Practicing a Critical Skill at Camp
Jason Smith, YMCA Camp Kitaki
I believe that camp is a foundational part of youth development because it allows kids to practice a critical skill that is really hard to practice. You see, there are so many things in life that we want kids to practice and get good at. They do homework to learn math and language arts. They practice music and art to express themselves. They practice sports to develop psychical coordination and ability. However, one of the most critical skills that we need kids to develop is also one of the hardest to intentionally practice because it doesn’t just happen naturally.
In all the other skills I mentioned, you start small. You learn to do basic addition before long division. You learn letters before sentences. You learn to kick a ball before you learn to play by the rules of soccer. As you learn and practice, you grow and build to intermediate and advanced steps. You know your long division—now it’s time for your algebra and calculus.
But what happens when the skill you need to practice is learning to navigate the world independently? That is arguably the one critical skill that all parents must develop in their kids – their child’s ability to navigate this world on their own.
If we really think critically of how we’re helping kids grow in independence, it’s easy to see there are a lot of steps missing in the middle. In fact, if we aren’t intentional about growing this skill in our kids, the skill progression is much more like this:
1. Order for yourself at a restaurant.
2. Have an overnight away at grandmas.
3. Move out of the house and live independently.
Obviously, I am simplifying things a bit, but there is a HUGE gap between #2 and #3. That is a gigantic leap – and we are often asking kids to make it.
Overnight camp fits right in that gap as a way to practice independence with some layers of safety and support. Camp is a lot like life with some training wheels on. Positive staff role models are there to guide, support, and help kids learn and grow. Through the act of stepping away from their caregivers for a week, overnight camp provides the opportunity for a kid to practice living independently. In that act they can learn to be ok on their own, build connections in new places, make choices about how they spend their time at camp, ensure their own needs are being met, learn to seek support for needs that aren’t being met, and generally find success in the responsibilities of living.
One of the more frequent responses I get from people when I tell them I work at an overnight camp is “I bet kids get homesick.” What very few realize is what an incredibly positive thing homesickness is (it means you have a great home), and what an enormously powerful thing it is to overcome it. It shows kids that they can navigate the frictions and discomfort that they experience in the world and meet that with the skills necessary to lessen the friction and soothe the discomfort.
Camp is the best way that I have found for kids to safely practice the independence the world requires of them. YMCA Camp Kitaki is thrilled to offer not only an incredibly fun experience, but one that shows kids they are capable, and that they can be confident in how they navigate the world.