By the time you’ve put away uniforms and lunchboxes, sorted through papers, supplies and books, just barely a week into summer break, you hear those dreaded words... “I’m bored.”

Now what? For most families, summers off include pool parties, barbecues and waterparks, with each parent taking some time off in between or planning a vacation. Truthfully, all your teens really want to do is hang out with their friends, but don’t write off the idea of summer camp for your teen just yet.

Today’s summer camps are not the way you remember it. With interests ranging from traditional sports and dance, to science, music, cooking, art and so much more, the options are practically endless. From artists to athletes, the choices to fuel your teen’s curiosity and fill their days with fun are infinite. Aside from keeping them occupied – off the video games and out of trouble – the most significant factor of all is the opportunity for them to develop their social skills and make new friendships and memories. All of which make the summer camp experience invaluable.

Psychologists, teachers and parents alike all share the same opinion for the priceless lessons that accompany the summer camp experience. Here are some of the skills you can expect your teenage children to develop at summer camp;

  1. Discovery; Summer camp allows the opportunity for your teen to try a new sport, discover a new hobby or simply practice a passion they would normally not have the time to do during their busy school year.
  2. Independence; Many summer camps, especially sleep-away camps, do a marvellous job at setting the stage for teaching your teens to be more self-reliant and independent. Being on their own, away from home, and tending to their own personal needs themselves can make a huge impact on their ability to be more independent.
  3. Confidence; Countless teens use the summer camp experience to volunteer their time to help out as junior camp counsellors at their local camps. Not only does it give them a sense of accomplishment and pride in sharing their knowledge and putting their abilities to use, it also instils confidence and pride in acting as leaders and mentors to younger campers.
  4. Social Skills; Summer camp is structured in a more relaxed, less formal setting than school. What better way to teach teens empathy, listening skills and patience than in a setting that includes their peers and other age groups?


Get to know your teen’s interests and look for camps that have full-time or part-time hours in areas that interest your child. Don’t be afraid to ask each camp about the opportunity to have your teen attend as a camper or volunteer. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to see just how many places welcome the idea.