GUELPH – Summer camps encourage children and youth to develop their social skills, according to a Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Waterloo Wellington official.
“It may really be an opportunity for that child or youth to thrive, just in an environment that’s different,” said CMHA Waterloo Wellington children’s services manager Brett Friesen.
“It’s not the home, it’s not school, it’s just a different way and we find for a lot of kids it’s the first time that they feel really successful, especially if they struggle maybe socially in the school or in their own sort of community.”
Friesen said that for children who are isolated through the school year and maybe struggle with mental health and making relationships, summer camp can help them move forward the next school year.
“You know after school, weekends, you know parents will say to us he doesn’t or she doesn’t seem to go out and play with friends or even in the school they may keep them a little more separate just because of their interaction,” he said.
“We find some of those kids, they go to these camps and they have just such a positive social interaction and they then are able to actually translate that into the oncoming school year and moving forward.”
Friesen said summer camp eliminates the academic and social pressures of school.
“The demand for social interaction is done in a very different way,” he explained. “It’s also kids that may not be from your school so it may be a lot of different kids and you may meet kids that you never would have the chance to meet.”
Attending summer camp can also encourage independence because there is less immediate supervision and it’s more group focused.
“We also know that things like outdoor environments that are less formal … can be really stimulating and provide a lot of growth from also an educational place for youth,” Friesen said.
However, not every camp is created equal and not all camps are right for every kid.
Friesen said it is important for parents to choose a camp that suits their child, whether that be an engineering-style camp where they learn about computers and robotics or a sports-focused camp where they’re playing a sport all day.
“You see a variety of kids that attend with different levels of need, both from those kids that have maybe higher needs in terms of their own wellness – mental or developmental – and those kinds that don’t need as much and really benefit,” he said.
“We’ve seen some of our most challenging children, those ones that maybe have really significant mental health struggles or even developmental struggles, go on to do leadership in training camps as well and become volunteer leaders, become people that really support other kids in the camps as well.”
It’s up to parents to do the necessary research before deciding on a camp.
They can check out the camp’s website and try to connect with other parents who have either sent their kids to the camps that are being considered or who have children of a similar age who have had a successful experience at a camp.
“We work with a lot of different camps and we know that some camps aren’t necessarily the right fit for some children,” Friesen said.
Another factor parents should consider is the staff-to-child ratio, the training staff has received in terms of first aid and leadership strategies.
He also suggested parents look into what additional support camps offer.
“Some camps will provide limited but first come first serve one-to-one workers as well for children that may need that extra support,” he said.
“So for example maybe a child with autism that might need that, there are often supports with camps around that.”
The idea is for those one-to-one workers to help the child engage in camp.
“The way that a lot of camps have looked at it is it’s not a worker for, necessarily, ‘okay we’re going to be one-to-one with this kid’,” he said.
“But it’s really about helping that kid integrate into the camp and be there if there are some higher needs whether those are from a mental health or a developmental piece, to support if needed.”
In addition CMHA also offers special needs support through the Supporting Kids in Camp program.
“Having them be able to have the choice of going to any camp because in the past for those kids it was often limited to certain camps that supported their needs but through the support of Kids in Camp every year we hire probably between eight and 12 one-to-one support workers that go with a child to the camp and we have agreements with all the camps to do that,” Friesen said.
“Those children then can pick any camp and don’t have to feel that they’re only stuck to the camps that are specific to maybe developmental needs.
“The worse thing we want is for a child to go and the camp to ask after the first day is for them not to return.”
In order to access the Supporting Kids in Camp program the child must be associated with CMHA.
However, Freisen said other community organizations will also offer supports for children with special needs.
“The agencies in this community recognize what an important part of social development, physical development and wellness camps provide for children,” he said.
The duration of camps is also a consideration. There are overnight camps and day camps.
If kids wish to attend an overnight camp Friesen recommends parents look into the medical supports available, especially if the child has a medical condition, and whether or not the kitchen at the camp is equipped for the dietary needs of the youth, for example gluten or peanut allergies or a specific diet due to a health concern.
“So really parents doing a bit of investigation before just jumping into signing their child up,” Friesen said. “We recommend (research) even more so around overnight camps.”
Another consideration for Wellington County parents should be around transportation.
“I think that’s where some of the great relationships with the county comes in,” Friesen said.
“You know Minto, Mapleton, Mount Forest, they provide some great day summer camps that are easily walkable for a lot of families that live in those areas.”
This is especially important if parents are looking at day camps as a place for their children to be cared for while they are working full time.
“A lot of our parents … work full time,” he said.
“They’re trying to figure out too what their child is going to do for the summer, which I know can be anxiety provoking for a parent to know now school is done, what do I do with my kid for six hours a day, five days a week for the next couple months?”
Friesen encouraged parents to start looking for camps now.
“I always recommend when we’re talking with parents that they get on it early,” he said. “Right now in March – this is the time.”
