Sleep Away Camp: A Different Kind of Classroom

Making the decision to send a child to sleep away camp  can be difficult and daunting. Entrusting your child with different caretakers, in a new setting, away from home, away from their usual support networks, can increase the anxiety of a parent. Camp directors often hear the most famous question, why should I send my child to camp?



Well, the answer is simple: Sleep away camp challenges children, without their regular support network available, so they are faced with the challenge of problem solving 101 on their own. Yes, surprisingly a camper can grow and mature on their own, becoming more independent, while developing social and emotional intelligence!

There are many important life skills that campers learn away from home that cannot similarly be taught in a classroom, at a sleepover party, in a social skills group or in a textbook. Campers gain life-long memories and life-long friendships but more importantly develop resilience, empathy, patience, self-awareness, self-advocacy and much, much more. Because of camp, children experience on their own and master new skills.



When we learn to lose, fail a task, try new skills, meet new people, hurt and then recover, we grow up. We become confident individuals. We become more socially and emotionally aware. Sleep away camp is a 24/7 away from home experience that serves as a different kind of classroom for the other three months within a calendar year. Camp provides stimulation through daily challenges, games and activities that are simply needed in order to grow, mature and develop as an individual. Camp encourages learning through play, a very magical and necessary place to send a child.

Camp introduces empathy and patience when dealing with so many new peers, different cultures, different languages and overall exposing a child to a large and diverse population. Campers will learn about teamwork when working together to meet a common goal on Olympics Day or Community Spirit Day. Campers will learn to listen and cooperate in a group setting and will become more self-reliant living on their own. Many children will become more self-aware of their actions, power of words and overall will learn to advocate for themselves up on stage or during an activity leading a group of peers through the challenge course. Real hands-on activities and challenges create true, real-life experiences and that is exactly what camp delivers.



Camp is a giant playground that allows children to learn through play. Camp encourages being active, staying healthy and overall provides opportunities for growth and development. Camp teaches social and emotional intelligence, a necessity that cannot necessarily be taught in a classroom. Camp does not judge on intellect. Nothing is based on a grade and often camps do not encourage competitiveness but togetherness. When asked about their most memorable experience and where they learned to ˜do that', many people will respond that it was at CAMP! Camp needs to be a part of every child's life.

-Abbey Ball, Camp Director: Camp PEAK-Pursuing Excellence Achievement Knowledge.

Camp Peak is located in Lount Township, between Huntsville and North Bay in Ontario. It welcomes campers from across the country each summer.