"But They Don't Want To Go...."

If I had a penny for every time I've heard this phrase uttered, well I'd have a lot of pennies. This is an incredibly common retort we hear from parents as to why they kids aren't attending camp.

So why is it important to push our kids into areas they may be hesitant about?

1. It builds resiliency

   
   

   When kids learn they can handle discomfort, frustration, or boredom, they develop confidence in their ability to cope. Life will regularly ask them to do things they do not feel like doing. Practicing that skill early makes it less overwhelming later. In nearly 4 decades of existent, I've yet to live a single year as an adult that didn't involve doing something that I disliked.

   
   

2. It teaches the difference between can’t and don’t want to

   
   

   Many kids say “I can’t” when they really mean “this is hard” or “this is unfamiliar.” Encouraging them to try helps them discover their real capabilities and expands their sense of what’s possible. As we say all the time at camp, "it's okay to do things that are difficult." We even look to shift the mindset from, "I can't do that" to "I can't do that, yet."

   
   

3. It creates discipline, not punishment

   
   

   Doing something despite resistance is how discipline is formed. Discipline is not about control. It is about learning to follow through on commitments, responsibilities, and goals even when motivation is low. This is also where the breakthrough occurs at camp. We're trying to change habits, this will inherently come with a point of resistance. That point of resistance is where growth occurs. Learning to navigate difficult and challenging situations builds that growth and resilience in a way that prepares campers for the rest of their life.

   
   

4. It helps them discover new interests

   
   

   Kids often resist what is new. Some of their greatest passions are found after initial reluctance, not before it. Without gentle pressure, many opportunities would be missed. We see this all the time at camp, an activity that was resisted day 1 becomes a favorite by week 2.

   
   

5. It prepares them for real-world expectations

   
   

   School, jobs, relationships, and health all require effort that is not always enjoyable. Kids who only do what they want struggle when the world does not adapt to their preferences. The world will not always be kind and adaptable to the needs of each camper, it's best to prepare them to be able to navigate situations of all kinds.

   
   

6. It teaches trust and guidance

   
   

   When done with care, kids learn that adults sometimes see value they cannot yet see. That trust becomes a foundation for mentorship and learning, not blind obedience. That's why the philosophy at camp is to provide them with a platform to discover their themselves. Camp doesn't just teach kids about exercise, nutrition, and physiology. Camp allows campers to grow in a way that they never thought possible. From social and emotional learning to the maturation that comes by shifting to an intrinsic mindset, camp is filled with plentiful opportunities to grow and thrive.

The idea of camp can be intimidating because it involves so many new elements at once. New place, new food, sharing a living space, trying difficult things, going from sedentary to active, etc... This proposition to a kid can be pretty daunting, but that doesn't mean we should run away from it. This is where as a parent you should embrace them and encourage them to attempt the things that challenge them. Imagine if we stopped teaching kids about math because concepts beyond 1+1 were intimidating? That would be crazy! Even the greatest math students once saw multiplication as a new concept, but only through encouragement and challenging themselves were they able to breakthrough to reach their whole potential. We should never fear a challenge as the breakthrough is just around the corner.

Over the years we've had numerous campers come to camp with the preconceived notion that they won't like it. By the end of their experience they have friends, memories, self-confidence, and are prepared to return home with a great head on their shoulders to live and lead a healthy lifestyle. So fear not, embrace the, "I don't want to" as an opportunity to expand your child's mind, experience, and life skills. They'll thank you later.