How Cell Phone Ruin Kids

Cell phones are an addictive part of society! In the last 10 years a
cell phone morphed into a mini pocket computer that constantly connects
you to the rest of the world. No longer to we make a call when we need.
No today's cell phone is our new best friend. It is with us all the time
and we are never alone. No longer do we ask help from a stranger, look
up and people watch or even stop to help people. This devise that was
built to make us closer as actually made us more independent and less
connected to each other.

So with that said, fast forward, you have decided to send your child off to Overnight Summer Camp .

Now it is a few days into summer camp and you miss your child. That’s
normal. So you pick up your cell phone and start to call your child’s
cell phone. Then it hits you, summer camp has a NO contact policy! Why
would such a thing exist? To make the parents suffer? Well, maybe its much more than this.

Here is the secret, a large part of the magic of an overnight summer
camp experience is being in a closed community that is conscious. Summer camp
if done well totally immerses a child. They live camp with their camp
friends, and become part of the story of camp. So how does a cell phone
ruin this adventure. It butts into the “life of camp” and brings
children the reality of back home. For this reason many directors
discourage
parents from calling their campers and some even discourage visiting .
Camp Directors want to provide “creative separation” which allow the
children to develop a healthy sense of independence, in turn
leading
to a healthy sense of adventure. For many children this is their first
time away from home and it is in a protected child centered environment
that only leads to good results. Most camp directors want
parents to
see everything that happens at camp but that is not possible if you buy
into the giving your child a secure freedom. So most camps like at
Swift Nature Camp have gone to daily publishing photos on our websites,
newsletters, periodic Tweets , or videos. We and other camps would
prefer you call so we can give you an up to date input how your child
is doing. Remember, most camp Directors want to help you after all we
are parents too.

forget about the cliques at school, their concerns about grades, and
what their friends are doing and wearing. Summer Camp will replace these
things with campfires, caring for others, singing in the dining hall,
trying new things and increase their growth as a paddler, a rider, a
gymnast, and a climber. Even more, they will be replaced by a community
of close caring friends.

Okay,
So you don’t buy it! You need to be in touch with your child. You know
you are a helicopter parent. Youwant to control your child's life and
thus hindering their natural independence. I get it, we see all sorts of
parents at SNC. Here are a few of the Real Benefits of Summer Camp,
it's much more than just play. No need to fret.? There are a variety
of different camps and different policies that help parents and campers
stay in
touch. Some camps allow campers to carry cell phones, some
allow access to email. Many camps have visiting days. Every camp is
different so be sure you ask the director how communication happens
before you enroll in camp. But, don't loos site of the power of letter
writing and a postage stamp. Remember, this may also be a growing time
for you ... getting you ready for those not to far off college days.

Lonnie & Jeff Lorenz
Swift Nature Camp
630-654-8036