Tues, Oct 6, 2026

Summer Camp: The Place Good Humans Are Raised

I am a mom to two young children, a boy and a girl, and I am constantly questioning my parenting skills. ‘Am I doing enough to teach them to be kind and thoughtful?’, 'How do I make sure they know that other people matter?, 'What do I do when my kids mess up?'... These are the kinds of questions that run through my mind in the middle of the night (and if anyone has some sage parenting advice for me, I’ll take it!).

One thing that comforts me is that my children are being raised at camp.

Because at camp, to put it simply, we teach kids to be good humans.

Role Models Are Important

We give kids positive role models in our staff, people they can look up to and emulate. Every day this summer staff greeted my kids (and yours) with a warm smile and a high-five, spent time playing with them, making them feel special and cared for.

Value-Based Programming is Important

We set high standards with our values, expecting kids to honor and live by these, not just while they’re at camp, but out in the ‘real world’ too. When I listen to our teens give their speeches about our camp values and how camp has influenced their lives, I am filled with so much pride and belief that we are making a difference, kid by kid, summer by summer.

A Safe Space for Asking Questions is Important

We provide kids with a safe place to ask questions and broaden their world view. Camp is welcoming beyond anywhere else I’ve ever been. Staff and campers come from all walks of life, holding different beliefs and bringing such varying experiences. It is this that provides such an incredible opportunity for growth.

Awkward Conversations are Important

We encourage authentic communication that helps children learn how to work through any issues, deal with conflict, and build stronger relationships. Sometimes that can mean an uncomfortable conversation discussing challenges or mistakes, and then working together to help kids identify what they can do to move forward.

Community is Important

We show kids what it’s like to be part of a community, where they can be happy in their place, with their people, without needing to tear anyone else down. Whether that’s in their tent, their village, their theme day team, or simply camp as a whole, there is a wonderful feeling of, ‘this is the place I belong, where I am cared for and cared about’.

At camp, we expect kids to think about others AND to care for themselves too.

This is an environment I can get behind. 

This is where I want my children to grow up.

Ru