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Seasonal academic camps serve as an avenue for students to hone skills through first-hand experience that they may not learn within the four corners of the classroom. For many young children, going to a seasonal camp over the years develops into a long-running tradition that fosters physical and mental wellness while teaching life skills that can be used until adulthood.
Attending at least one of these seasonal academic gatherings before you take on a new milestone in your life (becoming a college student) can certainly work to your advantage.
Here are six awesome benefits you stand to gain from attending an academic camp:
1. Exposure to Positive Role Models
Much like the Comic-Con for fans of fiction, summer camps serve as a venue for aspirants and fans to rub elbows with their idols. The only difference is that in an academic summer camp, you get to enjoy the company of skilled experts in your preferred field of study instead of popular movie actors, artists and other personalities.
Aside from serving as mentors, these experts can also offer inspiration for young aspirants in their chosen field of expertise. For example, attending summer camps on robotics can serve as your stepping stone to meeting robotics engineers who can offer valuable advice on your field of study and share what motivated them to become an authority or influencer in the industry.
2. Cultivating Independence and Self-Reliance
Sometimes, it can be challenging to develop a sense of self-reliance and independence if you’re used to living under the care of your parents your whole life. Summer camps can serve as an avenue for you to break the trend and establish your freedom in making your own decisions.
When attending such events, your choices are 100 percent your own. Plus, you also learn about how the thought process works and the different factors you should consider before taking a step towards the path you chose.
Summer camps can also open possibilities of collaboration with peers. Aside from relying on oneself, knowing when and how to ask for help from others is also a useful skill you can use in college and beyond.
3. Building Unique Interests
Various summer camp activities offer students a chance to explore things beyond textbooks and overcome the boredom from sitting and writing on a desk all day. In some cases, these events held outside the formal school setting can expose students to unique activities and new environments where they learn new skills and establish unique interests.
Students can learn both academic and athletic skills – from robotics and game design to archery and swimming. They may also pick up tips and tricks about money management through entrepreneurship camps that can be useful for starting a business in the future.
4. Developing Social Skills
Since many summer camps cater to more than one school, they serve as an effective venue for expanding your network. Aside from bridging possible collaborative partners, this can also help in the development of your social and communication skills.
Plus, academic camps don’t only offer activities to hone skills but also provide a chance to socialize through recreational events. This will allow you to make friends who may potentially become your classmates in college or workmates when you start a job in your chosen field.
5. Learning Loss Prevention
Several studies have confirmed that there is a good chance that students go through learning loss during summer vacation. Also known as “summer slide,” this phenomenon occurs when students stop engaging in activities that foster continuous learning.
In summer camps, you will not only avoid losing your learning momentum, but you will also enjoy a memorable vacation. These events are also great avenues for putting all the critical skills you learned in school into practice.
6. Pre-College Readiness
Attending academic summer camps before starting college gives you the advantage of being prepared for the new environment. These camps allow you to get a deeper understanding of the lay of the land, especially if it is conducted in the school you’re planning to attend. Aside from learning how to navigate the campus early, you will also get a good grasp of the environment, find a place to eat in peace, and, ultimately, have more time to adjust.
Plus, since you’re not alone in the place, you have every chance to make friends and comprehend the college culture. This not only prevents culture shock but also helps freshmen get over homesickness faster once the academic year begins.
A Final Word
Academic summer camps serve as a distraction-free avenue to escape boredom and continue learning during vacation time. If your goal is to focus on preparing for college, consider attending one of these seasonal gatherings and enjoy the benefits mentioned in this article. Just make sure you select the program carefully according to your specific interests and needs.
AUTHOR BIO
Maloy Burman is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Premier Genie FZ LLC. He is responsible for driving Premier Genie into a leadership position in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education space in Asia, Middle East and Africa and building a solid brand value. Premier Genie is currently running 5 centers in Dubai and 5 centers in India with a goal to multiply that over the next 5 years.
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