Two years ago, before I knew about what the future would hold, I wrote this:
'“Kids are getting too much screen time”
Send them to camp.
“Kids aren’t getting enough exercise”
Send them to camp.
“Kids these days are too dependent on technology. They don’t have any social skills”
Send them to camp.
If you have said or heard these, summer camp may be the solution to them all. Summer camp is a transformational experience. A period with no phones, no social media, and no outside pressures."
I had NO idea that the world would soon need camp more than ever imagined. Summer 2021 really showed me how much kids truly needed to relearn how to be kids.
In a time when learning is so commodified, camp is needed the most. Learning has become about what grades are received or what credits can be awarded. Camp is a safe place to learn. It ignites a desire to learn for the sake of learning. Virtual learning is extremely difficult. It is exhausting, monotonous, and rarely engaging. Something I've always told my campers is that Camp Fitch is a safe place to fail. There are opportunities to push yourself and try new things in a safe, positive environment.
Camp has brought me to so many strong role models and best friends. It has taught me more about myself and others than I could have ever learned otherwise. I definitely would not have believed that one week when I was 9 would result in a degree in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management.
Camperships allow campers to find their home away from home. Camp Fitch has meant the world to me and I’d like to enable those kids to have the wonderful experience I had. Every child deserves the opportunity to experience the magic of Camp Fitch. I have spent so much time in my major learning about making the outdoors more accessible and inclusive. This is a great way to make an impact locally. From the moment a camper checks in to camp to the moment they leave, they have the opportunity to make connections with peers from different backgrounds, push themselves to try new activities like rock climbing or learning to swim, sleep under the stars, and enjoy nature free of the distractions of electronics and social media.
Please consider donating to give a child the opportunity to learn, grow, and flourish. You have the power to change a child’s life.