Hey there! I've been the Camp Director at Swift Nature Camp for nearly three decades, and something I've always wondered about is why campers keep coming back each year. Sure, I've asked them, and I usually get the typical responses like "Mom made me" or "it's fun," but I'm still curious about the deeper reasons. Lately, I've been on a mission to chat with adults who attended Swift Nature Camp or other camps to understand how they feel now about their camp experiences and what drew them back each year to a summer camp in Wisconsin. Here's a list of some of the answers I've gathered!
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Freedom and Independence: It might have been the first time away from home for an extended period. This newfound independence can be thrilling and memorable.
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Bonding and Friendships: Camp often creates an environment where strong bonds are formed. The shared experiences, activities, and communal living often lead to lifelong friendships.
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Adventure and Activities: Camps are filled with various activities—sports, arts and crafts, hiking, campfires, etc. These experiences often are New and can be adventurous, exhilarating, and often unique to camp life.
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Nature and Disconnecting: Being in nature without the distractions of technology can be refreshing. It forces campers to appreciate the outdoors and disconnect from the digital world, creating lasting memories of simplicity and natural beauty.
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Nostalgia: Memories of summer camp as a kid. These moments of being carefree, fun times, and reminiscing often evoke a strong sense of nostalgia and happiness.
- It's truly remarkable how these adult responses echo the same sentiments I heard from them as kids. The consistency in how activities and nature have remained unchanged is incredible. But what's even more remarkable is that the feelings the kids had while at camp, those emotions, enthusiasm, and joy, they're still very much alive in these adults today. It's this enduring connection that solidifies for me why I'm so passionate about being involved in childrens summer camp.
- If you would like to learn more, please reach out
Jeff Lorenz
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