5 Reasons Why Parents Send Their Kids to Camp Huawni

If there’s anything to know about me, it’s that I’m a huge movie nerd. Watch a movie with me and I can recite all the random trivia I know about the actors, directors, and their mother’s cat.

I, myself, never attended summer camp while growing up. So, naturally, when I joined Huawni’s summer staff as a videographer a few years back, my immediate and only impression of summer camp came from an amalgamation of movies like “The Parent Trap”, “Addams Family Values”, and “Moonrise Kingdom”. Spend three months living in cabins, fostering friendships, and playing and singing in the middle of the woods? Sure, count me in! I knew what I was getting myself into, and I very much knew I also didn’t know what I was getting myself into. After all, you can’t always believe what you see in movies!

I could go on and on about what I learned during my first summer at Huawni, but in short, it was a much bigger, eye-opening experience than I anticipated. Echoing Lauren’s reflection post earlier this year, there’s so much more to camp than good times and summer play.

According to the American Camping Association, more than 14 million children attend camps every year. I find that incredible. What I find even more incredible is that Huawni has had campers come back to the Piney Woods for 55 years now. What is the secret to this place that families would send their children back summer after summer?

Since my first summer camp experience, I began to discover these five reasons:

Friendship

Many families send their children to meet new people and make new friends. It’s amazing how in such a brief period of time, campers quickly develop deep friendships with their cabinmates and counselors. The beauty of these camp friendships is that many of them become lifetime. Speaking with a first-year camper family, I learned they discovered Huawni through a friend who attended Camp herself as a child. Nearly 30 years later, she is still in close contact with the people she met at Camp. We encounter thousands of people throughout our ever-changing lives, so extra special and consistent friendships like these demonstrate the importance of a social playground like camp.

Fun

As a traditional, throwback camp, we believe that simple fun is the most fun. That means engaging campers with activities like cane pole fishing, hikes in the woods, and Sing Song around the campfire underneath the moon and stars. We know that kids deal with their own everyday stresses between home and school. Maybe they’ve recently lost a family member. Maybe they’re struggling to keep their academic grades up. Or maybe they’re just putting pressure on themselves where they’re unable to enjoy their childhood. We like to think of Camp as a retreat where kids can simply be…kids. Unstructured play is highly encouraged whether it’s inventing new games with friends in the Critter Pond, flinging mud at the Carving Trees, or slip n’ sliding down Flagpole Hill.

Confidence

For first-time campers, it can be especially nerve-racking to find themselves in a new and unfamiliar environment. It’s even natural for them to feel a bit homesick. But many of their parents trust Camp as a way for them to build their confidence and self-esteem. It’s okay for a camper to be afraid of going down the zipline or feeling nervous to talk and play with other kids. We see it happen all the time! And we also see that when they are in a close-knit community where they are continuously challenged, encouraged, and unconditionally loved by their peers and counselors, their confidence blossoms and their character grows. On top of that, the unique setting of Camp allows kids to learn responsibility and gain independence. That reluctant camper now doesn’t hesitate when it’s their turn to do the rope swing. That shy camper now leads their cabin in group activities. Witnessing that kind of transformation in our campers is one of most wonderful things about Huawni.

Outdoor Experience

Living in a technologically-dependent society, it can be difficult for anyone to unplug and live in the present moment. (I, myself, will even admit that I’ve checked Twitter at least four or five times since sitting down to write this blog.) At Huawni, we give campers the rare opportunity to disconnect from tech and, instead, connect with nature and those around them. Who needs video games when you can play real games with real people? With a beautiful 600+-acre campground, it isn’t hard for Camp to transport campers from the digital world to the natural world. We find that it is by being in the great outdoors that campers’ friendships and creativity can truly thrive.

Self-Discovery

Let’s face it: There are many people in the world right now that may feel lost in who they are. They might play a part or wear a mask that hides their authentic self - sometimes for their entire lives. At Huawni, we challenge our campers to discover who they are and who they want to become. It is our desire for all campers to leave their gates knowing their true significance and purpose. When campers know their true significance, or their unique identity, they acknowledge their own gifts and abilities that make them one-of-a-kind.

Parents, what are some more reasons you send your children to Camp Huawni? We’d love to hear them!