By Diane Tyrrell, C.C.D.
Imagine a place where you get to be totally immersed in the
thing you love to do (or want to try) the most . . . from being
wrist-deep in cake batter or filming a movie to jamming all day
with rock stars or learning to drive a race car. Specialty camps
offer just that type of fantasy-come-true experience!
Once a market dominated by sports camps, an ever-growing number
of specialty camps are offering a variety of very specialized
activities and total immersion programs. If there is something
that a child is really interested in, there is probably a camp
out there for him or her—from fine arts, performing arts,
and chef camp, to learning a foreign language, science, engineering,
motorsports . . . and much, much more.
The benefits to a child attending a specialty camp are numerous.
Specialty camps provide opportunities for kids to experience
in depth an activity or field of study—allowing them to
progress beyond the level of instruction a "general" camp
may offer. Because these camps have very focused programs, they
typically have more intensive and professional-level instruction,
and often include guest speakers, such as artists, musicians,
and those who've made a career of that particular activity.
Campers in these programs also have the opportunity to become
connected with like-minded friends. At home, they may be the
only kid on the block who is into a specific interest or activity—and
this can be socially isolating, especially if it's something
the other kids find to be a bit "quirky." But at
a camp that specializes in this activity, everyone is excited
about the same things, the kids "get" each other,
and friendships blossom.
Many specialty camps have informal, hands-on, or immersion approaches
to various academic subjects, such as math, science, or language,
which may help children who struggle in a traditional classroom
to learn material and develop confidence for the upcoming school
year. For example, at Camp Motorsport, a race car driving specialty
camp for kids ages ten to sixteen, campers participate in racing-related
activities that convert abstract math and science concepts into
hands-on applications—such as figuring out how resistance
and drag impact making the car go faster.
Specialty camps are also a great way for kids considering a
career in a particular field to gain exposure and hands-on experience
in that field. These camps help children and teens build
their skills and résumés for the future or help
them figure out if they have the temperament or talent for a
particular career.
Whether or not a child chooses to pursue a particular academic
path or career, specialty camps can help children broaden their
horizons, develop skills they will use for the rest of their
lives, enhance their future endeavors—and have a great
time. At their core, specialty camps share the same values of
the camp experience as their more traditional counterparts. Making
friends, teamwork, cooperation, learning independence, and positive
character development are all integral parts of the camp experience—regardless
of camp type.
To find out more about the specialty camp experience, visit www.CampParents.org,
ACA's comprehensive camp resource for families.
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