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Getting Ready for Camp

2024 Getting Ready Magazine
Many campers believe that Sanborn is a “home away from home.” We provide children with the structure they need, and the decision making opportunities that they want.

We believe that managed risk, whether that be leaving home for a two week period, rock climbing for the first time, or living and working with a diverse group of individuals in a backcountry environment, is essential for a child’s personal growth. The safety of our campers is our number one priority, and as an ACA accredited camp for over 50 years, Sanborn Western Camps has consistently maintained some of the highest safety standards in the industry.

An essential part of creating a safe environment is the creation of a respectful camp community. Respectful community building, both during camp and throughout the year, provides campers with invaluable connections to peers and young adults. These connections help define a child within the larger society. Children returning from camp often demonstrate more empathy with siblings, seem to contribute more within the household, and have a level of personal growth and maturation that many of their non-camp attending peers do not gain during their summer break.

By living in a community build on respect, campers are able to extend themselves in new activities and environments. Campers learn and practice Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics; they are responsible for assisting in the care and maintenance of their living spaces and the camp grounds as whole; they learn and practice the hard skills required to tack a horse, pitch a tent, and assist with meal preparation on camping trips; and campers constantly practice and refine their decision making skills in a supportive, empowering and affirming environment.

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A summer at Sanborn Camps will provide your child with benefits that will last a lifetime. Much has been said about the need for unstructured time in the natural world, which is one of the true gifts of a Sanborn Summer. Make time in their lives for the time of their lives!

Read each page below for everything you need to know about coming to Camp!