Author: Brian Kooperman
I send my kids to sleep-away camp to give them a competitive advantage in life
“Do you even like your children?” the woman I had just met asked me.
The audacity of the question took my breath away. I had been chatting with her, explaining that my kids go to sleep-away camp for two months every year.
I quickly realized two things at once: She was obnoxious, and she actually didn’t care if I missed my kids during the summer. She was talking about something else.
I didn’t have to tell her the reason I “send them away” for most of the summer is because I like them. They adore camp, and it’s actually harder on me than it is on them. I often tell people that the first year they were both gone, it felt like I had lost an arm. I wandered around the house from room to room experiencing phantom limb pain.
Now, instead of being offended, I got excited.
I was going to be able to tell her something that my husband and I rarely get to explain: We do it because we truly think it will help our kids be successful in life. With under-employment and a stagnating labor market looming in their future, an all-around, sleep-away summer camp is one of the best competitive advantages we can give our children.
Huh?
Surely, college admissions officers aren’t going to be impressed with killer friendship bracelets or knowing all the words to the never-ending camp song “Charlie on the M.T.A.” Who cares if they can pitch a tent or build a fire?
Indeed, every summer my kids “miss out” on the specialized, résumé-building summers that their peers have. Their friends go to one-sport summer camps and take summer school to skip ahead in math. Older peers go to SAT/ACT prep classes. One kid worked in his dad’s business as an intern, while another enrolled in a summer program that helped him write all his college essays.
Many (this woman included) would say that I’m doing my children a serious disservice by choosing a quaint and out-of-date ideal instead. There are online “Ivy League Coaches” that might say we are making a terrible mistake.
We don’t think this is a mistake at all. It might not be something to put on the college application (unless my child eventually becomes a counselor), but that isn’t the goal for us.
Our goal is bigger.
We are consciously opting out of the things-to-put-on-the-college-application arms race, and instead betting on three huge benefits of summer camp, which we believe will give them a true competitive advantage — in life:
1. Building creativity.
2. Developing broadly as a human being.
3. Not-living-in-my-basement-as-an-adult independence.
MIT’s Erik Brynjolfsson says, in his book “The Second Machine Age,” that we have reached a pivotal moment where technology is replacing skills and people at an accelerated pace. He argues that creativity and innovation are becoming competitive advantages in the race against artificial intelligence, because creativity is something a machine has a hard time replicating.
The problem is that creativity seems so intangible.
Steve Jobs once said, “Creativity is just connecting things.” He believed that people invent when they connect the dots between the experiences they’ve had. To do this, he argued that we need to have more experiences and spend more time thinking about those experiences.
Indeed. According to Adam Grant’s book “Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World,” researchers at Michigan State University found that to receive the Nobel Prize, you need deep study in your field and those broad experiences Jobs was talking about. They studied the winning scientists from 1901 through 2005 and compared them with typical scientists living at the same time. Grant writes that the Nobel Prize winners were:
* Two times more likely to play an instrument, compose or conduct.
* Seven times more likely to draw, paint or sculpt.
* Seven-and-a-half times more likely to do woodwork or be a mechanic, electrician or glassblower.
* Twelve times more likely to write poetry, plays, novels or short stories.
* And 22 times more likely to be an amateur actor, dancer or magician.
You read that right. Magician.
It’s not just that this kind of original thinker actively seeks out creative pursuits. These original experiences provide a new way of looking at the world, which helped the prize-winners think differently in their day jobs.
The beauty of summer camp is that not only do kids get to do all sorts of crazy new things, they also get to do it in nature, which lends its own creative boost.
Most importantly, my kids have such intensely packed schedules full of sports, music, art classes, community service and technological stimulation throughout the school year that it makes finding these all-important quiet mental spaces more difficult.
Summers provide a much-needed opportunity for my children to unplug, achieve focus and develop those creative thought processes and connections.
Okay, okay. Creativity might be a compelling tool to beat out that neighbor girl applying to the same college, but what about this “developing broadly as a human being” stuff?
I didn’t come up with that phrase. Harvard did.
William Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions at Harvard, has penned a compelling letter to parents. It practically begs and pleads with them to reevaluate the summer extracurriculars race and to “bring summer back,” with an “old-fashioned summer job” perhaps, or simply time to “gather strength for the school year ahead.”
Fitzsimmons writes, “What can be negative is when people lose sight of the fact that it’s important to develop broadly as a human being, as opposed to being an achievement machine. In the end, people will do much better reflecting, perhaps through some down time, in the summer.”
In terms of “developing broadly as a human being,” summer camp can provide an impressive list of life skills.
