Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Why I think this Summer Camp is Best

By Brittany Flokstra


Who knew when my son turned 10 I would enter the world of Summer Camps in WI,. I knew it was going to be more than a summer of trips to the zoo, baseball and television but I had no idea how wonderful Summer Camp was going to be for my son.

My son, currently 15, has attended Swift Nature Camp for four years and we are going to send him back for as long as we can. He loves it. He has ADHD and is very smart, but has trouble at school with attention-seeking ploys.

The counselors and directors at SNC have a great, hands-on approach to leadership, social skills development and confidence-building.

Jeff and Lonnie, along with enthusiastic counselors, provide an atmosphere that encourages positive life skills to be developed. My son has grown so much for his time at SNC. Today he has greater peer understanding and empathy, better self-confidence and trust, his leadership skills increased, an understanding of group dynamics and fair process and many other valuable relational skills.

Obviously, I was very nervous about sending him to a place I had never been before. The outcomes were well worth the risk. After talking to Jeff (the Directors) I decided the Discovery Camp was best . A special program for the 1st Time Camper.

They we eager to listen to any question I had and their understanding made the decision easy. My son rode the bus to camp, but I picked him up at the end. That way I could see first-hand all of the wonderful activities he got to do.

His excitement for Swift was limitless. I'm not sure if he took a breath between stories on the whole ride home!

The SNC website tells you everything you need to know and I love how the camp is set up. The fairly modern cabins the same age and gender kids. As a group they and do activities together, including laundry.

Campers daily have the opportunity to pick from a variety of typical camp activities (arts ... crafts, archery, swimming, etc.). My son especially loved looking for frogs.

This Environmental Education Camp provides awareness and preservation of nature. The Nature Center is complete with microscopes and lots of hands on activities. There is also a small petting zoo of well-adored animals. But most fun for the kids is chasing frogs and turtles outdoors.

But what makes this overnight camp experience one my son will remembers for his entire life is the Laughter, Games, Campfires, Food, Sports, Fun, Drama, Singing and friends.

I appreciate that this isn't a "sports camp" or "education camp" or something ultra specific. Its back to traditional being outdoors having fun sort of camp. Kids at SNC get to be kids and by experiencing all sorts of different activities and a diverse set of campers and counselors. Because its a Summer Coed Camps , it helps the kids get ready for the real world. They learn more about themselves than at a specialized camp with specific goals.

My boy learns each summer. We have noticed wonderful improvement in his attitude along with manners and abilities. He is more mature, pleasant and competent. You can not put a price on his experiences and the social education he has gained from Swift Nature Camp.

We used to joke that you can find math, reading, or science tutors but no tutors in social skills. Well we were wrong! This is exactly what my son needed at exactly the right time in his life.

If you are thinking about away-camp for your child, please consider SNC. Primarily I think of it as a non-competitive, confidence-building camp where kids get to be kids. I know it is the best thing we ever did for our son.

A special Thank you to Lonnie and all the magnificent counselors, cooks, nurses, etc. We hope our son returns as a counselor when he is older (it is a new goal)!

Find more FREE information on how to Choose a summer camp see www.summercampadvisor.com




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