The wilderness trips program is a big part of the Birch Trail experience. Each trip is tailored to the developmental level and abilities of the girls in the group, and allows for a great deal of experiential learning and skill-set advancement. Maple and Linden cabins take their trips together as cabin groups, thereby enhancing their team building opportunities. Each trip forms a unique, shared bond that comes from obstacles faced and overcome together. As campers get older the trips change and the amount of optional trips grow, so they get the chance to experience new and different types of trips each summer. Our Tamarack campers get to experience an all optional menu of trips that include some very challenging and extended trips.
The sense of accomplishment gained from doing things on their own and in the wilderness proves to each camper that she has abilities exceeding even her own imaginings. Fostering a growth mindset, which has been proven to create in children the willingness to risk failure and to believe that working harder is the key to unlocking ability, makes our kids stronger and more likely to succeed in the face of future challenges. These wilderness trips are functional examples of the benefits documented in the most cutting-edge research on building self-esteem and life skills. Studies find significant improvement in overall motivation, life skills, interpersonal relationships, capacity for hope, self-confidence, and emotional control—both at the end of such a unique experience as well as six months afterward.
What I loved about the trips that came back to camp yesterday is what the campers were proud of. One of the trips that returned was the Boundary Waters Canoe trip. On this particular trip campers paddle from lake to lake and portage (carry) their canoes and gear between lakes. On this 6 day trip they portaged a total of 18 miles. The girls were all extremely proud of their accomplishments and commented on how the next time they are faced with a challenging or difficult circumstance they will remind themselves that they were able to portage 18 miles and still have a wonderful time.
We often get letters and emails from alums with fond memories of camp and one of the most common themes is how their trips at camp taught them about perseverance, resilience and a sense of accomplishment. Tonight, I’m incredibly proud of our campers, their accomplishments and their journey in self reflection.
