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It’s a place where phone calls and emails are limited and cell phones are usually banned. But in the real world of camp, “bubble-wrapped” kids will get an experience of a lifetime.

The hardest part for parents of first-time campers is not only getting children to adjust to a digital-free world but also allowing them to find their own wings.

Catherine Ross, former camp director and communications manager of the Canadian Camping Association, understands the “leap of faith” it requires for parents to send their children to overnight camp.

“On countless arrival days, I greeted many cautious, apprehensive, wide-eyed new campers,” Ross writes in Our Kids Media’s Preparing for Camp e-book for parents of new campers. “Two or four weeks later, I waved goodbye to the same children – now happy, relaxed and definitely more confident.”

With Our Kids Media’s and Ross’ tips on preparing for camp, one of the most life-changing events of your child’s life won’t cause much anxiety for your family anymore.

Summer Camp: Advice for New Campers

• Familiarity can calm fears and worries about anything new. If visiting the camp in advance is not possible, check out the camp’s website, view the DVD and other materials sent by the camp, chat about your concerns with your parents, and get answers to your questions, Ross says. “Make the pre-camp preparation part of the experience so (campers) get excited and know what to expect,” she says. “The more you know, the less you’re going to be concerned of the unknown.”
• Talking to friends who have been to camp can help make the new experience less scary.
• To experience being away from home, sleep over at a friend’s or relative’s house.
• Learn to be more independent by helping with chores, such as shopping with your parents, making the bed, organizing belongings, and packing and preparing what you need to bring to camp.

Summer Camp: Advice for Parents

• One of the most important tips for parents of new campers? “I think it’s involving the child every step of the way so there are no surprises,” Ross says.
• Share as much information as you can about the camp. Attend orientations for new campers, or go on a pre-camp visit of the site with your child.
• When packing, include well-worn clothes that can withstand dirt and pine gum.
• Avoid packing money or jewellery.
• To prevent mixing up belongings with others, use iron-on labels, or label all clothes and equipment with permanent marker or bright nail polish. (Click here to see a list of suggested items to pack.)
• Pack an adequate supply of medication with clearly labelled dosage instructions.
• Store your child’s EpiPen, asthma puffer and other items he or she needs to access immediately in a fanny pack.
• Include a list of all campers’ belongings to avoid losing any.
• Let camp health care staff know if your child has recently discontinued medication, such as Ritalin, or has been exposed to a communicable disease.
• If your child is apprehensive about camp, inform the camp director so counsellors can give even more attention to him or her.
• Chatting about camp in a casual and positive way without dwelling on the negative or creating unrealistic expectations can help immensely in preparing the first-time camper.
• Ask your child to think about what he or she wants to do and learn at camp. Allow your child to set goals and enjoy his or her own first impressions about camp to avoid clashes between your agenda and your child’s preferences. With camp’s focus on fun and safety, learning and achievement in a safe environment will happen at your child’s own pace.
• If your child is committed to finish the session, he or she has a better chance of experiencing success and meeting goals. On the other hand, promising your child that he or she can leave whenever they want may encourage him or her to test this, or give up easily instead of gaining valuable life lessons.
• Check your child’s hair for head lice or ensure your child gets treatment before starting camp.
• Since most new campers never experience prolonged homesickness, parents should not raise the issue unless the child brings it up. If your child expresses his or her concerns about being homesick, reassure him or her that it is normal to miss home, and he or she will be okay and will not be alone at camp as counsellors will always be there to help.  Remind your child about the many new and exciting things to do at camp that will make the time fly by.
• Prepare short letters that are positive, newsy, encouraging and supportive to your child during the time he or she is away. Ask relatives if they would like to write as well. You can slip a letter in your child’s bag to pleasantly surprise him or her at the first day at camp. Pack paper, pen and addressed, stamped envelopes for your child.
• Avoid packing or sending candy or food as most camps ban them for good reasons.

Christl Dabu is the editor of camps.ca and Our Kids Go To Camp magazine, produced by Our Kids Media, which provides info and news on camps, private schools, education and parenting through its three magazines and four websites. For more info on camps, contact us at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or go to camps.ca/2011.

If boys are from Mars and girls are from Venus, would they fare better separately or together in the world of camps?

For parents who want their children to attend camp this summer, it’s not only a matter of choosing the type of camp, from day and overnight to traditional and specialized, but also whether it should be coed or single-sex summer camp. (Click here to search for camps, and for a handy graphic explaining the types of camps.)

