By Brittany Malatt & Jeannie Robinson
Glen Ellyn Park District Recreation Supervisors
School’s almost out. What are your children doing this summer? If your answer is “camp,” then good for you - and, for your children! Summer camp provides many positive, long-term benefits.
We have all kinds of camps for all kinds of kids. But, in order to make sure that you choose a camp that is a good fit for your child, we have developed a list of benefits to consider.
Physical
Camps keep your kids moving. Sports camps such as soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, basketball and football are obvious choices, but Turf & Surf also accomplishes this beautifully as kids spend half the day bicycling to a local destination, and the rest of the day swimming.
Social
Camps offer the opportunity to make new friends, some of whom become lifelong pals. At Camp Caravan and Imagination Station, children interact with each other on field trips, at the pool, and work in groups on nature activities, arts & crafts, drama and more.
Educational
Campers gain new knowledge and skills at camps such as First Grade Kids and Kindergarten Kids Camp, which combine fun, play and academics. Spelling, reading, writing and math keep skills sharp and enhance your child’s love of learning. T-Rexplorers Discovery Camp allows children to experience science and paleontology, as they excavate replica dinosaur bones.
Maturity
Camp can nurture a child’s sense of responsibility. At Horsemanship Summer Camp, children learn how to properly care for horses in addition to learning how to ride. Each lesson includes one hour of horse care, knowledge and study.
Confidence
Camps help build self-assuredness through the accomplishment of new skills. All Star Sports camps focus on teamwork and sportsmanship. Each sport is covered in a way so every participant contributes to his or her team’s success.
Teamwork
Children learn to work cooperatively in groups to accomplish a common goal. Pedal to Petals: a Nature Biking Camp allows kids to travel to local fields, forests, streams and wetlands, working in teams to explore prairie and river ecosystems.
Creativity
Camps such as Multimedia Masterpieces encourage children to expand their horizons and develop their imaginations through painting, sculpture, drawing and more. This summer, campers will build their work around the theme of ancient Greece.
Affordably priced and run by educated, trained staff, camp schedules are flexible with convenient drop-off and pick-up locations. Register your child for camp today and give them something to smile about this summer.
