Youth Development and Cell Phones

Cell phones are an addictive part of society! In the last 10 years a cell phone morphed into a mini pocket computer that constantly connects you to the rest of the world. No longer to we make a call when we need. No today's cell phone is our new best friend. It is with us all the time and we are never alone. No longer do we ask help from a stranger, look up and people watch or even stop to help people. This devise that was built to make us closer as actually made us more independent and less connected to each other.

So with that said, fast forward, you have decided to send your child off to Overnight Summer Camp .
Now it is a few days into summer camp and you miss your child. That’s normal. So you pick up your cell phone and start to call your child’s cell phone. Then it hits you, summer camp has a NO contact policy! Why
would such a thing exist? To make the parents suffer? Well, maybe its much more than this.

Here is the secret, a large part of the magic of an overnight summer camp experience is being in a closed community that is conscious. Summer camp if done well totally immerses a child. They live camp with their camp friends, and become part of the story of camp. So how does a cell phone ruin this adventure. It butts into the “life of camp” and brings children the reality of back home. For this reason many directors
discourage parents from calling their campers and some even discourage visiting . Camp Directors want to provide “creative separation” which allow the children to develop a healthy sense of independence, in turn
leading to a healthy sense of adventure. For many children this is their first time away from home and it is in a protected child centered environment that only leads to good results. Most camp directors want
parents to see everything that happens at camp but that is not possible if you buy into the giving your child a secure freedom. So most camps like at Swift Nature Camp have gone to daily publishing photos on our websites, newsletters, periodic Tweets , or videos. We and other camps would prefer you call so we can give you an up to date input how your child is doing. Remember, most camp Directors want to help you after all we are parents too.

This cult we call summer camp has its positive impact soon children forget about the cliques at school, their concerns about grades, and what their friends are doing and wearing. Summer Camp will replace these things with campfires, caring for others, singing in the dining hall, trying new things and increase their growth as a paddler, a rider, a gymnast, and a climber. Even more, they will be replaced by a community of close caring friends.

Okay, So you don’t buy it! You need to be in touch with your child. You know you are a helicopter parent. Youwant to control your child's life and thus hindering their natural independence. I get it, we see all sorts of parents at SNC. Here are a few of the Real Benefits of Summer Camp, it's much more than just play. No need to fret.? There are a variety of different camps and different policies that help parents and campers stay in
touch. Some camps allow campers to carry cell phones, some allow access to email. Many camps have visiting days. Every camp is different so be sure you ask the director how communication happens before you enroll in camp. But, don't loos site of the power of letter writing and a postage stamp. Remember, this may also be a growing time for you ... getting you ready for those not to far off college days.

Lonnie & Jeff Lorenz
Swift Nature Camp
630-654-8036