What Single-Sex Summer Camp Offers

Whether it’s traditional overnight or day sports camps, an all-girls or all-boys environment can provide strong role models of the same gender who can help increase campers’ confidence. Curriculum and extracurricular activities will be targeted specifically to boys’ or girls’ interests. In same-sex environments, it can make it easier for campers, especially teens, to focus and be more themselves without peer pressure and distractions from the opposite sex. (Click here to search for girls and boys’ camps.)

In certain male-dominated fields such as science and engineering, specialty camps offer programs for girls to help them learn, challenge themselves and build skills and confidence in a supportive and nurturing place. The same is true for all-boys’ camps.

“I think that environment is very conducive to developing strong women,” says Catherine Ross, communications manager of the Canadian Camping Association and author of Our Kids Media’s Preparing for Camp e-book for parents of new campers. “Girls may feel less intimidated if they don’t have guys watching or evaluating them. It pushes them to try things they might not otherwise try and step up to leadership opportunities they may not otherwise tackle. . . . How they look, if their hair is okay, ceases to be relevant.”

At a single-sex camp, girls pitch tents, build fires, carry packs across portages, do rock climbing and other activities stereotypically seen as things girls don’t usually do, says Ross, who was camp director for 20 years of Mi-A-Kon-Da, an all-girls overnight traditional camp in Parry Sound, Ontario.

This kind of camp can be special for children who have mostly been exposed to coed situations inside and outside school.

“It breaks down gender-role stereotypes,” says Dr. Christopher Thurber, a clinical psychologist and camp consultant from New Hampshire. “I think there’s something special about young women being able to see assertive, strong female role models and boys being able to see sensitive, caring men.”

Another advantage of single-sex camp is boys and girls can be their whole selves and gain renewed confidence and empathy, Thurber says. Such camps not only offer positive role models of the same gender, but also reinforce the best parts of being a girl or boy, he says.

What Coed Summer Camp Offers

In a coed world, coed camps help prepare children for the real world as girls and boys have to learn social skills by respectfully interacting with each other and developing friendships, rather than romantic relationships, with the opposite gender. At coed camp, girls and boys can see a positive side of each other: girls as athletes and leaders, and boys as nurturing and expressive individuals, Thurber says.

“What coed camp offers is a positive environment for campers to interact with the opposite gender in an appropriate and positive way,” says Pat Birnie,  director of  Camp Arrowhead, which offers coed day and overnight programs in the Muskoka area.

Unlike the sexualized images in the media kids are exposed to, Birnie says “camp is more of an innocent environment” where kids wear functional clothes and become like family.

How much girls and boys get to interact with each other varies in coed camps. At some, girls and boys are completely integrated throughout the camp experience except their sleeping and changing quarters. Others have boys and girls together for meals and general programs but separated for some activities. Meanwhile, some single-sex camps have a “sister camp” or a “brother camp” on the same property.

For families with children of only girls or only boys, coed camps can be a chance for them to learn how to be comfortable with the opposite gender. The same is true for students attending same-sex schools. It can also be a matter of convenience for parents with all boys or girls to go to the same single-sex camp, or a boy and a girl to go to the co-ed camp together. On the other hand, some siblings may choose to go to different camps so they could have more independence.

An Important Decision for Both Parents and Children

Is your child active, sporty and adventurous? Or is he or she more the artistic type, a lover of books and nature? Parents don’t choose camps just because they’re a boys or girls camp—there are many factors to consider. (Read more about the types of camps.)

Ultimately, choosing between single-sex and coed camps is not a one-camp-fits-all decision. Experts stress the importance of involving children in the decision.

“It goes back to the parent and child deciding what it is they want,” Ross says. “I think every camp has its own personality. . . . The program, location, the style and philosophy of the director – all can give an idea of the type of camp that’s best for the child.”

Watch for more camp advice from Our Kids Media in our camp series.

Christl Dabu is the editor of camps.ca and Our Kids Go To Camp magazine, produced by Our Kids Media, which provides info and news on camps, private schools, education and parenting through its three magazines and four websites. For more info on camps, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or go to camps.ca/2011.

Day or overnight? Traditional or specialized? Sports, special needs, family, or health and fitness? Faith-based, arts, language, adventure or education?

Summer camp is a world beyond canoeing and campfires. With a plethora of possibilities, choosing the type of camp can at first be overwhelming, but there is a camp to match the needs and interests of every child. While the type of camp is important, parents should also remember to consider a camp based on its philosophy, quality of supervision and programs, and accreditation, says Sol Birenbaum, director of Camp Walden, a traditional overnight camp in Palmer Rapids, Ont., near Toronto.

