Camp is more than just a place to play: Camp Builds Skills for Life!
Camp is Where We Learn to Roll With It!
In the last week, were there unexpected changes in your daily routine? How did respond?
If you’re like me, it’s hard to remember a day that went exactly as planned. Whether it’s a new procedure at work, a pop quiz in your hardest class, or getting a flat tire on the way to meet a friend, it’s easy to feel like change is the only constant in our daily routine.
When faced with something unexpected, things go more smoothly when we’re willing to change or compromise to make it work. The quicker we can learn how to adjust to a new situation, the easier the transition will be. Flexibility and adaptability are invaluable skills, and camp is full of opportunities to observe, learn, and practice them.
One of the things I love most about camp is the variety and unpredictability in nature and the new ways it can heal and encourage us from day to day. Each day our campers go outside, different birds fly overhead, different wildlife cross their path; they won’t see the same clouds twice.
Just like our surroundings, our plans and activities at camp change every day. It may rain Monday, and be scorching hot Tuesday: whatever the weather, we’ll find a way to have fun! Our schedule at camp is open, and depends on what adventures our campers want to take. We may explore an old farm road in the morning, and be playing in the creek in the afternoon. Experiencing variety is how campers learn to expect change. Expecting change helps them be more flexible and adapt more readily the next time they come across something unfamiliar.
Teamwork is one of the best and most rewarding ways to learn flexibility and adaptability. Since every camper is unique, no two activities will have the same outcome. Campers get to learn that every relationship teaches us how to be flexible. We all have different strengths and different ways to grow, so working together may require us to learn to do something a different way. If we’re on a hike, and some campers are ready to press on, but others are tired, it’s time to compromise. We can rest for a few minutes, and then guys can lead the way! If one group wants to play a game and another wants to build a fort, our counselors are ready to find a way for everyone to have a great day.
At camp we know that even if a change appears to be disappointing or unwelcome, it can still be an opportunity for learning and growth. Rainy day? Time to go puddle jumping! Didn’t win the game? Let’s play again! Couldn’t find a crayfish in the creek? Maybe we can find a frog instead! The flexibility and adaptability we learn when dealing with things we find unpleasant at first is especially beneficial, because overcoming setbacks is how we learn optimism, resilience, and preparedness for similar situations in the future. Learning to be flexible and adapt quickly also helps us maintain focus, overcome setbacks and build grit and persistence.
Flexibility and adaptability are two hallmarks of Leadership Academy programming. We love how many ways our campers dream up to explore and play. At our nature day camps, groups of 8-10 campers get to make choices each day about where their adventures will take them. Sometimes an activity is their first choice. Sometimes they negotiate with other groups: learning to talk things through helps us be more flexible, and willingness to compromise and to take turns means everyone gets to play.
