The Value of a Good Camp Experience is Immeasurable
There is immeasurable value to a dollar spent on a good camp experience – it develops the whole person via a comprehensive social and experiential education. At Camp Kupugani, we focus on each child’s individual needs. Our intentional empowerment program strengthens individual identity and appreciation of others. Campers develop tools including: appreciation of diversity, communication skills, leadership, positive self-image, body image, healthy relationship building, self-expression, social awareness, and environmental awareness. The learning happens almost without knowing it; from our campers’ viewpoint, they simply have a great time making fantastic new friends while reconnecting with old ones. They enjoy activities like rock climbing, canoeing, playing under waterfalls, and night hikes under the stars, plus carefully designed group activities and games so that fun and personal growth coincide.
The campers’ empowerment as they realize that they can become powerful, independent young people is priceless. The value of making diverse lifelong friends from different countries, backgrounds, cultures, and religions is incomparable. The camper (and parent) comfort level given a supportive environment with the campers guided by professionally trained counselors of astounding character, within beautiful natural facilities, is without parallel.
Our parent surveys reinforce that we’re doing our task well. Reviewing the past 7 years of our parent surveys, 99% of respondents were satisfied with their camper’s Camp Kupugani experience, and would recommend our camp to friends. From our 2013 surveys, overwhelming majorities of our parents also noted their camper’s improvement in character development areas including: Acknowledgment & Appreciation of Diversity, Conflict Resolution Skills, Personal Growth / Self Confidence, Positive Self Image, and Leadership Skills.
Camp provides learning that can’t be experienced elsewhere, like schools, where there is a narrow academic focus. One can appreciate the value associated with good schools; however, the growth experienced there–over months or years–often doesn’t compare to the growth occurring in just days or weeks at camp. An intentional camp experience provides wholesome, guided and nurtured opportunities to make sincere friends and to respect others; we emphasize caring, respectful, guided socialization. There’s an immeasurable difference in atmosphere between a school cafeteria and our dining hall.
Our camp professionals facilitate interpersonal dealings. Counselor-camper guidance is consistent and practiced daily; the counselors are specifically trained around social issues, and have both the time and supportive atmosphere to do it well. We give children new perspectives on what daily life and an empowering community can be like for them. They can see that–unlike the pressures that can surround the school environment–all of life is not relentless competition; there can be multiple forms of achievement and popularity among peers.
Caregivers must be mindful around expenses like a camp experience, as with anything that you choose to have your child participate in. So we are sure to provide good value. What price can you put on your child developing a lifelong friend? How much is it worth to for your child to dam jump, rock climb, river walk, or sleep under the stars–to challenge herself physically and mentally to do things that she hasn’t done before? What price is sufficient for your child to be mentored by a young lady dedicated to supporting and empowering her? As the Mastercard ad says…”priceless.” (That said, we do have financial aid available for families unable to afford the full tuition.)