Our Kids Media guides you through the types of camps and what they offer to help you find the right fit for your children.

Summer Camp: Day vs. Overnight Camps

When choosing a camp, it’s a matter of first finding out your children’s interests and if they would enjoy day or overnight camp. From there, you can choose from a traditional camp or specialized camps offered with day or overnight sessions. Traditional camps include a mix of activities involving sports, health and fitness, adventure, arts, education, family, language, faith-based and special needs while specialized camps are focused specifically on one of these areas to meet campers’ needs and interests. (Read more on each type of camp in the sections below.)

In starting your search, you must consider the age, maturity and level of independence of your children. Are they first-timers or seasoned campers? What programs and activities are they interested in? Do they want to be immersed in a specific activity, or taste the camp highlights? What are your family’s priorities, or plans for the summer? What is your family’s budget? (Overnight camps tend to be more expensive than day camps. Click here for ways to save on camp.)

For first-time campers or very young children, day camp is recommended to introduce them to the experience. At day camp, kids get to know the highlights of camp within the city or countryside without the commitment of attending longer sessions at overnight camp. With a chance to sample various activities and discover their passions and strengths, day campers can do a series of one- or two-week camps, or an extended session in a specialized camp program. Some day camps offer busing, and before-and-after care. (Read more and find day camps here.)

“It’s a good stepping stone to help kids gain independence,” says Eugene Chong, camps coordinator at Harbourfront Centre, in an interview in the 2011 edition of Our Kids Go To Camp magazine, a camp guide for parents.

The big question is: When do you know your children are ready for overnight camp?

Here are some points to consider:

• Are your children comfortable sleeping over at a friend or relative’s house?
• Do they show independence, such as by washing and dressing  themselves?
• Can they adapt to new routines, such as eating unfamiliar food?
• It may not be the right time for overnight camp if your children are emotionally insecure or if significant changes are happening at home.
• For those with sleeping difficulties, it’s better to wait until they experience regular sleep patterns.

(Learn more about "Day vs. Overnight camps.")

Overnight or residential camp tends to be for older kids or seasoned campers who are able to live away from home for a few days, a month or even the whole summer while supervised by experienced counsellors and staff. Younger children may prefer just a week of camp at most, but some overnight camps cater to kids as young as four years old such as Camp Tanamakoon’s Kindercamp in Algonquin Park.

"Kids are incredibly resilient and ready for overnight camp way before the parents are," says Agatha Stawicki, publisher of Our Kids Go To Camp magazine, who sent her daughter Chloe to an overnight Kindercamp for two nights and three days when she was four years old. "She absolutely loved the experience.  She came back full of confidence and self-esteem, and she can't wait to go back this summer."

(Read Stawicki’s blog series on her daughter’s Kindercamp experience.)

Stawicki recommends letting your child take the bus to camp with other campers and counsellors to help them get used to the new environment. It's also helpful to ask the camp if you can be connected with a family whose kid is attending the same session as your child so they will make new friends immediately.

At overnight camp, children room with kids their age and gender in cabins or tents. Offering complete immersion in summer camp, it is an opportunity for campers to appreciate nature, gain independence and spend more time developing and exploring new skills. Some overnight camps have a special focus such as on arts, sports or education. (Read more and find overnight camps here.)

Summer Camp: Traditional vs. Specialized Camps

Once you choose from overnight or day camp, you and your children can decide if a traditional or specialized camp is the best fit. If you’re nostalgic and want your children to have the same classic camp experience of your youth, traditional camps may be the right choice as they introduce campers to a range of activities in one session. At traditional camp, children enjoy sports, arts, recreational, environmental and social activities. (Read more and find traditional camps here.)

Summer Camp: Specialized Camps

For kids who already know their passions or have certain needs, specialized camps offer specific services, activities, facilities and expertise, bringing together campers who are all "in the same boat." These camps accommodate those with special needs or disabilities and allow campers to focus on a particular activity to enhance a skill or deepen knowledge in a particular sport, art or other interest.

Specialized camps are divided into different types, including camps on specific sports, health and fitness, adventure, arts, education, family, language, faith and special needs.

