Ah, summer… swimming at the pool, laying outside in the sun all day and sitting around a fire at night. What a wonderful season. And one way to make summertime even more amazing is by volunteering at a youth summer camp.
Sure, there’s the bugs, the dirt and the ghost stories, but summer camp can also be an incredibly rewarding life experience, both for the kids and the volunteers. Still not sold? Check out some of these awesome reasons why you should consider being a summer camp volunteer.
Get in Touch With Nature
It’s no secret that when you go to a summer camp, chances are you’ll be surrounded by nature. Things aren’t exactly “clean.” You’ll most likely get some dirt under your fingernails, sweat down your forehead and mud on your clothes.
Yet, there is something to be said for completely unplugging from the world and truly being one with nature. By volunteering at a summer camp, you get to be completely encompassed by the beauties of our world without any distractions. Whether it’s laying out under the stars at night, running through the trees playing hide and seek, or canoeing down a river, summer camp gives you the opportunity to get to know the world a little better.
Have a Little Fun
Summer camp is the greatest place to completely let loose and be your weird, wacky self. Not only are you allowed to have some fun, you’re encouraged. And as an adult volunteer, it’s your job to make sure the kids at camp are having fun too.
Volunteering at a summer camp means horseback riding, ziplining and lots of cheering. It means dressing crazy and painting your entire body for team games. Not only do you get to work with children and see the fun they have—you get to have fun and act like a child too. And who doesn’t love seeing how many marshmallows they can fit into their mouth?
Care for Kids in Need
If bettering future world leaders interests you, then volunteering at a youth camp is the right move. Kids go to summer camp to have fun, meet new friends and be impacted. As a volunteer, you are a part of that impact.
Some summer youth camps are run by nonprofit organizations that specifically help children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Others are for those who come from all sorts of upbringings. No matter which type of camp it is, volunteers care for kids and teach them how to grow their lives.
Gain a Family
Ask any summer camp volunteer, and they’ll tell you: camp is a family. From the leader who runs the camp all the way down to the youngest camper running around, staff and campers alike take care of each other.
Camp volunteers bond together. They spend 24 hours a day for a full 7 days together. They clean up kids’ messes, whisper secrets and share stories together. By volunteering at a summer camp, you’ll see people at their best and at their worst, building an unbreakable bond. Camp volunteers grow and transform each other together, and you’ll walk away not only with great memories, but with a new family.
Let Your Life Be Impacted
Camp has a special way of changing lives. From the memories made, friendships built and skills developed, you’ll come back from volunteering at a summer camp and never be the same. Maybe it’s being surrounded by nature for so long that strengthens the soul, or finally getting to let loose and act like a kid again. Maybe it’s seeing the smile that erupts across a child’s face when he finally feels accepted, or knowing that you have people who truly care for you.
No matter what it is, volunteering at a summer camp will change your life. So this summer, take some time to look up youth camps within your area, and see how you can be impacted by volunteering.
