The Health Benefits of Camp
At Gwynn Valley we write often about the benefits of summer camp, in terms of gaining confidence through overcoming fears, practicing independence, and the value of learning new skills all while having fun. These are so valuable for children and there are additional, tangible health benefits for kids (and staff) that come from spending their days outside, such as moving their bodies underneath the sunlight and getting a break from technology. From hormonal and brain health, to building strong and nourished bodies, to social networks and peer interaction, summers spent at camp can play a big role in helping children grow into healthy and happy adults.
Spending summer days outside is great for children for a laundry list of reasons, the most prevalent is having warm, sunshine days at Gwynn Valley. Being in the sun helps kids’ circadian rhythm and brain health, and getting it in the morning helps regulate the brain, improving sleep timing and quality. Stanford University neuroscientist Andrew Huberman explains that bright light early in the day triggers cortisol and dopamine rhythms that set up the brain for focus and learning. Sun exposure is also the main source of vitamin D, which is crucial for brain development, neural signaling, and immune function. Our dining hall has a large portion of the walls made of screened windows, like most of our structures here, which allows ample sunlight to filter in during breakfast, and kids are off to morning activities soon after! Sunlight also increases serotonin, which can improve mood, motivation, and emotional regulation, and how many people report feeling more positive and alert after spending time outside. As kids spend extended amounts of time at GV running, hiking, swimming, climbing, biking, building fires,looking for critters, and playing under the sunlight, there are so many benefits just from that aspect of camp alone, though the benefits don’t end there!
Not only does being outside benefit children, but spending time technology-free and without social media helps children greatly as well. In his book The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt, a professor at NYU details the negative consequences that social media and technology usage can cause for children. By avoiding phones and social media, Haidt says children gain what they actually need, which include free play, real-world friendships, and the experiences that build resilience and independence – all of which are integral parts inherent to the summer camp experience! Haidt talks about how kids who regularly have technology free periods demonstrate better impulse control, better mental health and mood, improved concentration, improved sleep, and higher self-esteem. We are proud to be completely technology free for kids, which is ever important in today’s technologically driven world, allowing children to flourish and play as they were meant to. As Haidt states in his book: “Play is the work of childhood, and all young mammals have the same job: Wire up your brain by playing vigorously and often.” Camp is certainly a wonderful place to do exactly that, as our days are structured around play and skill-progression of fun and enriching activities, sports, and crafts.
One of the things we pride ourselves on here at GV is the farm-to-table food we serve in our dining hall. Between 60-70% of the produce we eat here at camp is picked by our very own campers while down at our farm. Farm-to-table food can sometimes be healthier because it is fresher, less processed, and retains more of its natural nutrients. Produce picked at peak ripeness is richer in vitamins and antioxidants, and it doesn’t lose quality during long transportation or storage. We love the Farm dearly, and we know our campers feel the same! It’s not only fun for campers to spend time at the farm, but their bodies appreciate it too.
From connection to food to sunlight, camp is healthy for kids’ bodies and brains for so many reasons. We feel so lucky to get to play a role in children’s development into healthy adults, and love getting to see the joys of childhood in action as our campers run and play over our 400 acre campus. The sounds of laughter and shouts of joy ring through Gwynn Valley during the summer, and we are counting down the days (176 for anyone wondering!) until we get to have that joy here at GV again!