Studies over the past decade have shown outdoor programs stimulate the development of interpersonal competencies, enhance leadership skills and have positive effects on adolescents’ sense of empowerment, self-control, independence, self-understanding, assertiveness, decision-making skills, self-esteem, leadership, academics, personality and interpersonal relations.
Now for the cherry on top: Independence.
Michael Thompson, the author of “Homesick and Happy,” has written, “… there are things that, as a parent, you cannot do for your children, as much as you might wish to. You cannot make them happy (if you try too hard they become whiners); you cannot give them self-esteem and confidence (those come from their own accomplishments); you cannot pick friends for them and micro-manage their social lives, and finally you cannot give them independence. The only way children can grow into independence is to have their parents open the door and let them walk out. That’s what makes camp such a life-changing experience for children.”
So, yes, Ms. Tiger Mom, I am letting my children walk out the door and make useless lanyards for two months.
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They might not have anything “constructive” to place on their college application, but they will reflect, unwind, think and laugh. They will explore, perform skits they wrote themselves and make those endless friendship bracelets to tie onto the wrists of lifelong friends.
The result will be that when they come back through our door, we’re pretty sure that, in addition to having gobs of creativity and independence, they’ll be more comfortable with who they are as people.
And just maybe they’ll even bring back a few magic tricks.
Laura Clydesdale lives in Berkeley, Calif., with her husband and children. She blogs at lauraclydesdale.com. Follow her on Twitter @l_clydesdale.
FINAL BLOG
There’s a saying in the camp world “10for2”. What it means is, we work 10 months out of the year for these 2 months of Summer Camp. There is so much preparation that goes into camp from visiting new & current camp families all over the country, hiring staff, programming and much more that I don’t want to bore you with. Although I enjoy all parts of this job, nothing compares to when the campers get off the bus and camp officially begins. I remember my own camp experiences like it was yesterday and my #1 priority is to make sure all of the campers at Bridgton Sports Camp have that same experience and walk away with friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.
Personally, a highlight for me every summer is the opening & closing campfires. The contrast between these two events will always amaze me. The opening fire, taking place within the first few nights of camp is very short because campers & staff don’t have the comfort level to talk/sing in front of people they have just met. Following three weeks of sports, inter-camp, trips, meals, & memories I can’t explain a final campfire to do it justice. A family had to pick their son up a day early this year and were able to experience this moment and were blown away by it. Every-one of our campers & staff stand up and talks about the goals they accomplished at BSC (Bridgton Sports Camp) and what camp has meant to them. Some of these campers were very shy at that opening campfire, some were homesick, a few are from other parts of the world and know little English, but EVERYONE gets up to speak. EVERYONE is comfortable and EVERYONE sings our adopted camp song, “Wagon-Wheel”, while I watch our senior campers arm in arm with tears in their eyes, realizing their camper experience at BSC is coming to an end.
We have created a strong community/family here at BSC and that is what I’m most proud of. I couldn’t/wouldn’t want to do this alone and realize how lucky I am to work with an admin team and staff that I consider family. These professionals care as much as I do about the success of BSC and work very hard to make sure all of our campers are safe & happy.
BSC 2015 was a huge success! Enjoy the rest of your summer and we have already started planning for 2016.
See you next summer at camp!
Koop
FRIDAY
DEAR PARENTS,
TODAY WAS OUR FINAL DAY. COLOR WAR WENT DOWN TO THE LAST EVENT IN THE WACKY RELAY. ROOKIES HAD A TUG OF WAR TO BREAK THE TIE. WARRIORS WERE THE VICTORS. THERE WAS CHEERING AND SHOUTING AND THEN HIGH FIVES AND HAND SHAKES.
BOTH TEAMS GAVE IT THEIR ALL. WE WERE PROUD OF THE GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP THAT WAS DEMONSTRATED!!
THIS AFTERNOON THERE IS ONE LAST MAJOR PERIOD BEFORE WE START TO PACK AND HEAD UP TO THE DINNING HALL FOR THE FINAL BANQUET AND CLOSING CAMPFIRE.
THE THREE WEEKS HAS SPED BY AND NOW IS THE TIME TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR BOYS WITH US. THEY WERE AN AMAZING GROUP THAT MADE CAMP A TERRIFIC EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE.
THURSDAY
The boys had an extra hour to sleep this morning before the start of day two of color war. The skies were blue with a nice breeze to begin today’s competitions.They dressed and had war paint appropriate to their team.
There was a rotation of handball, soccer, and basketball. Each division played against each other. Scores were tight. Points are not only given to the winners of an event, but good sportsmanship is a key factor too.
I enjoyed watching the boys play sports that were not their major, and surprised at how athletic they are.
