A bond with nature is sorely missing in the lives of many children today unlike a generation ago, Richard Louv writes in his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. It’s a world where kids may be all too aware of environmental problems, yet rarely venture out to experience the natural world, he writes.

One effective cure to this outdoors aversion? Camps.

"Camps have their own pressures, but the healing quality of nature is always there, just beyond the screen door," Louv says.

At camp, kids are given the opportunity to see what they’re missing, and form lifelong bonds and connections with the natural world they may have never experienced before. "Even camps in the city usually have an outdoor dimension to them," says Glover. "Children need nature for the healthy development of their senses, and therefore, for learning and creativity," Louv adds.

All the more reason to digitally disconnect (even for a day) — and connect to outdoor adventures that exist outside of computer screens.
A leader isn’t always the loudest person in a group, or the most active.

Many leaders share a range of skills and qualities that help him or her take charge: confidence, creativity in their decision-making and an understanding of teamwork, to name a few. It takes practice to become a good leader, too.

That’s where camp comes in, says Moira MacDougall, who heads teen and young adult strategies for the YMCA of Greater Toronto, a charity providing community support programs. Camp helps gradually build leadership skills, MacDougall says.



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