There’s a new challenge facing overnight camps these days. For our teens, it’s harder than ever before to leave behind their technologies, and immerse themselves in social interactions that are ‘face to face’ rather than over the internet. The average teen in North America sends and receives 200 text messages a day, something they can’t do at camp. They are constantly in touch with the mini-dramas occurring in the lives of their friends – who has split up with who, and which friends are arguing. ‘Turning off’ this constant barrage of ‘issues’ in their peer groups is a challenge when they come to overnight camp.
So what can we do to help, as camp directors, camp staff, parents and guardians? The direct social interaction that camp offers is more important than ever before. All we can do is reassure our kids that their friends will still be there when they get home. And hope that social media and text messaging do not become a reason for them to lose out on all the fabulous experiences that sleep-over camp can offer.
Any thoughts from our families? Please share them. We often hear kids tell us it’s hard to be away from the mini-dramas they share in on Facebook. But sleep-over camp can offer so much more than a summer spend interacting online. When I watch our campers share together in an arts workshop, an important group discussion, a night star-gazing, a moment celebrating new achievements, or a meal of singing and dancing together… well, you get the idea.
Julie