By Adina Ginsburg, Community Care Manager
Sleepaway camps offer children the chance to step outside their comfort zones and experience a new world of independence and adventure. While even short stays can provide valuable growth opportunities, longer sessions can be particularly impactful when it comes to social, emotional, and mental health development.
Building Stronger Social Skills
At sleepaway camp, children are immersed in a social environment where they interact with peers from diverse backgrounds. A longer stay allows for deeper relationships to form, fostering empathy, communication skills, and the ability to navigate social challenges. These interactions help children improve their conflict resolution abilities and practice teamwork, skills that are transferable to school and beyond. Over time, the gradual nature of these social dynamics also provides children with a sense of belonging which is crucial for developing self-confidence.
Emotional Resilience and Self-Regulation
Extended time away from home challenges children to manage their emotions in a supportive, yet independent setting. While initial homesickness and anxiety may arise, by the end of a longer session, children typically develop better emotional regulation skills. They learn to cope with stressors, adapt to new routines, and navigate feelings of frustration or disappointment. This emotional resilience strengthens their ability to handle life’s challenges with greater maturity and confidence, improving overall mental well-being.
Increased Self-Esteem and Independence
Sleepaway camp offers children the opportunity to make their own decisions, learn new skills, and take on responsibilities. Longer stays build a child’s sense of self-efficacy—belief in their ability to accomplish tasks and overcome obstacles. This autonomy can be incredibly empowering, helping children develop a stronger sense of self-worth and independence, both of which are essential for mental health and personal growth.
Stronger Connections to Nature and Reduced Screen Time
Spending more time outdoors and away from screens provides children with a healthy break from the overstimulation often present in daily life. Longer stays encourage deeper engagement with nature, which research shows can have significant benefits for mental health. Whether it’s hiking, swimming, or simply enjoying the quiet of the outdoors, these experiences can help children feel more grounded, reduce anxiety, and improve mood.
Longer stays at sleepaway camps offer children more than just fun—they provide invaluable opportunities for emotional growth, social learning, and mental health improvement. With the chance to build lasting friendships, develop emotional resilience, and gain greater independence, children return home from camp not only with fond memories but also with enhanced emotional and mental well-being.
At Capital Camps, we are committed to the social, emotional wellbeing of all our campers and staff. We have a community care team consisting of social workers, psychologists and inclusion experts. The team supports all campers and staff before, during, and after their time at camp. Capital Camps is so lucky to be a part of the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s (FJC) Yedid Nefesh Mental Health Initiative, which enables our camp to have a clinical social worker on the year-round staff team. FJC also provides a monthly community of practice (CoP) to learn from and share with other camps. Capital Camps’ commitment to the wellbeing of our community is a top priority.
Questions about our camp program? Contact Adina, adinag@capitalcamps.org