Building Confidence, One Campfire at a Time: The Hidden Benefits of Summer Camp
From Shy to Shining: How Camp Ondessonk Transforms Self-Esteem
When Sarah dropped her 11-year-old daughter off at Camp Ondessonk for the first time, she watched nervously as her typically reserved child clutched her duffel bag. One week later, she barely recognized the confident young woman who bounded toward the car, eager to share stories of conquering the climbing wall and making s’mores under the stars. “The little girl that we dropped off at Camp was not the same girl we picked up,” Sarah later reflected. “She had blossomed so much in that one week. She developed this confidence and independence that was so wonderful to see.”
This transformation isn’t unique; it’s the hidden magic happening at summer camps across America, backed by decades of research showing how outdoor experiences fundamentally reshape children’s sense of self.
The Science Behind Summer Camp Benefits
Parents today face an unprecedented challenge: raising resilient, confident children in an increasingly digital world. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children and families have experienced enormous disruption since the pandemic, making the search for confidence-building experiences more critical than ever.
The good news? Research proves that summer camp delivers exactly what parents are seeking.
Groundbreaking Research on Child Confidence Building
The American Camp Association’s landmark National Camp Impact Study, conducted by the University of Utah between 2017 and 2022 with 80 participating camps, represents the first longitudinal study of its kind. It examines how camp experiences support young people in developing valuable skills. The findings are transformative.
High-quality camp experiences build key skills, including independence, social awareness, and perseverance, competencies that support learning throughout the school year. But perhaps most compelling for parents concerned about their child’s confidence: camp provides a unique and important setting that supports mental health while building key skills like resilience and confidence in youth and young adults.
University Research Confirms Confidence Gains
The evidence extends far beyond a single study. Stephen R. Kellert’s comprehensive research at Yale University examining outdoor education programs found pronounced results in enhanced self-esteem, self-confidence, independence, autonomy, and initiative, with the majority of respondents finding the outdoor experience to be “one of the best in their life.”
Research from University College London found that 80% of children felt more self-confident after spending time outdoors. Additionally, outdoor education research in California demonstrated that children who participated in outdoor school showed positive gains in self-esteem immediately after program participation.
Personal Growth Camp Experiences: More Than Just Fun
At Camp Ondessonk, nestled in the heart of the Shawnee National Forest, these research findings come alive through intentional programming designed to nurture every aspect of personal development.
The Power of Challenge and Success
The outdoor school environment is strategically set up for children to succeed and feel good about their abilities, with staff trained to recognize students for their positive participation in activities and their accomplishments, both small and large. When a camper learns to paddle a Canoe across Lake Echon or successfully completes an archery target, they’re not just gaining skills; they’re building an internal narrative of capability.
Research on success and failure experiences at summer camp demonstrates that camp is an excellent opportunity to make mistakes and experience failure without long-term negative consequences. This safe space for risk-taking is crucial for confidence development. Whether attempting to navigate Split Rocks or cooking over a campfire for the first time, campers learn that challenges are growth opportunities, not threats to their self-worth.
Breaking Free from Digital Distraction
One of Camp Ondessonk’s most underappreciated benefits lies in its technology-free environment. Over five years, 58 percent of youth reported that their time at summer camp helped them appreciate the importance of being present in the moment, specifically by taking time away from technology, developing in-person relationships, taking breaks, and reducing distractions.
Research on technology at summer camp found that smartphones with easy access to social media seemed to discourage less confident campers from participating in more socially risky activities like skits and talent shows. By removing these digital distractions, Camp Ondessonk creates space for authentic self-expression and confidence-building social interactions.
Summer Camp Benefits: A Holistic Transformation
The confidence built at camp extends far beyond individual activities. It permeates every aspect of a child’s development.
Social Skills That Last a Lifetime
Outdoor learning develops social and communication skills, perseverance, persistence, and self-regulation, with outdoor environments fostering a sense of self-confidence and efficacy. At Camp Ondessonk, these skills emerge naturally through cabin bonding, team challenges, and collaborative activities.
Camp experiences demonstrate improvements in engagement, belonging, and supportive youth-adult relationships, the very foundation of healthy social development. When campers return home, parents consistently report seeing their children engaging more confidently with peers, advocating for themselves, and demonstrating newfound leadership abilities.
Mental Health and Emotional Well-being
According to ACA President/CEO Tom Rosenberg, camp plays a vital role in the educational development of the whole child, including mental health. This couldn’t be more relevant given today’s youth mental health crisis.
Educators participating in outdoor learning research reported benefits, such as improved self-confidence. They noted that children generally appear more relaxed outside, experiencing it as a breath of fresh air, which makes them much happier, engaged, and curious.
