I have rarely been a joiner; I don’t particularly like groups or groupwork. However, as we gaze upon the social fabric of the island, I am very elated at the people bold enough to create camps. Be they of a sporting, religious, social or other nature. Their tasks whether free, or cheap or pricey have gone a long way into occupying the youth of this nation particularly during this summer period when many have been led to their own devices under the supervision of tablets or other more nefarious devices.
The reality is that our social fabric is slowly decaying as evidenced by the crime we see happening over our island with many of the youth becoming prey to the lure of the fast life and social isolation. Far be it for me to romanticize the past, as many of my generation do in the misguided notion that it was obviously better, if you are acquainted with some millennial parents, you realise that they are just as bad, but back then the Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and Cadets provided a service that kept many occupied and away from gangs. Did they always work? Sadly, no but they were more vibrant and present than they are now.
We need more than what exists now during the summer. Not because they are flawed but because they stand as a prescient example of how vital a tool they are in today’s world of technological advances growing side by side with diminished critical thinking.
Whilst many are often concerned when they see two or more teenagers in a given space, quick to see them as a problem to be solved, the truth is that these camps serve an integral role in shaping our children for the future. Despite our growing disdain for organised religion and its impact on our world we cannot ignore what roles they play in providing safety and security as well as edifying our youth via Vacation Bible School, VBS. They and the soccer, basketball, art and other camps currently unfolding as we speak provide avenues for prosocial behaviour in a time where antisocial behaviour and hooliganism appear to be skyrocketing.
Camps create space for self-restraint, teach optimism and efficiency, resiliency and assertiveness. Moreover, they allow for increased empathy, higher self-esteem and a greater desire to contribute to communal goals and identities as opposed to before. These are transferable skills that can benefit them in the world of work, at school and within their immediate environs. Seeing a community as a place where they can actually learn and receive support is a key factor in the long-term impacts of these camps. Being equipped with these resources and day to day skills allows for them to be more motivated and diligent in working productively and developing their self-sufficiency. Additionally, it allows for better regulated mental health, the ability to socially regulate and stay away from problems such as addiction, violence and other social ills.
Continue to provide support for these camps as they are the bulwark that stand in defense of a changing society eager to bend and break in order to give into the ills of today rather than the pushing against the tide of ill-bred behaviour seeking to grip us all.