{"id":5039,"date":"2015-03-25T06:58:11","date_gmt":"2015-03-25T10:58:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=5039"},"modified":"2015-03-25T06:58:11","modified_gmt":"2015-03-25T10:58:11","slug":"five-reasons-kids-love-our-camps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/five-reasons-kids-love-our-camps\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Reasons Kids Love Our Camps"},"content":{"rendered":"

At Mass Audubon camps, we celebrate the long, warm days of summer by exploring our natural surroundings, from the wooded hillsides of Lenox to the sandy beaches of Wellfleet Bay. Year after year, families tell us how happy they are to have found us because of the people they meet, the places they go, and the things they do together.<\/p>\n

Here we share the top five reasons kids (and parents) love Mass Audubon Camps<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Our Staff<\/h3>\n

Enthusiastic, friendly, knowledgeable\u2014these are just a few of the words used to describe our counselors. Many are environmental educators, and some have grown up with our camps. Others are students from farther afield, with a worldliness and sense of adventure that inspires campers to become informed, thoughtful stewards of nature. No matter their life pursuits, they all share a common goal of creating fun, meaningful outdoor experiences for kids.<\/p>\n

\"campcounselors\"<\/p>\n

Playing Outside<\/h3>\n

\u201cDiscover, explore, be outside\u201d is the mantra of camp since nature investigation forms the basis for many activities. Campers enjoy fresh air and space for their active bodies and leave camp filled with new knowledge about their surroundings. Life science lessons abound, and young learners are encouraged to ask questions and reconcile seemingly disparate facts about the ecosystems they visit.<\/p>\n

Wildlife Encounters<\/h3>\n

Whether encountering a gray squirrel, watching a tiger swallowtail, or spotting a red-tailed hawk, campers brim with excitement when they observe animals up close. As campers begin to understand the creatures around them, they build a sense of place and belonging, helping them to see how they fit into the web of life.<\/p>\n

\"Camp\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hands-on Activities<\/h3>\n

Experiential learning is central to all activities because it connects campers directly to what they\u2019re studying (also, it\u2019s fun!<\/em>). Campers are free to get dirty while they learn about a range of subjects, from wilderness survival to plant identification. Moreover, they have opportunities to explore their interests and build confidence through new endeavors. By incorporating practical lessons, such as how to use a field guide or build a campfire, campers are able to become independent students of nature and continue learning on their own.<\/p>\n

Other Campers<\/h3>\n

Last, but certainly not least, friendships are an important part of any summer camp. Our campers meet children from different backgrounds and build relationships based on mutual respect and empathy. They are able to find companions who share their interests and participate in group activities that require teamwork, strengthening interpersonal skills and making memories to last a lifetime.<\/p>\n

\"Campers\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Guest Post (and previously printed in <\/em>Connections<\/a>)\u00a0by Adrienne Lennon, Camp Director & Teacher-Naturalist at Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport. <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At Mass Audubon camps, we celebrate the long, warm days of summer by exploring our natural surroundings, from the wooded hillsides of Lenox to the sandy beaches of Wellfleet Bay. Year after year, families tell us how happy they are to have found us because of the people they meet, the places they go, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ecokids"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-1jh","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1905,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/12-reasons-mass-audubon-camps-rock\/","url_meta":{"origin":5039,"position":0},"title":"12 Reasons Mass Audubon Camps Rock","author":"Hillary T.","date":"March 19, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"When you choose a summer camp for your child, we know there\u2019s no shortage of options. We also know that as parents, you\u2019re always looking to provide your kids with the best possible experiences. 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Most Mass Audubon camp directors coordinate and teach other sanctuary programs during\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "EcoKids"","block_context":{"text":"EcoKids","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/ecokids\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/02\/campcounselors.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":277,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/lazy-hazy-days-of-camp\/","url_meta":{"origin":5039,"position":2},"title":"Lazy, Hazy Days of Camp","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"July 5, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"These are the first weeks of summer camp at many of our wildlife sanctuaries. Seeing all the campers with their lunches in tow, I can\u2019t help but remember my own summer camp experience. Growing up in Maine, I was no stranger to the woods and, to me, camp was an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "EcoKids"","block_context":{"text":"EcoKids","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/ecokids\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/06\/Campers-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14950,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/the-power-of-camp\/","url_meta":{"origin":5039,"position":3},"title":"The Power of Camp","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"November 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Today is\u00a0Summer Camp\u00a0Day of Action\u00a0for Black Lives.\u00a0 As a statewide conservation organization that operates\u00a019\u00a0nature\u00a0day camps and a residential summer camp\u00a0serving\u00a0more than\u00a015,000 campers, we stand with our colleagues and friends in the camp world\u00a0affirming\u00a0that\u00a0Black Lives Matter at Camp.\u00a0\u00a0 Nature itself is untainted with prejudice; however,\u00a0too many Black and Brown community members\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Kids at camp","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/0042_RoxburyLatin2017_042_750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/0042_RoxburyLatin2017_042_750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/0042_RoxburyLatin2017_042_750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/0042_RoxburyLatin2017_042_750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7841,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/getting-fired-up-for-summer-camp\/","url_meta":{"origin":5039,"position":4},"title":"Getting Fired up for Summer Camp!","author":"Ryan D.","date":"June 22, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Over the next few weeks, Mass Audubon will be welcoming new and returning campers across Massachusetts\u00a0and in Rindge, NH. 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