How Summer Camp Builds Resilience in Girls
At Berkshire Lake Arts Camp, we create a nurturing environment for girls to become their best selves. This includes making memories and having tons of fun! However, if we focused solely on "happiness" our campers wouldn’t get what we know to be the fullest benefits of the camp experience.
As clinical psychologist and camp expert Dr. Tracy Brenner reminds us, the beauty of camp is that children never have to face life's inevitable moments of sadness or disappointment alone. Counselors are there to support them, and camp friends look out for one another. With this support in place, some of the deepest magic of summer camp happens not during the fun itself, but in the moments in between.
What is Camp About?
It’s so important to us that campers come to camp and have an amazing, unforgettable experience – and, that’s not our only goal! There are so many benefits to the camp experience, beyond just happiness and fun:
Building Their Distress Tolerance: Campers learn that feeling stuck on a new art project or navigating a disagreement with a bunkmate isn’t a disaster. Instead, they are guided to stay with the discomfort, work through it, and find solutions, allowing them to build confidence in their own ability to cope. It is often in these less-comfortable moments of camp — small conflicts, social challenges, homesickness, or learning how to fall asleep away from home — where true resilience is formed.
The Power of Autonomy: Camp provides a rare space for children to navigate their own day and solve their own small problems (with appropriate help and support within easy reach). This level of age-appropriate independence, decision-making, and problem-solving is where true self-efficacy starts.
Courage and Confidence: Girls are gently encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, whether that means performing on stage, trying a new water activity, or singing a solo. They learn that feeling nervous doesn’t mean they’re doing something wrong; it just means they’re doing something new. Surrounded by supportive peers and trusted adults, campers build the confidence to take risks and trust themselves amidst challenges.
A Sense of Mattering: At camp, girls gain a sense of purpose and place by navigating the challenge of joining a new community and finding where they fit. As they build relationships and contribute to the overall community, they learn that their kindness and efforts make a positive difference for others. Experiencing this outside of their home and school environments strengthens their understanding that they have value, and that who they are impacts the world around them.
Turning Adversity into Competence
Part of the camp experience happens through our caring staff providing tools to help campers navigate the different circumstances that arise. The words campers hear when they are struggling help shape how they understand discomfort, effort, and their own capability. Some of the language we lean on at camp includes:
Validating the Effort:
“You didn’t give up, even when things got hard.”
“It’s about the process, not the product.”
“You’re navigating a whole lot of new things right now, so of course you’re feeling overwhelmed.”
Embracing the "And":
“You can miss home and have fun at the same time.”
“This is definitely challenging, and we have the tools to help you handle it.”
“You can feel nervous and still be brave.”
Reframing Discomfort:
“You’re not doing it wrong; it’s just new.”
“It’s okay to feel unsure and still try.”
“This feels hard because it is hard.”
Finding Persistence:
“Let’s take a pause, take a deep breath, and try again. I’ll be right there with you.”
“Let’s just take one step forward.”
“I can see you’re being really brave, even when you think no one’s watching.”
We’re Here for Every Step
We see ourselves as true partners with families. Our Director and Leadership Team bring years of training and experience to supporting campers (and parents) through moments that feel hard, uncertain, or uncomfortable, doing so with intention and grounded in years of practice.
The beauty of dealing with adversity at camp is that campers don’t go it alone; they get to lean on trusted relationships. When a camper is challenged, they are met by friends who lift them up and cheer them on, and adults who know them, care about them, and walk alongside them.
When campers work through something difficult at camp, the pride they feel is real and lasting. By giving them the space to try, struggle, and succeed within a safe, connected community, we’re doing more than creating a joyful summer. We’re helping raise capable, confident girls and young women who know they have what it takes to face whatever adversity comes their way.