Specific Sports

Specific sports camps are perfect for youth whose passion is sports, or for any child to get the exercise they need. Only 12 per cent of Canadian kids are meeting Canada’s guidelines of 90 minutes of physical activity a day, according to the 2010 report card of Active Healthy Kids Canada, an organization focused on promoting physical activity in children and youth. These camps also help them develop advanced skills in the sport of their choice, and they learn teamwork and sportsmanship. (Read more and find sports camps here.)

Health and Fitness

With the country facing a crisis with childhood obesity and inactivity, health and fitness camps focus even more on educating kids about health and nutrition, and encourage campers to exercise and develop healthy habits and lifestyles. (Read more, and find health and fitness camps here.)

Adventure

Budding adventurers can satisfy their thrill-seeking ways at adventure camp while being in a safe environment with qualified leaders and quality equipment. While learning to sail in tall ships, paddling in rivers or climbing mountains, children grow through unique challenges, and learn teamwork, character building and leadership. (Read more and find adventure camps here.)

Arts

For creative children, arts camp is where they can get in-depth lessons, from painting to filmmaking, to hone their skills and foster their creativity from expert instructors. (Read more and find arts camps here.)

Education

Education camps from computers to science offer the best of both worlds of fun and learning. “Educational camps are good because they offer a leg up and an opportunity to refine weaknesses," says Brandon McClounie, publicity chair for the British Columbia Camping Association. "It really does keep them fresh over the summer. The results are tangible." (Read more and find education camps here.)

Language

Children won’t only be literally getting their feet wet at camp. They’ll also have a chance to immerse themselves in language through specialized camps, where they’ll improve conversation skills, gain more confidence speaking in their second language and pick up new colloquialisms.

"Kids will be more likely to excel in language education if they're playing and having fun while learning," says Yves Dubois, director of the Quebec Camping Association, who recommends choosing a camp that not only offers language immersion but also programs your child is interested in. (Read more and find language camps here.)

Family

First-timers, young children or parents who once attended camp themselves and want to share the experience with their kids may find a match with family camps. The increasingly popular family camps are sessions where the whole family can bond and attend camp together. It’s also another way for kids to get used to the idea of being at camp.

"It's a great way to have a shared experience with other members of your family and to bond," says Stephen Fine, chair of the National Research Committee for the Canadian Camping Association, in an interview in the 2011 edition of Our Kids Go To Camp magazine. "Here's an opportunity where you can get dad off the BlackBerry and get the kids off the computer and just do some fun stuff together and learn some new skills." (Read more and find family camps here.)

Faith-Based

Camp can be a meaningful journey, spiritually, through faith-based camps. This type of camp answers campers’ questions about faith and helps deepen their spirituality, instilling strong spiritual and character-building values while providing traditional camp activities, too. While these camps have a spiritual focus, they are open for non-religious and religious children of all affiliations. "Many parents choose these camps because they want the influence of those values which they deem important for their child's development," says Derrick Mueller, former national director of Christian Camping International/Canada. (Read more and find faith-based camps here.)

Special Needs

Special needs camp is a place of belonging for children who may feel less self-conscious and more confident being among other campers with similar abilities. Counsellors are specially trained, and activities and facilities are designed to accommodate special needs. Parents have peace of mind knowing it offers close supervision and attention to children’s needs, including those with cancer, autism and learning disabilities such as ADHD. (Read more and find special needs camps here.)

* With files from Sharon Aschaiek, Annette Bourdeau, Hailey Eisen and Lisa Van de Ven

Watch for more camp advice from Our Kids Media in our camp series.

Christl Dabu is the editor at camps.ca and Our Kids Go To Camp magazine, produced by Our Kids Media, which provides info and news on camps, private schools, education and parenting through its three magazines and four websites. For more info on camps, click here for a handy graphic explaining the types of camps, a comprehensive camps search tool, or more tips and resources.)

Tips on Getting Started on Your Summer Camp Search

• Take time to research your options ahead of time, and discuss them with your friends, family, camps and other parents with pertinent camp experience. Camps and spots for financial aid start to fill up by late winter, so as they say, the early bird gets the worm, or in this case, its first choice of camp.
• Determine your needs, interests and what you and your children are looking for in the camp. From start to finish, involve your children in the decision. Review brochures, websites and videos together. Ask your kids to list what they want in a camp.
• Visit camp websites for descriptions of their programs (click here for a link to 212 camps and check out ontariocamps.ca), speak with camp directors and obtain information packages.
• Visit the camp with your child. Click here for upcoming information sessions.
• Here is a list of questions to ask and things to consider when choosing a camp.