The last event today was a Sea Dogs Trivia contest.
Dinner was a cookout, and evening activity is a little down time or karaoke in the Wolverine Den.
WEDNESDAY
The day has finally arrived. Color war broke this morning. Rumor was going around camp that there might not be one this year. It usually breaks before this. We just wanted to keep the guys on their toes. The two teams are the Warriors and Black Hawks.
The morning was all majors for points. For example Hockey had skills competition. They had 3 stations: shooting accuracy, passing, and a relay race. The period ended with a shoot out competition.
The afternoon was flag football, cook off and trivial pursuit. The different age groups rotated between the three activities.
This evening we are having the finals in BSL . Winners get their names on a huge trophy and a pizza party.
TUESDAY
Morning on the fields. This morning soccer minors had a great game going. For the major period they had some really creative and fun drills. One of which was KING OF THE RING.
Baseball majors were divided and in the out field. Coach was hitting and they had to make the play at first.
On the ice courtesy of Coach Warde:
-partner passing- change direction and partner 3 times
-USA 2v2 passing
– Amarillo 2 shot warm up
— Gap 1v1
— Headman 2v1
— 3v3 transition game
— Finnish 1v0 station 1
— Seagull 1v0 station 2
— 3v0 center drive with cross and drop- station 3
— 1v1 with ringette- station 4
I watched some pretty intense weight training and fitness. This has become an extremely popular minor. The coach has even started a camper and separate competition for counselors called IRON MAN. Coach has been posting results and times on a chart in the dinning hall.
Arts and crafts has been a popular hang out. If campers don’t feel like tie dying they just sit and chill.
Semi finals in the BSC league are going on. CIT’s have a well deserved night off.
MONDAY
It’s hard to believe we are in our final week. Majors were in full swing this morning.
Baseball was split into catching and the batting cages.
Soccer majors were working hard as usual. I caught them in the beginning of the period while they were still looking fresh for a group shot.
Lax majors paired up and went one on one to shoot on goal.
Coach Warde just sent me a text:
–Underhandle in confined area- top hand, bottom hand, both hands
–1-5 passing – normal, cross and drop, head man
— 4 line shooting-quick feet, no stick handle
— 1v0 Russian flow series-4 options
— 3v3 3 nets 2 pass
Thank you Coach!!!
Plenty of worms were taken from the frig. today. I heard they are catching some nice size bass.
Campers were happy to be tubing and getting some great rides.
At line up this evening there were shout outs from counselors and campers. It’s always great to hear campers applauding each other for their accomplishments.
Tonights evening activity is BSL leagues.
SUNDAY
Today was lazy man’s morning. Always a favorite day after a hard week of majors. Campers got home late from the Sea Dogs game and I heard the fireworks were even better then the 4th of July.
This morning was free play and this afternoon we had BSL leagues. Campers were divided into six teams. The Kentucky Wildcats, Farmington Beavers, Stanford Trees, Oregon Ducks, BMS Mountain Goats and the Crimson. They played blitzball slip and slide, handball and cricket. BSL leagues have been going on since the beginning of camp. We are getting close to the semi finals.
Phone calls are going on as I write……. Sure you are hearing all the camp news.
SATURDAY
Great day at BSC. Clear skies for the SeaDogs game in Portland tonight. The fire works should be awesome.
This morning 16 and under went out of camp for a baseball tournament. At the last minute the other camp changed the game to softball. Close game and we gave it our best. We’ll try for a rematch but, it has to be hardball!!
The 12 and under boys hosted a basketball game here. The game was close and went right down to the wire. We played hard on offense and defense and won by 3.
It’s hard to believe we are starting our final week at camp. This coming week will be jammed packed and at some secret moment color war will break. No one knows how or when.
FRIDAY
My blog is dedicated to hockey majors today. They had “dry land” this morning. No skates and on the football turf they ran at least 5 laps around the field. This was followed by a series of strenuous drills. The drills were demanding and took a lot of strength. The older boys were coaching and encouraging the younger ones that were having trouble. Looking at the pictures will give you a better idea of the different drills. Needless to say the hockey majors were totally exhausted and loved the idea of a free swim this afternoon. Some of the hockey guys opted to go out of camp for a street hockey match.
The 16 and under boys hosted another camp in a game of hoops. I forgot to mention we won last night, but were not as lucky this afternoon.
The weather is still warm up here but little to no humidity. The lake was in full swing. I got to see my first canoe over canoe rescue. Campers always enjoy tipping the canoe’s and now they know how to reenter them. Great rescue drill that is fun to do on a hot day.
Rumor has it that tonight is movie night.
