Everything we do at camp—from the activities we run, to the staff we hire—is based on our Youth Development Philosophy. Our aim with this regular newsletter is to share some insight into the philosophy and strategies we use and live by at Camp, so you have a better sense of what goes on when your child is with us in Minnehaha Springs. Plus, we’ll all get to daydream together about next summer!
What Is “Partners in Parenting”?
With our combined backgrounds in camping, education and youth development, we aim to provide a framework for supporting parents and campers while they are with us at Camp Twin Creeks. Growing up as a kid these days can be hard and we want the TC community to be there for them – and we want to be there for you. The Youth Development pillars we believe in can be utilized at home – with no expert training!
Look out for video blog excerpts from us along with articles of interest from other trusted sources, as well as snippets of wisdom from other members of our beloved camp staff.
“Freedom with a Fence”
By Amy McClements
This is one of our favorite frameworks at Twin Creeks.
Summer camps represent a unique environment where children experience a blend of freedom and structure, contributing to their independence and personal growth. In today’s society, many adolescents face increased restrictions on their autonomy due to heightened parental involvement. This diminished independence can negatively impact their development of essential life skills such as problem-solving, resilience, and confidence. Summer camps offer an alternative by providing structured opportunities for children to engage in decision-making processes while navigating social dynamics outside their usual environments.
So how do we do it?
The supportive atmosphere created by Twin Creeks allows children to explore freedom, take risks, and challenge themselves all within a safe framework. We train our staff to observe, encourage, and set expectations. We work with staff to develop clear expectations for their campers’ safety. This working together develops a rich form of respect and trust between counselors and campers, allowing campers to feel trusted and counselors to be able to trust.
We encourage counselors not to say no, just to say no. We ask them to observe what a camper is doing, why they are doing it, and why we want to stop them. If there is an actual reason why they should not be doing it, we say no and explain the “why”. But if there is a way to allow the behavior safely, we try to allow it. This balance between freedom and guidance at summer camp empowers children to take risks and learn from both their successes and their struggles. We need to find success to build confidence, but we truly need to experience struggles to be able to grow, all while being supported by a trusted adult.
Here are a couple of phrases you might hear our staff using during a typical day:
“What’s your plan?”
“Does your body feel safe?”
“Can you do that in a safe way?”
“What is the expectation?”
“Notice what is happening around you…”
We feel that taking this approach allows children to be comfortable in taking risks, building their own confidence and self-esteem. They also become more aware of situations around them and the impact their decisions and behavior can have on themselves and others adding to the strength of our Twin Creeks Community.
What does it look like at camp?
At camp, we enjoy a period of Free Play each evening after dinner. Campers are given specific guidance on areas of camp they can enjoy, and those areas we ask them to avoid. This would be the ‘fence.’ Staff are arranged throughout these areas simply to be aware and observe. They do not organize games or intervene unless necessary. As a result, we see campers create their own games and entertainment, make their own fun! It’s absolutely one of the most enjoyable and rewarding times of the camp day. There is activity, joy, creativity, variety and so much more on display – and not a screen in sight!
