When you think of summer camp, you probably think of swimming, sitting by a fire, and very traditional outdoorsy activities.
This isn’t the case anymore– summer camp trends are changing in 2017 and camps are definitely catching up with the times.
We put together a list of the most interesting summer camp trends that are gaining traction in 2017. Check out these awesome trends!
The Coolest 2017 Summer Camp Trends
These summer camp trends are innovative and fun– something both camp-goers and camp staff can enjoy.
Short Camp Sessions
Remember the days when summer camp was literally summer-long camp? Camp sessions have typically lasted seven to ten weeks, but things are beginning to change.
Camp sessions are now reducing the length of their sessions and programs are offering sessions that last anywhere from a couple days to a week. Shorter sessions over the course of the summer is becoming a trend as well, where kids will go to camp every weekend until school starts back up.
Customized and Specialized Programs
For a long time, summer camps weren’t varied when it came to activities. There was hiking, fishing, swimming, sports, and some arts and crafts time.
Now, summer camps are offering specialized programs to properly nurture and encourage a child’s individual interest. Whether a child is in love with science, passionate about the arts, or excited about soccer, the next big trend in summer camp culture is going to be creating specialized camps for kids with specific passions.
The appeal in this new trend is that kids will get more excited and less afraid of a scary parent-free camp situation without taking away the vital social aspect of summer camp. If your kid loves painting more than anything and you give them the news that they’re going to “painting camp”, they will be less likely to reject the idea.
Visual Storytelling
To really get kids involved in a story, we have to do better than the traditional spooky story next to the campfire trope.
Creating an emotional, engaging, and entertaining storytime session involves visuals. Adults can understand how much visual media like images and videos can catch our attention and be memorable, so why not incorporate this element into storytelling for kids.
Incorporating this into a summer camp setting is simple. Whenever communications, stories, or meetings happen, think of how photos, images, and video media can be a part of what you’ll be showing the summer camp attendees.
Healthy Eating
We’re not saying the days of weiners and s’mores over the campfire are over by any means. However, serving healthy local-source foods that are nutritious and delicious is becoming a growing trend in the summer camp world.
Salad bars, vegetarian and vegan options, and organic dishes full of vegetables are becoming more popular nowadays and can ensure your child is eating well while at camp.
Cheaper Memberships
Let’s be honest– sometimes summer camp can be expensive, but it’s still a vital experience for every child to have.
A new trend floating around summer camps is discounted summer camp options for low-income families.
Foundations and non-profits are also beginning to start programs and scholarships to help low-income families allow their child to experience summer camp at least once.
Using Technology
Summer camp is usually thought of as a place where kids and adults can “get away” from modern technology and rough it like the good old days. While having technology-free time is more than healthy, summer camp culture has been missing out on really great ways to use technology in a summer camp setting.
The next big summer camp trend is definitely going to be the use of technology in small amounts and really changing what the idea of a traditional summer camp looks like.
This doesn’t mean letting kids sit on their tablets for hours. Instead, educational activities that teach kids about technology, how to use it, and how to build things isn’t just super fun for the kids, but it is also very educational.
Teaching kids valuable life skills doesn’t just have to include how to start a fire or how to harvest rainwater. Teaching kids about engineering and tech is a vital skill they will need in the future.
Accessibility.
It can be difficult to find a camp with the proper accommodations for a disabled child. In a world where 13% of children have some kind of physical or cognitive disability, it is unacceptable that a summer camp can’t accommodate for a special needs child.
This is beginning to change. Special needs camps are still a thing worth considering, but segregation at other camps is beginning to wane. Children with disabilities are receiving better access to properly trained camp staff and physical accommodations on campgrounds.
The Power of Mindfulness
In this day and age, everybody’s stressed. This includes our teens and kids too, and there’s a lot of evidence to back that up.
So how can summer camp challenge our incredibly stressful society and help kids learn about coping with stress? While social gatherings, camping, sports, and other mental and physical activities are great for children and building self-esteem, summer camps should also incorporate something that’s often overlooked– mindfulness and relaxation.
The next big trend in summer camp culture will include activities that teach kids how to cope with stress, express themselves in healthy ways, and how to wind down.
Relaxing activities such as fishing, yoga, hiking, and Chill Jar-making are great ways to help kids learn how to relax.
Sign Up For The Right Camp
Signing up for the right camp membership and becoming a staff member at the right camp is important– there are so many different types of camps that could benefit you as a camp counselor and your child as a camp resident.
Was our guide to these super cool summer camp trends helpful in making a decision about what kind of camp you want to invest in? Tell us what you think in the comments below!