Our Youth Development Philosophy
Sleepaway camp is about learning to be comfortable in the uncomfortable, but in a safe and supportive environment.
The four pillars of our Youth Development Philosophy guide our programming decisions, they are part of our staff training and our true north star in everything we do.
We Believe
Exploration leads to Growth
We believe that supported struggles are healthy for children. In an era of Helicopter Parents and Snowplow Parents, children need the opportunity to face problems in order to learn how to problem-solve.
Don’t worry, this is no boot camp—our counselors are there to provide guidance and support while allowing campers to experience and navigate the natural consequences of their actions.
With our staff we use expressions like “freedom with fences” and “don’t steal the struggle” to make sure they give campers an opportunity to lead their own growth.
How we do it:
- Leaving home for 2 weeks! We support campers as they manage feelings of missing home, but we won’t let them call home right away
- Regular activities that build a sense of community & connection: talent show, olympics, all-camp activities, campfires.
- Campers choose their 2 masterclass activities
- Campers take responsibility for themselves regarding cabin cleanliness, hygiene, laundry
- We run special events where campers are involved in designing and running the activities
Community is the antidote to Loneliness
According to the Surgeon General, the United States is facing an epidemic of loneliness and isolation. There are constantly headlines about anxiety and depression amongst children. But we think the antidote is clear: community. And that’s what we prioritize: not achievement or an improved resume, but a deep feeling of connection.
Camp Twin Creeks provides a sense of connection, belonging, and community to all of our campers. During your first summer at camp, strangers become friends. When you return for your next summer, those friends become family, and the Twin Creeks family will become a supportive community for life.
How we do it:
- Acceptance and inclusion of all, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status. We do not tolerate hate.
- Regular activities that build a sense of community & connection: talent show, olympics, all-camp activities, campfires.
- We honor all levels of development and skill and strive to create a supporting, nurturing and close community.
- We are not a “competitive” camp. Yes, we do Olympics each session, but we’re more focused on building community within a team rather than crushing an opponent.
- We provide opportunities for campers to grow at Twin Creeks—from a young dream-weeker, to a CIT, JC, and counselor. Many of our campers go on to become staff and consider their camp friends to be their best friends.
‘Soft’ skills are the most important skills
So-called ‘Soft’ Skills, like empathy, communication, teamwork, and creativity, are often deprioritized in favor of achievement and technical skills. We believe sleepaway camp is one of the only places that actively teaches “soft” skills.
Children will not become expert coders or collegiate athletes at Camp Twin Creeks, but they will develop social-emotional skills that will serve them wherever they go in life, making them better global citizens. Yes, children learn new skills like archery and fly fishing, and they’ll also have opportunities to practice developing relationships, communicating face-to-face, working with others, and leadership.
How we do it:
- Focus on the whole child: the leadership team and counselors get to know each child individually so they can support their personal growth.
- Activities with multiple goals: instruction is designed to gain “hard” skills and “soft” skills at the same time
- Regular and informal debriefs with counselors offering feedback and insight into daily experiences and interactions.
Our Environment is our best Educator
We are lucky to be located on over 140 acres of beautiful rolling hills, surrounded by two creeks, on the traditional land of the Moneton and Powhatan people. The air is cool and the bugs are few. We don’t need state of the art labs or the latest iPad for our campers to learn and grow.
Our classroom is all around us and we believe there is a whole lot more to learn when you leave technology behind and try one of our activities you may not have access to at home—from horseback riding, to mountain biking, to ziplining.
At Twin Creeks, campers gain an appreciation for nature and for being unplugged, so they go home connected to themselves and the world around them, rather than their phones.
How we do it:
- Overnight camp-outs in the woods on our property, but away from camp.
- No phones! Even our staff reduce their technology use significantly during their time at camp. It’s one of the reasons so many campers come back as counselors.
- Awareness of our water supply, a historic natural spring called Minnehaha Springs.
- Opportunities for campers to explore beyond our campus: whitewater rafting in the New River Gorge or going on a tree-top ropes course adventure.
- Forest Bathing, Hiking, and our famous Creek Walks – staff are encouraged to take a moment with campers during walks around camp too and finally, an appreciation for regular NAM’s (Nature Appreciation Moments).
Have Questions?
For more information on any of these points please feel free to call to chat or set up a time for a personal visit in your home. Thank you!