Five Camp Activities That Help Instill Confidence in People
1. Camp Teaches Independence
Sending your child to summer camp may be their first time away from home, and most children experience homesickness during their first few days at camp. Our High Peak staff is trained to help campers work through any homesickness while focusing on adjusting to camp life. In addition, overcoming homesickness is simply one step toward achieving independence.
At camp, children will have to make their own decisions, from what to eat for dinner to what activities they wish to participate in for the day. This is an important life skill that every child should learn. Summer camps also help children naturally develop their personalities and become more self-sufficient, which boosts their confidence.
2. Camp Counselors Provide Mentorship
At summer camp, your child will be supervised by older camp counselors. Normally, these camp counselors are young adults who became interested in camp life after spending a few summers participating in camp programs.
These counselors lead activities, take youngsters out in nature, supervise meals, and aid campers who require assistance. Since many children at this age don't have a mentor at home, counselors appear to be cool role models and strong leaders. They can motivate your child to seek a new hobby and boost their self-esteem.
3. Camp Helps Child Build Social Connections
Since COVID-19, we have all become aware of the effects of self-isolation. If your child feels alone, confined to their home, and does not participate in regular social activities, it can significantly reduce their self-confidence.
Sending your child to camp allows them to build structured social relationships and meet new people. Friendship is important for children's self-esteem and affirmation of their interests.
At camp, your child will meet people from various walks of life, learn new skills, experience camp together while living in a cabin, and naturally form closer bonds than they would at home.
4. Camp Is a Creative Outlet
Many summer camps provide a variety of creative activities for children to enjoy throughout their stay. Summer camp is a simple, creative outlet for your child to explore a new interest or go deeper into an existing hobby, such as painting, theater, or arts and crafts.
Art provides several benefits for children, such as stimulating their imaginations and fostering creative expression. Summer camp also provides a safe environment in which campers can freely express their artistic side. Not only will your child develop friendships with fellow campers, but they may also discover a new talent that they are proud of.
5. Camp Activities That Build Confidence
Here at High Peak, in addition to giving our campers the opportunities to explore their interests, we encourage them to think outside the box, collaborate, and trust themselves, and we provide them with the tools they need to build their confidence and self-esteem. Continue reading to learn more about our summer camp activities for boosting self-esteem and confidence.
- LARPing: LARPing (Live Action Role Playing) is an excellent way for children to practice and improve their social skills. Summer camp LARPing has been shown to help children step beyond their comfort zones and connect with others.
- Archery: Archery is a daring summer camp activity that teaches children to trust others while also teaching them to trust themselves, which is the key to self-confidence.
- Wilderness Survival: Through wilderness survival camp activity, children will gain confidence knowing they have learned how to care for themselves. Also, they take great pride in learning to do things for themselves, whether it's knot tying, identifying plants, starting a campfire, or building a shelter.
- Team Building: All of the activities above have one thing in common. They are best done with a partner or team. At summer camp, we want our campers to develop connections that will last a lifetime, therefore all of our activities are built on their participation and teamwork. Participating in supervised teams helps your child's voice to be heard. When children learn that they have a voice that is cherished, they build the self-confidence they need to navigate their interactions with others outside of camp.
Ready to sign up your child for camp this summer? High Peak Camp is a Christian camp located in Estes Park, Colorado, and operated by The Salvation Army Intermountain Division.
Our mission is to use nature and the great outdoors as a setting to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, teach environmental awareness, encourage pro-social behavior and safely provide opportunities for fun and adventure to every camper. For more information about our summer, contact us.