Christl Dabu is the editor of camps.ca and Our Kids Go To Camp magazine, produced by Our Kids Media, which provides info and news on camps, private schools, education and parenting through its three magazines and four websites. For more info on camps, contact us at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or go to camps.ca/2011.

At first, the “bubble-wrapped” campers were only familiar with the digital realm of text messages, Facebook and video games. But by the end of summer camp, a new study found they experienced significant growth, connecting with the world beyond electronic screens and smartphones.

“The major changes on their growth speaks tremendously of the summer camp experience,” says Troy Glover, the director of the University of Waterloo’s Healthy Communities Research Network, who spearheaded the Canadian Summer Camp Research Project.

Camp counsellors had observed the positive change in children by the end of their sessions, according to researchers from the project.

“Sending kids to camp allows children to grow and learn good citizenship, social integration, personal development and social development, exploring his or her capabilities and being in a safe environment where they can grow, gain independence and take risks,” Glover says.

The Canadian Summer Camp Research Project was launched to help new immigrants, ethnic communities and parents who had never attended camp as children, understand the value of the camp experience. Funded by the Canadian Camping Association, it is the first-ever nationwide and international research and evaluation project of its kind.

The study was done in the summer of 2010 and involved 1,295 campers, about half girls and half boys aged four to 18. Of the campers in the project, 61 per cent were returning campers and the rest were new campers. The research involved camps of all types, from day to overnight camps in the Atlantic Provinces, Quebec, Ontario, Western Canada.

Summer Camp: Sheltered Kids Learn to Go Outside Their Comfort Zones

In the age of 24-hour news highlighting crimes in our communities, overprotective parents want to “bubble-wrap” or shelter their children from all risks, Glover says.

“My parents were much more open to allowing me to play wherever I want and there was less surveillance, whereas today, despite our communities being statistically safer, somehow we have developed a culture of protection,” says the father of two children aged three and seven. “Because we want to protect kids from harm, they are less likely to be outside, they are less likely to ride their bikes around the block, and we are less likely to give kids their freedom.”

By allowing children to take risks, face challenges and learn from failures and mistakes, the study found that camp helps children develop important skills and build their independence, resiliency and self-esteem in a safe, supervised and supportive environment.

“Camp does a really good job of teaching kids it’s okay to fail and helps them recognize their limitations and see these are things that are not fixed and can be improved upon,” Glover says.

At camp, children are encouraged to go outside their comfort zone through activities such as high ropes courses, performing in front of big groups, or camping in the wilderness.

Summer Camp: Developing EQ and Self-Esteem

Shifting the focus away from the individual, camp teaches children to be more selfless and be better team players. An essential skill campers develop is emotional intelligence, commonly referred to as EQ (emotional quotient), Glover says.

With EQ, which involves recognizing, understanding and managing emotions and feelings, children learn how to work, play, relate, get along, empathize and connect with others.

“It’s not just about IQ in children,” he says. “Research supports how EQ is more important in terms of future success. Camp is a good environment to develop that.”

Children boost their self-esteem and develop risk-taking and conflict-resolution skills at camp, as they learn to make their own decisions without their parents’ help.

“One of the major benefits of camp is the social skills that develop, especially around interacting with other people in a positive way,” Glover says.

Lisa Loeb’s favourite memory from camp included skit nights, singing songs, playing the guitar and trying new activities. “I also loved the feeling of just having done something challenging, like trying water skiing for the first time,” she says in an interview with Our Kids Go To Camp magazine. “I was so scared -- it didn't feel great to fall down, but I loved having accomplished something I wasn't sure I could do.
”

The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter -- who founded the Camp Lisa Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps send underprivileged kids to summer camp -- discovered how fun it is to meet new people and relate to them at camp.

“Camp made me feel more confident in just being myself—even if I wasn't like everyone else all the time,” she says.

Read more about how camp changed Lisa Loeb’s life.

Summer Camp: Encouraging the Value of Play

Canadian children are reportedly spending an average of four to six hours a day with TVs, computers and cell phones. With the popularity of organized activities and electronic media, experts say children are lacking time to play in natural settings. This problem has been linked to obesity, anxiety and a decreased sense of stewardship.

Through spending time in natural settings and teaching environmental awareness, the study found camp can help children develop a personal connection and feel a greater sense of responsibility for the environment.

