February Update: The Importance of Camp for Boys

From Richard Reeves seminal book Of Boys and Men and Scott Galloway’s recent Notes on Being a Man, there is a growing understanding and body of research that (among other things) demonstrates the importance of strong male role models and positive male friendships in the holistic character and aspirational development of boys and young men.

In our post-COVID, social media influenced, screen-saturated world today, many boys are also struggling to build authentic relationships and to find aspirational mentors outside of their immediate families. Big Spring boys’ camp director, Will Coleman shares how his summers at Sanborn Western Camps in Colorado influenced that trajectory for him.

I was born and raised in South Florida, in an environment that was very different from where I am now at Sanborn. Being from Florida I was lucky enough to have access to the beach, fishing, and playing games throughout the neighborhood with my childhood friends, but really had no experience of being out in the backcountry camping in a tent. That all changed during my transition from middle school into high school.

Prior to my summers at Sanborn, I had an extremely hard time making new friends and meaningful, lasting relationships with my peers. I was tall, shy and full of self-doubt. I wasn’t sure that I was very good at anything and I only had a few positive male mentors outside of my father.

My time at camp made me more of a leader and helped me find my voice. It made me more willing to speak up for myself, and more competent and confident overall. I made some of the greatest friends of my life during my summers at Sanborn, and remain connected to those aspirational role models–the men on staff–who helped lead, coach, guide and support my growth through those important developmental years. Because of these men, I tried out for the basketball team and eventually played on the Varsity team. Because of these men, I pushed myself in school and I earned a full-ride, academic college scholarship.

It is the opportunity to live, work and play in a growth-focused, positive, male-centered community that helps boys deepen their understanding of themselves, their responsibilities and their impacts on the world around them. It is a community where boys develop an understanding of others’ perceptions and experiences. It is a space where they can (and do) make mistakes and where coaching leads to conflict resolution and growth.

I received a letter from a camp parent last summer that said, “I think of you and ALL the Big Spring staff doing such amazing work. Please know how immensely grateful I am for that community every day. What trust you have earned from so many parents and kids. It gives me comfort to think of my son being in an environment where being together in an accepting way is at the center of it all.”

As a young adult and beyond, everything I learned and practiced at camp is part of who I am today: being comfortable doing hard things, pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, humility, trust, communicating effectively, navigating conflict, and supporting others. Because of my summers at Big Spring, I am a better friend and partner, a more supportive leader and manager, and a stronger, happier and healthier man.

We are living in a highly complex, polarized world where it seems easier to make fixed proclamations than to have growth-minded discussions. Yet we know from both experience and research that living together in spaces where we have to live, work and play together is an essential part of developing a sense of belonging, perspective and connection.

When we seek to elevate everyone, all of the time, we learn and grow exponentially. As we have seen over the history of Big Spring and High Trails, when we help ALL kids find their own sense of selves, community, earth and wonder through fun and adventure, kids build connections and discover the wonder within themselves, each other and the world.

And…at the end of the day…they become better people, partners, community leaders and global citizens–which will, inevitably, help make the world a much better place.