Many of us likely have a childhood memory of being out in nature. Maybe it’s squatting down in the dirt investigating a line of crawling ants, or rolling down a hill laughing with friends, or maybe climbing as high as possible in a favorite tree. Take a minute and try to think about what your favorite childhood nature-memory might be…
Whether growing up in a city, small town, or in a house in the forest, these brief moments of connecting with nature stick with us because they meant something. These memories stick with us because they brought the simple yet impactful feeling of joy and wonder.
Lots of summer camps offer children the opportunity to be outdoors, rain or shine. These
summer camps may be focused on sports, or they may be the local recreation camp, or maybe their focus is to get kids outside to explore and learn in nature. Regardless of the camps’ focus, being out in nature has been proven to make kids happier, healthier and even smarter.
We’re probably all familiar with the sound of children laughing, either enjoying play by
themselves or enjoying play with each other. In an outdoor nature setting, this laughter can be almost nonstop as the sky’s the limit when it comes to imagination play and there’s a wide range of flora and fauna to inspire a creative (and less creative) mind. These moments of nature play have been proven to help decrease feelings of stress, anxiety and depression in children (and adults), and encourage relationship building and social-emotional growth. All of these things make for a mentally healthier, and happier child.
This nature play also helps keeps kids active, gets them out in the sunshine and fresh air, and gives their immune system a boost. These things combined create a physically healthier child.
At summer camps that encourage nature play and outdoor exploration, children might also get the opportunity to learn about what they are curious about. This form of learning has sometimes been called “nature-based learning”. When their questions are answered with enthusiasm and expertise, that curiosity is validated and their passion for learning encouraged. Don’t be surprised if by the end of the summer your child is suddenly an entomologist (a scientist who studies bugs) in the making. Just because the school year is over doesn’t mean the learning has to stop! Not all classrooms have to have four walls with desks and chairs.
It’s important that when children are out in nature, that they feel safe and that they have fun. Arguably, summer is the best time to get outside and explore in nature, and so summer camps can play a big role in building a child’s relationship with nature. With the right amount of sunshine, laughter, outdoor exploration, and nature-based learning, summer can generate nature- based memories to last a lifetime.
Drew Stazesky is the Camp Coordinator and Naturalist at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness, NH.