Camp changes kids, directors say

Horton points out that kids today rarely get to make decisions for themselves. Parents keep tabs on them with phones, schedules are packed, and screens fill any free time. A week at camp takes all of that away.

At camp, kids swim, paddle, climb, sing, and eat together. They share cabins with new friends and build relationships without needing a group chat.

Horton remembers asking a former camper what camp meant to him, and the answer stuck with him.

“Camp was the only week I got to be a kid,” Horton said.

For some kids, Horton says, that week gives them a break from tough situations at home. For others, it’s the first time they see that they can manage on their own.

In Prince George, The Exploration Place offers a different kind of camp. Executive director Alyssa Leier says their staff plan the summer around STEAM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. Each week has a new theme.

“We know each child has different and specific interests,” Leier said. “So we try to do a little bit of everything so that each child has something that they’re interested in, engaged with, and they’re happy to come to summer camp.”

The day camps are mainly for kids ages six to eleven, but sometimes five-year-olds and twelve-year-olds join if the topic suits them.

Many families say cost is the biggest barrier. A week at Ness Lake’s overnight camp costs between $400 and $500. Horton explains that camper fees only cover about half of what it takes to run the camp, and donations cover the rest.

Both directors encourage families not to let the price keep them from signing up.

“We open up a bursary program for kids who maybe don’t have access to summer camps, typically because we know that costs can be a barrier,” Leier said.

Horton says Ness Lake also offers sponsorships. Most camps in the area will help cover part of the cost if a family asks, and some will even cover the whole week.

His advice for parents who are unsure is straightforward: check out websites, compare camps, choose one that fits your family’s values, and sign up.

“If you have never experienced it yourself, I’d say don’t rob your kid of an experience you never had,” Horton said. “Give them that chance, even that one chance.”

Camps across the region are now open for registration.

by Dave Branco

Camp changes kids, directors say

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