Camp can seem daunting at first if you have never experienced it before or have not been away from home for a long time. Do not worry – you will overcome this fear during the camp, and many young people feel at the end of the camp that they do not want the camp to end! Why? If your answer to the following six questions is ‘yes’, then there is no point in waiting any longer, just choose your camp as soon as possible!
- Want to develop independence and courage?
Camp is the place to do just that! Your parents will not be around to tell you what to do and when to do it – you can decide for yourself! Sure, there are rules and a timetable, but you have much more responsibility for yourself. Camp instructors are always there to help and support you, so the environment for taking responsibility is certainly safe. Through different activities, you can also gain courage by expressing your views, suggesting or carrying out activities or taking part in talent shows, for example, to showcase your strengths and develop your presentation skills. The possibilities are endless!
- Want to make new friends?
The camp will bring together many young people your age who are likely to have similar concerns and joys as you. You can make good friends at summer camp; people often stay in touch with each other afterwards, and continue to return to the same place together year after year. When it is your first time at a camp, making new friends may seem like a challenge – why make new ones when you already have friends? You can never have too many friends! Camp instructors organise activities to help you get to know your fellow campers better, find common interests and spend quality time with fun and exciting people. This will certainly develop your ability to respect your fellow campers and to learn tolerance – not everyone is the same, and that is okay!
- Do you want to get to know yourself and evolve?
The camp activities are diverse, sometimes even daunting. There is always the question in the back of your mind – can I handle this? At camp, it is not the result that matters, but the process itself – there are no grades like in school or scores like in sports competitions. True, there is usually a sporting element involved, but it is not so much about the winning, but rather about the activity itself. Again, if all goes well, you will feel wonderful – I did it! Through new activities, you can learn new things about yourself or gain new skills and knowledge. The camp instructors are professionals in their field who will support you even if you struggle at first and will encourage you to try again!
“No one can become a real master […] who has not for years and years seriously endeavoured to gain a new experience every day: and even he will have to say ‘I live and learn!’” (Wilhelm Müseler)
- Want to pursue an old interest or find a new one?
Choosing a camp tailored to your interests means you can spend a whole week doing the things that interest you! It is nice to be able to do things that you find exciting through interesting activities, some of which you may never have tried before. You could also choose a camp that you find interesting, but have not tried before – perhaps you will discover a whole new interest and find ways to develop yourself.
- Want to acquire life skills?
There are usually lots of activities at summer camps which allow you to get personally involved – baking a cake, making a barbecue, helping the camp leaders prepare and run activities, initiating activities to do with others and much more! If you have not had the chance to do such things at home, a camp will give you free rein to experiment and learn such life skills!
- Want to spend time in nature and away from your smartphone?
Camps are usually held in scenic locations, away from the city, where you can enjoy fresh air and do fun activities like hiking, swimming, or engage in other outdoor games and activities. After a long period of distance learning, it is particularly nice to be away from your smartphone and to have a break. The programme also includes a dedicated time for interacting with your family or friends, so if you feel like you need that, do not worry about being completely cut off from the world around you. There will be plenty of time for everything! And trust me, after the third day of camp, you will probably forget you even have a smartphone somewhere – so, remember to still take it with you when you leave!
Prepared by Birgit Villum, Chief Expert at the Education and Youth Board.
This article is published on the youth information portal Teeviit in 2021.
