How Camps Create an Environment Necessary for Growth

Nevitt Sanford was a professor of psychology at the University of California at Berkeley. In 1962 in his book The American College outlines for his readers how universities by design can create an environment necessary for growth. Sanford posits:

“Being placed in social roles that require new responses, having to make decisions concerning what role one is going to take, learning from experience that some roles are suited for one’s interest and needs…Any situation that brings awareness of one’s real preferences and inner continuities helps establish sound identity”.

In a very scholarly manner, Sanford lays out a plan for how camps can also serve as a “crucible” for growth of its campers. By understanding what challenges and struggles children are facing, camp professionals can plan interventions and programs that promote personal growth and sharpen life skills. In other words, by design, fostering an intentional community whose focus is on the psychological and physical growth of the children in their summer community can yield some amazing outcomes.

Let’s break down Sanford’s assumptions:

Being placed in social roles that require new responses:

• By definition attending camp requires new responses from campers learning to navigate their new environment. The most glaring difference for many children
  has to take responsibility for making choices and connections without the guidance of parents to advise and direct them.
• Learning to live with 10 other people who have different experiences and expectations of what bunk life means and how things should run.
• Choosing new friends and trying new things that may require a level of personal and psychological risk may be daunting.

Having to make decisions concerning what role one is going to take:

• Practicing new roles: Am I a leader, am I confident in my convictions, knowing when to stand up and when to go with the flow are just some of the challenges kids will face. They will also quickly learn what roles work and what roles prevent them from making connections with others.Experiencing and learning from – Success/Failure, Trial/Error, Practice/Mastering behaviors that work for them in this new environment
• Will I stand up against bullying at camp? Or will I chose to be silent by standing by while bullying rears its ugly head or will I be an up-stander and confront mean behavior?
• Will I consider how my actions impact others? How will I respond to people in the community who are sad, homesick, scared, or marginalized?

Learning from experience that some roles are suited for one’s interest and needs.

• By experimenting with new roles campers will learn that some choices will get them their desired outcomes and some will not.
• Through experiences campers can try on new roles and practice them so that they become a natural part of their personality.
• Finding roles that compliment one’s ability to reach both personal and community goals. Becoming congruent with whom you are and what behaviors set the table to help realize win-win relationships with others.

Conclusions

Any situation that brings awareness of one’s real preferences and inner continuities helps establish sound identity. Camp is just that place to help kids to evolve into independent and self-confident individuals. Camp, if planned to encourage identity development, can be a psychologically safe place to try new roles and will assist campers in their individual journey’s to becoming their best selves.

So, in reality, camp attendance becomes one of the most vital experiences a parent can provide for their children. Developing who they are, what they believe in, how they will act, and how congruent they become is a gift that will keep on giving throughout the life of a child who attends summer camp. Any questions?