AMES, Iowa – With camping season well underway at the Iowa 4-H Center, hundreds of youth from across the state will travel to Madrid this summer in hopes of having fun and meeting new friends.

However, youth also benefit from camping by developing self-esteem, independence, leadership and other social skills, according to a recent study by the American Camp Association.

“Through structured, goal-oriented activities taught and supervised by authority figures and role models, children at camp benefit from communal observance of achievement, whether in small-group or all-camp settings,” according to Stephen Wallace, childhood development specialist.

Youth, camp staff and parents also reported significant growth in friendship skills, social comfort, peer relationships, adventure and exploration, environmental awareness, and values and decisions.

The study, conducted between 2001 and 2004, included more than 5,000 families from 80 camps to determine the outcome of the camp experience from the perspective of the parent and child. The complete study can be found online at www.ACAcamps.org/research/research_book.pdf.

The Iowa 4-H Center is offering more than 30 camps this summer, ranging from a wall climbing camp to an art camp. For more information on Iowa 4-H Center camps, contact the camp at (515) 795-3338, tracidh@iastate.edu or on the Web at www.extension.iastate.edu/4hcenter. 

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