When you were young, summer probably meant playing outside with friends until the sun went down. Perhaps your summer involved taking naps under a favorite tree or spending days at the beach. Maybe it even meant going to summer camp where you created traditions and memories with friends old and new.

Summers look a little different for kids today. Whether it’s too much screen time or year-round sports, it can be hard to give your child a back-to-basics summer experience in our fast-paced culture. Fortunately, you don’t have to look very far here in Michigan for a fantastic summer camp opportunity.  There are so many benefits to planning 5 days of summer camp for your child. Neither one of you will want to miss out on the benefits that will last a lifetime!

Here are our top five reasons to send your child to camp this summer:

1. No screens

We all know screens are bad and we spend way too much time looking at them. And sometimes, it’s easier to put our kids in front of one just so we can get something done around the house! Wouldn’t it be great if we could all spend 5 days away from our devices every year? Most summer camps tell kids to leave the screens at home – a great opportunity to detox and spend time in nature and engaging with real people.

And yes, it can be tempting to hide a phone in your kid’s bag so you can check up on them but try your best to fight that temptation. It’ll be good for both of you!

2. Learn important character-building skills

We all want our kids to acquire important character traits – empathy, responsibility, independence, self-esteem, or spirituality. But we know we can’t do that alone. While sports, school, and church can assist in providing these attributes, a summer camp experience is often just the right situation to put your child in to help build those important skills.

At camp, kids face new challenges, make new friends, have to take care of their belongings, and learn to be part of a team.

3. Back to the basics experience

When did life become so complicated? There’s a reason we like to reminisce about the “good old days.” At summer camp, kids get to be KIDS. They get to run, play, dance, and get dirty. They don’t have to worry about grades, or if they’re going to start in the big game on Friday night.

In fact, chances are that the kids who spend their summer at camp are going to remember the moments they were able to do simple things like canoeing, sitting around the campfire, or singing silly songs, because those are the moments you probably remember too.

4. Make new friends

Meeting new people and developing interpersonal skills is becoming more and more difficult for young people today. We are so connected and yet we struggle to have real relationships. During summer camp experiences, kids don’t have screens, they share meals, they share their lives, and they have fun. Helping our kids understand the importance of community at a young age will help them be better friends, better employees, better spouses, and better people.

When was the last time you had a real conversation with someone? Or had a shared experience? Didn’t it feel great?

5. Positive role models

We could all use a little help as parents. Sometimes it feels like our kids will listen to everyone else but us! The great thing about summer camp is that kids are led by young role models who are committed to providing a safe, fun, and life-changing experience for young people. When you find the camp that’s right for you, chances are the staff will be a large part of what you research. Finding a place that holds your values and teaches the principles that you do at home will help reinforce important truths in your child’s life.

Kids tend to think their camp counselors are pretty cool. If their counselor is a leader with strong core values and a focus on keeping your child safe, you’ll probably think they’re pretty cool too.

Learn more about SpringHill at springhillcamps.com. Registration is open now!