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One of the greatest issues our children will have to contend
with is the environment, and what we are doing collectively to
safeguard nature for future generations. How are we addressing
global warming, pollution, or the carbon footprints we're
leaving behind for our kids? What about education? Are we teaching
our kids to navigate standardized tests in lieu of teaching the
critical-thinking and leadership skills that will prepare them
for the future? And what about the connection between nature
and education? Are we paying it enough attention — using
it to our kids' advantage? Perhaps not nearly enough, but
camp can help change that.
Any camp experience that gets our
kids in touch with the natural world is a valuable one. One that
helps sharpen the senses and quiet the mind enough for children
to really process what's going on around them. Even better,
last year the American Camp Association partnered with the National
FFA organization to customize the FFA's LifeKnowledge® Youth
Leadership Curriculum for the camp community and launch Camp
2 Grow. This leadership and environmental stewardship program,
funded by a Lilly Endowment Inc. grant, is geared toward middle
and high school-aged campers. It focuses on activities specifically
designed to develop skills for leadership, personal growth, and
civic engagement. The program further gives participating campers
a framework for using their newfound skills to "pay it
forward," and be good stewards of the environment in their
camps, homes, and communities. Camp 2 Grow teaches kids
what it means to nurture each other and be respectful of the
natural world. In other words, it fosters good citizenship all
the way around.
ACA's observations from the pilot year of Camp
2 Grow show that youth in the program learn valuable lessons
that directly translate into ongoing, positive life skills in
the areas of teamwork, responsibility, friendship, community
citizenship, independence, and social problem-solving. Need proof?
A group of Camp 2 Grow participants from a handful of camps,
ranging in age from eleven to fifteen, was asked to reflect on
what they learned. Their answers spoke volumes about the value
of the program and their camp experience, in general.
On leadership:
One camper said, "It means stepping up to the plate whenever
and wherever you are needed."
On communication: A participant
said, "When a problem occurs, we learn to be polite about
how we solve it." To this idea another camper added, "…you
will get farther and more often get the results desired if you
communicate well." Quite a change from the stilted communication
of the texting world so many of our children are in danger of
becoming slaves to.
On responsibility: A Camp 2 Grow camper said, "Responsibility
will remind me constantly that the way my life is going is nobody's
fault but mine."
On caring for the environment: One camper
put it best, saying with new awareness, "Everything we
do affects the environment."
It is ACA's wish that
the Camp 2 Grow program will continue to thrive — that
campers will continue to gain the knowledge needed to mold them
into our leaders of tomorrow, and forge a new path to protecting
all the treasures our natural world and communities have to offer.
For more information on the Camp 2 Grow program, visit www.ACAcamps.org/camp2grow.
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