Educational camps do not only have to be about reviewing material over the summer. In fact, educational camps can also be about learning new things through play. Educational camps usually do not limit themselves to one subject. Generally, when children are forced to work on math or science all summer they can be quite resistant, but educational camps have a fun way of reviewing and introducing new concepts through activities.

Sometimes children can have a hard time attending a camp focused on outdoor activities and sports. Most of the time, attending a specific educational camp allows the student to branch out and make friends with other people who have similar interests such as robotics, mathematics and science. Children who are already interested in these types of subjects feel the need to connect with those who also share their passion for their topic of interest. Most schools do not necessarily have the time, or the funds, to invest in elaborate science or math-based social activities. Choosing a summer camp that helps a child develop and strengthen these skills can be really beneficial.

The “brain drain” is real and does exist. Brain drain is when students forget about the material they learned the previous year and have some trouble remembering these concepts again in the new school year. In fact, a lot of teachers and parents complain they cannot get their children or students to buckle down after summer and review concepts that were already taught in the previous year.

An article in the Washington Post describes the importance of attending an educational camp or at least reviewing last year’s material; “These days, however, parents are fed some sobering statistics. Students, we are told, on average lose about two months of progress in reading and in math over the summer. Even more alarming, if not addressed, the loss can be cumulative, making it harder to catch up as each summer passes, severely affecting the progress and the potential for long-term success.”

Attending an educational camp can and should be a positive experience for a child. Parents should identify the reasons why their child would like to attend a particular themed camp. “A good camp, will provide opportunities for kids to learn the subject through specific material taught in schools through play, hands on activities, and through activities that kids enjoy,” says Ava Nouraeyan, Executive Director from a renowned educational camp based in Laval and in Montreal. “For example, cooking is equivalent to chemistry class, so the benefit for kids is that they begin to associate the stresses of school with enjoyment, fun and take away the negativity associated with their struggles and become more confident in their abilities.”

Confidence is key. Some children do not perform well in school because they are unable to answer certain questions in the classroom. Practice makes perfect, but having fun while doing it is vital as well. Having fun helps students grasp the concepts, therefore why not create summer camp memories that will last a lifetime while expanding their capacity to learn?