Part II on the benefits of outdoor education via adventure summer camps.
In the first part, we examined a bit of what has been removed from our schools and why, more than ever, looking for a program to enroll our children can benefit their development. While the benefits are many, as declared in many studies we looked specifically at 5-points:
Experiential outdoor education programs help in a great many ways, here are a few main points of impact this type of education will have on a student:
1. An environmental / ecological awareness.
2. Physical challenge and accomplishment positive for both the physical and emotional well-being.
3. Self-awareness / empowerment
4. Interpersonal relations, communication and leadership skills.
5. Socialization and community development.
Here, in part II, we're going to develop the 5-benefits further and look to some at some specific case studies via anecdote.
Benefits :
Environment: The environment alone increases learning. For starters, the children simply learn about the out of doors. So many children rarely venture outside. Being out of doors is invigorating and children pay better attention. The out of doors is tactile and children enjoy touching, physically experiencing their world. The out of doors is powerful and unpredictable and children must pay attention so as to not get off task or be taken by surprise. The out of doors (unfortunately) is uncommon and senses are heightened in the unknown: just shut off the light at night in a place you're not familiar: your senses go on high alert!
Physical Challenges: When a person is challenged, specifically in a physical challenge, their learning increases. When this challenge occurs in a new environment wherein the individual must measure risk, assess a scenario and calculate how much mental and physical effort is required of them to complete a task their whole being is involved in solving the puzzle. Children in adventure camps are often put in new and unusual situations, which require this very process. When they complete the challenge (as they most certainly do for this is the whole point of the camp and the challenges), an immense surge of hormones courses through the camper.
Self-Awareness / Empowerment: The pleasure of course, is pride. The camper realizes achievement. A new awareness is borne, a new confidence blossoms. For a camp director and staff, this is the equivalent to the runner's-high, this is why they're there and why they encourage us to bring our children there. The camp is sowing the seeds of confidence, setting the tone that one can achieve their goals and attain new heights if they work positively and doggedly in pursuit. Now the camper realizes her or she can do something they previous thought impossible. Worse yet, never even dared to imagine.
The experiential camp will reinforce this learning, this experience for they're specifically aware of and aiming to set the stage for this type of growth. Thus, in the day's preparations, they're setting the tone in talks and behavior and then after the day's activity they'll discuss the day and again reinforce the lessons, the learning.
anecdote - While the big adventure accomplishments like rope climbing or tramping or whitewater rafting are the glamorous stories, there are huge personal victories to be had even in the most benign settings. Enter the story of Fate, she was a 17-year old girl, homeschooled and away at adventure camp 600-miles from home, for the first time.
The camp ate in town that night; Fate had a special dietary need so the director took her shopping to accommodate her. When it came time to pick her drink for the night, Fate was stopped in her tracks after the director said she could have her pick. The look on her face and her literally stopping in her tracks alarmed the director who asked if everything was all right. She emphatically replied yes, everything was fine it was simply she was never allowed to choose for herself and the power, the freedom was overwhelming. Fate ultimately chose, a Sprite, and did pirouettes down the isle.
One never knows what will empower a child, but the moment it happens, neither the child nor the observer will forget.
Interpersonal Relations / Communication / Leadership: Clearly the person hanging from a rope, or reaching the pinnacle of a climb is in the center-stage position, they're the star of the show; however, the counselors, guides and other campers are the supporting cast. In a camp geared toward improvement and personal growth, a camper is never out of class. The supporting cast is encouraging, either in group whoops and cheers as someone is pushing to do something new or they're engaged in one on one moments of encouragement.
Often, in a ropes course, for example, only one person at a time is going to make the leap of faith and the others are watching, supporting and getting ready. Inevitably, someone is near the back, rocking back and forth, nervous. In these moment campers learn to lead, to coach, to support and to communicate with the group members. They'll first learn by the counselor's lead and some will do it naturally and ultimately all will follow.
Camp is a great place to learn to communicate, to establish oneself in a new environment without preconceptions of whom the group leader is and who must subordinate to whom. Everyone arrives together everyone grows together.
anecdote - Macey was a polite 15-year old boy with an air of confidence in the out of doors but not arrogance. He was relatively quiet, a bit reserved socially, but got along well with everyone in the summer camp. There was something going on with Macey but it only showed in the disconnect between his comfort and confidence he demonstrated in the adventures encountered and the reserve he showed elsewhere.
As the days passed and he grew ever closer to the other campers, his thoughts were revealed, his mother had recently passed away. It was here at camp he was able, in the new environment, to open up and heal some of what was eating at him. The camps are set up for campers to succeed, the tone is set that is a tone of team work and while Macey was adept at the physical, his obstacle course was grieving and returning to a place of personal health.
The supportive environment allowed him to reach out emotionally, safely, to process. By the end of the week, the smiles, talkativeness and energy were all in-sync and Macey left camp renewed.
Socialization / Community Development : Camp, in this respect, all camps are like little countries waiting to be populated and developed. This begins and ends with each camp session. It's quite a fascinating phenomena and joy to watch.
The campers arrive to the strange new land, camp, debarking their various modes of transportation, gear in hand ready to begin anew. They check out the others arriving. Some are talkative right from the start, others fall back and take a wait and see approach and then there are those somewhere between.
The authorities in camp i.e., counselors, guides, directors, set the tone, as we've discussed it's positive, supportive, vocal and strong in its leadership. The campers however, must find their way, must create a social structure that is conducive to a fun and adventurous camp.
In this totally raw environment, they're learning, by experience (experiential), how to form a community at large: leaders, rules, team members, socially expected behaviors. Ultimately, the camp concludes with close bonds between all campers, enthusiasm is high and the environment is supportive, loving and energizing.
anecdote - Rhianna was a girl from the city being dropped off at a whitewater adventure camp. She was slightly built, bleached blond hair and dark, Goth-like eyeliner hid her eyes. She kept her head down and spoke very little, very introverted.
At the initial activities used to break the ice, she was reserved or gave answers that were clearly defensive responses. For example, when the group was asked for their favorite music she'd pick the loudest most aggressive band going. Every response was used to verbally back anyone off, keep folks from getting to close.
By the end of camp, Rhi (as the campers called her) was one of the most vocal about loving everyone, she was the most adamant that this was the best summer ever, she was the first to call and enroll for camp the next season. She stayed in contact with everyone, including the camp director on the camp's MySpace page.
Prior to coming to camp she was bitten by a poisonous spider, at one point, thought the wound was cleaned regularly, her parent's thought it best to take her to the doctor, mid camp, to make sure she was fine. Of course, the camp agreed. She went to the doctor and even though it hurt to sit, she insisted on coming straight back to camp and finishing her time there.
These anecdotes are true and witnessed first hand. Camp is powerful. Choosing a camp wherein your child can have fun and you can know they're getting something out of it, is completely possible. Don't down play the importance of these experiences. Each child mentioned here is better because of their summer outdoor experiential education experience.
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