Towering Pines Blog

Sending yours sons away to camp is a pretty big decision – emotionally, financially, and logistically (“How will we get him there? What about the family reunion?”), etc.  No, it’s not an easy choice to make, and it’s natural to question if you are doing the right thing by sending them to Towering Pines for the summer.

Let me help you with that.

You absolutely are making the right decision.

In my unabashedly biased opinion, sending your boys to Towering Pines camp for the summer is one of the clearest ways to say that you love them.  The friends they’ll make, the skills they’ll acquire, the confidence they’ll build – all of these things can make summer camp one of the most impactful positive influences of their childhood.

And, considering all the important life skills your boys will develop at camp, I could also argue that – despite the considerable cost – summer camp is also a great value as part of their education.

It’s no secret that American children spend way too much time in front of electronic screen (50+ hours per week by some reports).   This sedentary lifestyle, according to the American Pediatrics Association, has led to a disturbing increase in serious problems like attention deficits, difficulties in school, sleep issues, eating disorders, childhood obesity, etc.  Again, this is old news to today’s parents.

The research now also shows that teens who spend more time than average on screen activities are more likely to be unhappy, and those who spend more time than average on nonscreen activities are more likely to be happy.  If you were going to give advice for a happy adolescence based on these findings, it would be straightforward: Put down the phone, turn off the laptop, and do something – anything – that does not involve a screen.  (Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? by Jean M. Twenge, September 2017)

In contrast, because of your choice to send your boys to Towering Pines, your sons will be immersed in a physically & socially healthy lifestyle that includes making new friends, trying new experiences, and having a heck of a lot of fun along the way.

Towering Pines offers your boys a nice spectrum of choices that involve learning hands-on skills through face-to-face interactions.  Here’s a small sample of the opportunities your sons will enjoy this summer:

While other kids – the ones not coming to camp – will spend 300+ hours over the next few months on the sofa, YOUR boys will be…

Waking up at 7:30 am

Water-skiing

Spending quality time with positive, healthy role models

Going on a canoe trip

Meeting odd characters at the weekly campfire

Learning new skills

Swimming

Cooking over the campfire with friends

Trying new experiences

Achieving new, ahem, heights

Developing the confidence to create their OWN weird campfire characters

Learning about the importance of community

Practicing patience and self-discipline

Spending time outdoors

Going to bed with the sun

Sending your boys to camp is a huge decision Mom & Dad, but know that you are making an excellent, loving choice by sending them to our care this summer.

We can’t wait for camp to start next month!

original author: Bill Gonio, 7/31/14 (We are excited to have Bill’s AWESOMENESS back at camp this summer…stay tuned for more AMAZING blogs!)