The campers who attend Summer Camp all have stories they share that light up their smiles and put a twinkle in their eyes.
For twelve-year-old Darius Jones*, his favorite part of attending Tataya Mato week at Jameson Summer Camp is that he gets to be outside and experience the camp’s natural surroundings.
“I live in the city. And you don’t get to see wildlife like this every day,” says Jones, who lives in downtown Louisville, KY. “You might see a couple trees, here and there, [in the city], but you don’t see all the lush trees and plants [like at Jameson Camp]. I like coming here for the wildlife.”
“We went camping last night and we heard coyotes,” Jones says. While he enjoys camping, he didn’t necessarily like the close proximity of the coyotes to the campsite. He said he likes “getting in touch with wildlife.”
Nature at Jameson Camp
Jameson Camp has lots of wildlife to see – deer, rabbits, raccoons, groundhogs, skunks, a variety of birds, and more. During his few days at camp so far this last year, Jones has discovered a monarch butterfly, ant larvae, and sand wasps. Every find has been exciting and a highlight of his stay.
“Camping is fun because you get to be out in nature,” says Jones, who has attended Tataya Mato since he was 7 years old. “You can see the beauty of nature. When I’m at home, I really don’t like to see all those buildings. That’s where trees and parks could be.”
Nature experiences are critical to a child’s development – intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically.1Studies have shown regular play in nature helps to make kids smarter, more creative, self-disciplined, cooperative, and happier.2 Unfortunately, kids, like Jones, are spending less time playing outside in nature nowadays, according to researchers.
Nature Inspires Personal Awareness and Growth
It’s not just nature that Jones get in touch with at Jameson Camp. In addition, Jones has learned how to improve his decision-making skills and self-control.
“Sometimes I don’t make the best decisions,” Jones admits. “When I was little, I used to be bad – yelling and getting angry easily – until I started coming here. [Chris, one of the counselors,] helped me to get under control. He helped me become a better person.”
What does Jones think makes him a better person? He said, “I’ve learned when I react to other people, I have to think about what’s best for them as well as myself. I now make better actions.”
Jones looks forward to coming back to Jameson Camp next year. According to him, Jameson Camp is like “a wildlife vacation.” He can look at it as a vacation with nature, but we know it is an experience that provides added benefits for the campers.
Darius Jones sums up perfectly what we mean when we say, “Get Outside, Grow Inside.”
Summer camp at Jameson Camp comes in a variety of options: day camps, overnight camps, specialty camps, leadership camps. There is truly something that fits children of all ages 5 – 17. Find and register today for the summer camp that will be perfect for your child this summer.
*Darius Jones is a pseudonym to protect his privacy.
1 Charles C and Louv R. Children’s Nature Deficit: What We Know – And Don’t Know. Children and Nature Network. September 2009. Accessed at http://www.childrenandnature.org/documents/C118/.
2 Charles C and Senauer A. Health Benefits to Children from Contact with the Outdoors and Nature. Children and Nature Network. 2012. Accessed at http://www.childrenandnature.org/documents/C118/.