Students who participated in outdoor education gained improved self-esteem and confidence compared to those who participated only in indoor learning. Outdoor education was also associated with an increase in prosocial behavior and a reduction in mental health struggles.
What Makes Camp Ondessonk Different
With over 60 years of tradition serving children ages 8-16 in Southern Illinois, Camp Ondessonk embodies these research-backed benefits through purposeful design and passionate execution.
Intentional Confidence Building
Every aspect of the Ondessonk experience is crafted to nurture independence and self-assurance:
- Skill Progression: From learning basic knots to leading a hiking expedition, campers build competence incrementally
- Leadership Opportunities: The Loyal Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha recognizes exemplary dedication, providing leadership pathways for returning campers
- Authentic Challenges: Rock Climbing, Horseback Riding, and Archery offer genuine achievements worthy of pride
- Positive Role Models: Carefully selected staff provide encouraging mentorship focused on spiritual and emotional growth
A Place Apart for Personal Discovery
Research suggests that the experience of summer camp, as a place apart, positions it as an opportunity to disconnect from technology and experience a different way of being. This includes a sense of community and belonging, which is one of the most important parts of the camp experience.
At Camp Ondessonk, this “place apart” manifests in unique ways, from sleeping under the stars on Wednesday nights to participating in the traditional Lodge ceremony. These experiences create psychological space for campers to explore new identities and discover capabilities they never knew they possessed.
The Ripple Effect: Confidence That Comes Home
The true measure of Camp Ondessonk’s impact isn’t just what happens during those transformative weeks in the woods; it’s how confidence translates into everyday life.
Research clearly demonstrates that positive camp experiences drive outcomes that support learning throughout the school year. Parents report that the confidence and acceptance their children gain from Camp Ondessonk allows them to thrive in school and other social settings.
One camper’s testimony captures this beautifully: “Last summer at Camp Ondessonk I learned that I don’t have to act a certain way and that it’s okay to be myself. I loved that everyone is so kind to each other. I learned that Camp isn’t all about winning and that I should focus on having fun.”
Making the Investment in Your Child’s Confidence
As parents navigate the complex landscape of modern childhood, the question isn’t whether children need confidence-building experiences, but the research makes that abundantly clear. The question is where to find authentic opportunities for growth.
When youth are allowed to attend camp, they build key skills such as independence, social awareness, and perseverance. Research calls for prioritizing funding for new pathways to quality camp programming and experiences so all families can benefit.
Camp Ondessonk, as an accredited American Camp Association camp, meets over 300 standards in site safety, facilities, staffing practices, and operating procedures. But beyond accreditation lies something more profound: a 60-year legacy of transforming shy children into confident young people, one campfire at a time.
The Campfire Effect: Why It Matters Now
In an era of screens, structured schedules, and social media pressures, children desperately need spaces where they can take risks, make mistakes, form genuine friendships, and discover their authentic selves. The research is unequivocal: outdoor experiences, particularly residential summer camp, provide exactly this opportunity.
Participants report positive effects on their personal, intellectual, and in some cases spiritual development, with pronounced results found in enhanced self-esteem, self-confidence, independence, autonomy, and initiative.
Your child’s journey from shy to shining begins with a single step, or in this case, a single summer. Whether they’re learning to respect nature’s creatures, mastering Archery, or simply discovering that it’s okay to be themselves, they’re building the confidence that will carry them through adolescence and beyond.
The campfire is lit. The counselors are ready. The trails are waiting. The only question remaining is: will you give your child the gift of confidence this summer?
Ready to Transform Your Child’s Confidence?
Learn more about Camp Ondessonk’s summer programs and how over 60 years of tradition create exceptional outdoor and spiritual adventures, empowering kids of all ages.
References
American Camp Association. (2023). National Camp Impact Study. University of Utah Research Team.
American Institutes for Research. (2016). Effects of Outdoor Education Programs for Children in California.
Fuller, C., Powell, D., & Fox, S. (2017). Making gains: The impact of outdoor residential experiences on students’ examination grades and self-efficacy. Educational Review, 69(2), 232-247.
Kellert, S. R. (Yale University). Outdoor Experience Research: Effects on Teenage Youth Development. Student Conservation Association, National Outdoor Leadership School, and Outward Bound Programs.
Natural Medicine Journal. (2023). Effects of Outdoor Learning School-Based Education Programs on Pediatric Health.
Oberle, E., Brussoni, M., Boileau, E., & Dabaja, Z. (2022). Choose Your Own Adventure: Promoting Social and Emotional Development Through Outdoor Learning. PMC Article 9579527.
University College London. (2019). Research on Children’s Self-Confidence and Outdoor Time.
Wilson, C., & Sibthorp, J. (2017). The developmental importance of success and failure experiences at summer camp. Journal of Youth Development, 12(3), 18-36.
