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What's New in Summer Camps?
The phrase "summer camp" conjures up images of kids sleeping in cabins, learning to ride horses, going canoeing and sitting around campfires. Most summer camps still fit that description, but there's a new trend – a new type of summer camp that looks very different; the specialized camp.
Specialized camps focus on developing a particular skill or interest such as dance or filmmaking. They often look less like a summer camp and more like summer school. Days are designed around workshops and other activities related to the camp's unique subject. A dance camp, for example, will include workshops for technique and physical conditioning, and will often culminate in an actual performance.
Lately, interest in specialized camps has increased dramatically, due – in part – to increased competition when applying for college. A specialized camp can help a teenager get the edge he needs to get into his university of choice, and new programs are popping up everywhere.
The rise in popularity can also be attributed to the simple fact that specialized camps draw children and adolescents who are uninterested in hiking through the woods or roasting marshmallows. It started with sports camps; places kids could go to improve their skills in football, rowing, volleyball, soccer and more. Now, camps also include many technology- and art-related fields. The "camp counselors" at these camps are typically required to have experience in a particular field or subject, so campers are learning from people who have more than just book knowledge.
Environmental- and science-based camps are also becoming more popular. If your child likes studying nature, eco-systems or conservation, there's likely a camp not too far from home that does exactly that. These programs are typically run by environmental groups that are excited to encourage the next generation of conservationists.
For kids who want a little more of an adrenaline rush (and parents who don't mind the added risk), there's a sub-set of camps called "adventure camps". Here, kids can go whitewater rafting, rock climbing, or even bungee jumping. Some take kids on actual expeditions up mountains or into canyons and caves.
With so many options, now's a great time to start thinking about where you kids will attend summer camp. Talk with your child and find out what kind of camp he'd like to attend. If he's interested in a specialized camp, you'll want to get him registered sooner rather than later. Space is often limited, and the camps fill up fast.
No matter what kind of camp your child chooses, his experience will be one to remember. A specialized camp will give him the opportunity to increase his knowledge and skill in a particular area, and do it with other kids who share the same interest. It's a great chance to meet new people and make new friends! It can also help boost a child's self-esteem and give him the confidence he needs to not only try new things, but to pursue those things about which he's truly passionate.
Lone Star Expeditions is a therapeutic intervention in Texas that combines traditional therapy with a wilderness setting to engage students in exploring their character in a safe, but challenging environment. Lone Star is a licensed treatment program with a focus on assessment and intervention. We work with adolescents to transfer the knowledge learned to other areas of their lives. The forested, camp-like surroundings remove modern distractions and simplify choices to help students gain insight into their values and accept responsibility for their decisions.
Aspen Achievement Academy is licensed treatment program that integrates an accredited academic component, a sophisticated therapeutic model, and an experiential education curriculum in a healing wilderness environment. Aspen Academy recently participated in a landmark study of wilderness therapy that showed a dramatic improvement in teen behavior after participation in this type of program. The Academy creates a modern "rite of passage" designed to assist adolescents in making the transition to responsible young adulthood.