“What’s really unique about the camp environment—whether it’s a day camp or an overnight camp—is the opportunity for kids to explore being active in creative ways that aren’t as adult-driven,” says Michelle Brownrigg, former chief executive of Active Healthy Kids Canada.
Before making it big, Josh Bailey, the 21-year-old New York Islanders player from Bowmanville, Ont., was just a kid playing the sport he loved. At hockey camp in Aurora, Ont., his parents and grandparents would cheer from the stands as Bailey, his cousin and brother teamed up and usually won the championship trophy at the end. While seven summers at hockey camp helped him develop the technical skills he needs today, for Bailey, camp was about the fun of the game. "I was learning a lot, but I was a lot more focused on having fun,” he says in an interview with Our Kids Go To Camp magazine. “We just went to have a good time, and it makes you love the game even more.”

Josh Bailey shares more on how camp contributed to his success.

Summer Camp: A Remedy for Nature-Deficit Disorder

In the age of childhood obesity, the study suggested children were motivated to be physically active as their perceptions of physical activity became more positive over the time they spent at camp.

A bond with nature is sorely missing in the lives of many children today unlike a generation ago, Richard Louv writes in his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. “Children need nature for the healthy development of their senses, and therefore, for learning and creativity,” Louv says.

Steve Paikin, Canadian journalist, author and host of TVO’s The Agenda, fondly remembers jumping off a 12-foot mini-cliff, learning to build a fire, and falling in love with one of the kitchen girls.

“Getting outdoors, in the bush, particularly if you live in an inner city, is essential to becoming a better person,” he says in an interview with Our Kids Go To Camp magazine. “It's an essential building block in allowing children to become more independent. And let's not forget the obvious: it's good for parents as well to have some time on their own, knowing their kids are thriving in a spectacular environment.”

Watch the video and read Steve Paikin’s advice for parents about camp:

Summer Camp: Gaining a Summer Education

Camp is the kind of place where children can learn canoeing, archery and life skills, as well as apply the lessons they learned during the school year in a fun, challenging, supportive and safe environment.

“It’s not only cognitive learning, it’s emotional learning,” says Tom Potter, associate professor at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont., who has been involved in outdoor adventure education for more than 30 years. “(Kids) are connecting to (camp) at the emotional level, so it can go pretty deep and they can learn more.”

When you get to the edge of what you know and have to cross a threshold, real learning happens, says James Raffan, executive director of the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ont., in an interview with Our Kids Go To Camp magazine. "Camp is full of edges--whether it’s darkness, being away from home, strange food, living in a cabin with people you don't know, climbing rocks, paddling down rivers, doing tough portages. . . . I think every camp can probably point to people who have become the best that they can be."

Watch the video and find out from James Raffan how camp teaches lifelong lessons of the heart:

Summer Camp: Where Leaders Are Born

Camp is often where leaders are born and helps youth gradually build leadership skills.

“You’re often having to rely on your teammates or cabin mates to complete an activity,” says Moira MacDougall, who heads teen and young adult strategies for the YMCA of Greater Toronto, a charity providing community support programs.

Many camp alumni say camp was their greatest teacher.

“Camp does two things at once. It lets kids be kids, and it encourages them to solve interesting problems,” says Seth Godin, entrepreneur, best-selling author of 12 books and called "America's Greatest Marketer" by American Way Magazine. “The rest of life tends to be about becoming a compliant cog in the endless machine of industry. To do what you're told. What a waste.”

Seth Godin shares more on how camp taught him the tools to success.

Summer Camp: Unwrapping the ‘Bubble-Wrapped’ Reality

For Trefor Munn-Venn’s family, camp is the most important event after Christmas and Easter. Since his first child was born seven years ago, the consultant has been taking his entire family each year to Cairn, a traditional overnight camp in Baysville, Ont.

The 42-year-old father says camp has helped his two boys, aged 7 and 5 , become more confident and proud of themselves for doing things they didn’t think they could do such as wall-climbing, canoeing and living outdoors for a week.

As tough as it is for parents, unwrapping the “bubble-wrapped” reality brought about “extraordinary” change in Munn-Venn’s sons when they came home from camp.

“They’re encouraged to be themselves and the staff help them discover who they are,” he says. “We see them come back always more relaxed, confident and independent.”

- With files from Lisa Van de Ven and Caroline Maga

Watch for more camp advice from Our Kids Media in our camp series.

Christl Dabu is the editor of camps.ca and Our Kids Go To Camp magazine, produced by Our Kids Media, which provides info and news on camps, private schools, education and parenting through its three magazines and four websites. For more info on camps, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or go to camps.ca/2011.