Camp Woodland Blog

What Do Camp Photos Tell Us?

It’s obvious that campers are having a great time if you take a look at the photo gallery or social media posts. You’ll see girls engaged in a huge variety of activities. They’re outside riding horses, shooting at the archery and riflery ranges, caring for the animals at Farm Zoo, and learning lines in drama. They’re sailing on Sand Lake and playing tennis, learning 8-counts in dance, and tying & dyeing t-shirts into amazing colorful patterns. They’re swimming in the lake and doing forward rolls in gymnastics.

They’re starting the day with a great breakfast and taking time for a brief rest after lunch. They’re soaking up sunshine (we called it HOT for the first few days!) and sometimes pausing for the rain (a little Woodland dew doesn’t stop the fun!). They’re singing and dancing, and dressing up in a costume just for the fun of it.

And, What Else?!

Of course, there’s much more than that going on at camp, so much good stuff that can’t be seen in the photo gallery. There are friendships being formed and strengthened, subtle strides toward greater self-confidence, and perhaps a refreshed appreciation for the natural world.

We are often amazed by the sense of freedom that the girls feel when they realize that kindness and caring are what matters at Woodland, that they can be more genuinely themselves when they’re not afraid of being judged. Life at camp just feels really good, so good, they can’t help but smile.

What Do Camp Photos REALLY Tell Us?

There is still something else happening. It’s pretty simple, but also significant, and that’s all the in-person conversation we enjoy. This is nothing short of amazing considering we’ve only been together for a week. Throughout the day, during activities, the girls are listening to each other, sharing stories, chatting about whatever is on their mind. They might be playing tetherball or paddling a canoe, working on a project in the art room, fishing on the dock, or even taking a turn on the big banana, and they are face-to-face with friends.

During their free time, they might just be “hanging out,” and yet they’re usually engaged in easy conversation with whoever happens to be nearby. It’s one of the pleasures of camp: always having an opportunity for enthusiastic, interested conversation.

A Much Needed Break from Technology?

How different from mainstream life a mere 7 days ago! Most people don’t have this opportunity because our personal devices have taken over. Our smartphones have isolated us from others, making this kind of real-world conversation rare… at best, occasional. With a screen to look at, with the ding of notifications calling, how many of us are having meaningful conversations?

Even in a room full of teenagers, if they all have their phones, are they really connecting with each other? They may be “together”, yet having separate “conversations” with whatever catches their attention – a text, IG post, snap, or TikTok video. At the very least, most of us are distracted and interrupted by these devices, undermining whatever in-person communication we might be lucky to have.

It’s not a stretch to wonder how a smartphone in every young person’s hand is holding back their ability to communicate, hindering this critical skill. Like anything else, conversation takes practice. Sure, it might be “awkward” at first, but if we retreat to the safety of text messaging, or some other electronic communication, something is definitely lost.

What People Skills Are We Learning?

If kids shrink from in-person conversations, there is a good chance they will struggle to form meaningful relationships. It will be harder to connect with others and to discover how much another person truly cares for you. After all, it’s through heartfelt conversation that we can grow closer to each other. If your smartphone is always first, if your main outlet is social media, what are you missing?  Most likely, a lot.

This is yet another reason why camp is so awesome. By ditching our screens and offering an endless parade of opportunities to have conversations with the wonderful people we are sharing this Northwoods haven with, we’re developing communication skills (the kind that robots don’t have!). Camp provides real world examples of the rewards that spring from genuine conversations— the rich connections, the array of emotions, and the lasting satisfaction of it all. It’s really not what you see in the photo gallery, it’s actually what you don’t see that is the true value of camp. And, we are just getting started!

Reference: RBC