The Power of Nature-Based Camps

By Sandy Simmonds

Printed in the Family Post: Spring Issue 2008

Here in Nevada County, even in our most congested areas, we are surrounded by the ever constant beauty of nature. On any given day, we can be treated to the splendor of tall pines dancing in a gentle breeze, the setting sun casting apricot light on the surrounding mountains or flocks of Sandhill Cranes traversing the sky above. Streams, creeks and our beloved Yuba River sing their way through our canyons providing habitat for a wide variety of animals from bears to bobcats in addition to numerous species of birds. Every year people from large metropolitan areas pull up roots and head for our hills in hopes of a gentler, more peaceable life. Yet, in spite of our proximity to the natural world, there is a growing and disturbing gap between children and nature. In his book “Last Child in the Woods” author Richard Louv refers to the gap as Nature Deficit Disorder.

It hasn’t always been like this. As a young child, I spent many happy hours in the great outdoors. Whenever we were not in school, kids in my neighborhood were booted outdoors in the morning only to be dragged back in, kicking and screaming at dusk. No self respecting child wanted to return indoors if even the slightest ray of light remained in the sky. How did we manage to entertain ourselves all those hours of the day and stay out of trouble? It was easy.

Though I lived in a typical suburban neighborhood, we were lucky to have a large empty lot a block away from my house. In the spring, the lot was covered with mustard green plants so high that they seemed to touch the sky. We spent endless hours making trails and dens in those fields, playing countless rounds of hide and seek or tag.

As the mustard receded, the tumble weeds began to fill in, providing us with ample material for the best roundhouse forts. When we tired of those, there were always trees for climbing. Never was there a complaint of boredom as we climbed, constructed, ran, dug and hid on that bountiful two acre lot.

So why are today’s children not playing outside as have previous generations? Parents state a number of reasons. Homework, extracurricular activities and organized sports, consume more of children’s time. Fear too, plays a large part. Stranger danger and increased traffic all bring about a hesitancy to let children play outside. Some children have little or no access to parks or other safe areas.

However, the most insidious is our love affair with technology. We have become a society consumed by it. With the advent of computers, video games, and X-Boxes, and the proliferation of television, children are spending more time indoors and little, if any, time outdoors. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children watch between four to six hours of television a day: time that could be spent reading, interacting with family, playing with friends or exploring the out-of-doors. We have created a generation of increasingly unhappy, unhealthy, overweight kids afraid of bugs and dirt!

You may ask, “What has this to do with camp?” Camps can work magic. They open the door to a host of possibilities. The possibility of new interests, unique approaches to problem solving, a wider scope of social skills, a more diverse circle of friends, even new career opportunities. Nature camps provide children the opportunity to test their ability to be leaders, to fine-tune observation and assessment skills, to work cooperatively and relate to the natural world in a life affirming, respectful manner. They come to know that they are not outside of nature, rather they are intertwined with and inseparable from all life. Through hands-on experience, children come to understand and delight in the world around them. They become acquainted with the myriad life forms inhabiting this planet. They witness the simplicity, beauty and miracle of nature and the intricacies of complex ecosystems.

It has been said that ignorance breeds fear, while knowledge fosters tolerance, acceptance and understanding. As the child observes her natural surroundings, an intimacy begins to develop. The child begins to see her place in the world. She comes to understand the interdependence of all living things. Feelings of fear and separateness begin to dissolve as confidence and self-esteem are strengthened. This is an empowering experience for a child - they now see that they can and do make a difference. Armed with this knowledge, they are better able to make decisions regarding stewardship of themselves, their schools, their community and the planet. And to top it all off - its fun!

The planet needs our children, and our children need this planet. There is no better time to go to camp!