Why I Sent My Child to Camp
He was 10 and I knew he was looking for more than a summer of day care and TV shows. So i wondered if Wisconsin Summer Camps was the right answer.
My son, currently 15, has attended Swift Nature Camp for four years and we are going to send him back for as long as we can. He loves it. He has ADHD and is very smart, but has trouble at school with attention-seeking ploys.
Swift Nature Camp took their time with the children’s, the staff had a hands-on approach to leadership, social skills development and confidence-building seems to really work
Along with enthusiastic counselors, Jeff and Lonnie, provide an great atmosphere encouraging positive traits to rise to the surface. My son has developed greater peer understanding and empathy, greater self-confidence and trust, better leadership skills, an understanding of group dynamics and fair process and many other valuable lifelong skills.
Obviously, I was very nervous about sending him to a place I had never been before. The outcomes were well worth the risk. After talking to Jeff (the Directors) I decided the Discovery Camp was best . A special program for the 1st Time Camper.
Lonnie was so willing to chat about any and all question I had. Thus calming, my fears then making the decision easy. So off my son went taking the bus to camp, Yet, I picked him up when camp was over so I could see first-hand all what Swift Nature Camp was all about.
During the 8-hour journey home, he was so excited about Swift that I’m not sure he took a breath between stories.
The website of Swift Nature Camp says everything need. To me, I love how the camp is set up. Each cabins houses the same gender and age. They do activities together, including laundry and cabin clean up.
Almost every afternoon the campers can choose a variety of typical camp activities (arts … crafts, archery, swimming, horses and much more). My kid loved going to the Nature Center and learning more about animals.
This Environmental Education Camp provides awareness and preservation of nature. The Nature Center is complete with microscopes and lots of hands on activities. There is also a small petting zoo of well-adored animals. But most fun for the kids is chasing frogs and turtles outdoors.
But what makes this overnight camp experience one my son will remembers for his entire life is the Laughter, Games, Campfires, Food, Sports, Fun, Drama, Singing and friends.
I appreciate that this isn’t a “sports camp” or “education camp” or something ultra specific. Its back to traditional being outdoors having fun sort of camp. Kids at SNC get to be kids and by experiencing all sorts of different activities and a diverse set of campers and counselors. Because its a Coed Summer Camp, it helps the kids get ready for the real world. They learn more about themselves than at a specialized camp with specific goals.
My son has learned so much from this camp in the four years he has been attending. We have noticed a HUGE difference in his attitude, manners and abilities. He is more mature, pleasant and competent. We would pay any price for the experiences and social education he has gained from SNC.
We used to joke that you can find math, reading, or science tutors but no tutors in social skills. Well we were wrong! This is exactly what my son needed at exactly the right time in his life.
Should you be thinking about overnight summer camp for your kid, consider Swift. I think it is so successful because it is a non-competitive, confidence-building camp where kids get to be kids. I know it is the best thing we ever did for our son.
A special Thank you to Lonnie and all the magnificent counselors, cooks, nurses, etc. We hope our son returns as a counselor when he is older (it is a new goal)!
Find more FREE information on how to Choose a summer camp see www.summercampadvisor.com
About the author: Brittany Flokstra is a parent of a Swift Nature Camp camper. She selected Swift Nature Camp because it is a non-competitive, traditional coed Wisconsin Summer Camp. Boys and Girls ages 6-15 enjoy playing in nature, caring for animals, and learning science along with Traditional camping activities. This Animal Camp is so much more.
