92 percent say, ‘Camp helped me to feel good about myself.’ Seventy percent of camp parents say, ‘My child gained self-confidence at camp.’”
Today’s summer camp is geared towards a purposeful experience, which is frequently connected to a child’s education and life interests. Camp can be a precursor to their future when applying for an internship, college or job, according Dr. Paula A. Calabrese in her article, “Purposeful Summer Camps Make a Difference for Kids,” written for patch.com.
“Camp can be a very positive experience for youngsters because it promotes independence and autonomy in a safe, supervised experience,” said Dr. Calabrese. She said it also fosters the development of interpersonal social skills, and provides new varied learning experiences in alternative settings.
According to Dr. Michael Ungar, “Summer camps, we discovered, are perfect places to help children optimize their psychosocial development. After all, summer camps are places where children get the experiences they need to bolster their range of coping strategies. Kids learn how to get along with a new group of peers, learn how to ask for help from others, or take manageable amounts of risks without a parent following you around.” Ungar wrote the excerpt in his Psychology Today article, “Summer Camps Make Kids Resilient,” an article he wrote after speaking with 300 camp directors.
Since 1952, The Youth Center in Los Alamitos has clearly seen how these benefits translate into the lives of children through social, educational and recreational programs including summer day and teen camps. With their new Camp S.H.A.R.K. (Science, Hands On, Art, Recreation, Knowledge) for kids ages 5 to 12, and their Teen Camp for ages 12 to 17, kids reap the benefits of going to summer camp that research has shown will shape their lives now and in the future. Both camps run out Rossmoor Park through a partnership with the Rossmoor Community Services District (RCSD) with the Youth Center.
“An enriching, positive summer camp experience for kids is vital to their overall well-being,” Youth Center Camp Director John Manley said. “As a shark biologist, underwater filmmaker, camp director and science teacher I have realized success from blending sharks and the ocean with more mainstream camp programming. Camp S.H.A.R.K. does more than just occupy a child’s time or provide some form of day care for parents. It engages the whole child in science and technology, music, arts, crafts, contests, games, special events, field trips, and classes – all while uniquely integrating shark and ocean programming in a fun and enlightening way. Our goal is to deliver a diverse enriching experience that will shape children’s lives for years to come.”
A highlight of this year’s day camp is the opportunity to take a very unique Snorkeling Certification class, according to Manley, who brings his life experiences (shark biology, SCUBA diving, and a deep fascination with the ocean) to The Youth Center. In this all new add-on class, kids learn to snorkel in the ocean, explore ocean mysteries, learn marine biology and investigate the science of diving while on their way to being certified as a free-diver with the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). They’ll first learn in a classroom and pool before being taken out to the ocean to complete their experience with Manley’s participation.
“This unique experience might very well shape their interests later in life,” Manley added. “As a child of the sea I was exposed to a world that captured my soul and led to a lifetime of adventures – shark diving, educating, and exploring the mysteries held in the depths of the ocean.”
For more information on The Youth Center’s Camp S.H.A.R.K. or Teen Camp and their 12 special add-on classes including the Snorkeling Certification class, please visit online at www.theyouthcenter.org or call 562-493-4043. Registration is going on now and space is filling up fast.
This article appeared in the June 14, 2017 print edition of the News Enterprise.