By: Jack Schott
When I think about the healthiest environments on the planet, maybe you jump to fancy wellness retreats or high-tech fitness centers. And that would make sense.
But that’s just not where I go.
It goes straight to the sound of cabin doors slamming at 7 AM. Kids racing to the flagpole in small groups, taking in that first batch of sunshine, rocking through the beginning of the day.
Yeah, I’ve got a bold claim here (if you’ve heard me say it before, buckle up, it won’t be the last time):
Camps are the healthiest places on Earth for kids.
This isn’t just wildin’ out summer camp-director rah-rah stuff talking, though I’ve got plenty of that.
It’s what happens when you look at what health experts are recommending for optimal wellbeing and realize – oh, wait a second, that’s just describing a day at camp.
Camp is secretly winning the wellness game in a way that’s basically lapping the competition.
Check it out:
1. Screen time → Green time
Cheesy subtitle? Yeah, but it’s true.
Parents, I see you fighting the good fight against devices at home. The negotiations. The time limits. The inevitable “just five more minutes” that somehow stretch into hours.
And honestly, I’m pretty pro screens.
I love a good binge-able series like the West Wing or the new Wheel of Time, and have been known to rock Fortnite or Minecraft from time-to-time.
In fact, young Jack would have been all over this stuff (even if Pam Schott would have been fighting the same “battle”).
At camp, all that simply… disappears.
Instead of scrolling, kids are swimming, climbing, and laughing with friends. Instead of gaming, they’re playing actual games with their arms, and legs.
Texting or Snapping about life? Nah, they’re living it – in three dimensions, under an open sky (remember that thing?).
Camps have been quietly offering the perfect screentime alternative since before smartphones existed. And they still are without any of the negotiating.
2. The exercise routine (that doesn’t feel like exercise)
When’s the last time your kid did hours of physical activity and begged for more?
Swimming in the morning.
Post-lunch hike.
Full camp Capture the Flag after dinner.
Strength, endurance, coordination, and balance all without a single “exercise routine” in sight.
And no kid is going home being like, “Yo, what a workout!” It’s just what you do at camp. The physical activity is wrapped in layers of the day-to-day.
Oh and another bold claim: One week at camp often delivers more natural movement than a year of PE classes.
3. Real-time social connections in an increasingly disconnected world
Health pros like Peter Attia and Andrew Huberman are now ranking social connection as important as diet and exercise for long-term health.
At camp, children develop what I might call “connection fitness.” (Ok, I just started to call it that, but it sounds good so we’re going to stick with it).
They learn to navigate disagreements face-to-face. They practice reading emotions by actually seeing them play out on their friends’ faces. They experience the vulnerability of being (maybe a little) homesick and the courage to know it’s all okay.
No algorithm curating these interactions. No delete button or filter. Just real-time connection happening all day long.
4. Sleep. Yeah, kids sleep.
After days filled with sunshine, swimming, and non-stop activity, kids experience what I can only describe as “the good tired.”
Not the wired, overstimulated exhaustion that comes from too much of what they get all day long, all year long, but the deeply satisfying fatigue of a body that’s just lived its best life.
By the time a counselor calls “lights out,” most campers are already halfway to dreamland. The consistency of camp schedules – same wake-up time, same meal times, same bedtime – creates the perfect conditions for quality sleep.
Just Google what experts say about optimal sleep conditions and it’s basically the camp schedule.
And unlike home, there’s no midnight scrolling or 2 AM YouTube rabbit holes. Just crickets and occasionally, a counselor reminding everyone it’s really time to stop whispering now.
5. Nature’s secret hack: just being outside
The research is overwhelming: time in nature reduces stress hormones, improves mood, boosts immune function, and even enhances creativity. The list is way longer than this, but you get the point.
Morning dew on their sneaks, afternoon sun on the shoulders, and evening stars (that you can actually see) overhead. Kids pay attention to weather patterns in all the ways that matter, identify plants, navigate terrain, hang out outside.
This full-on immersion in the natural world resets their nervous systems in ways we’re only beginning to understand scientifically.
But camp pros have seen the effects for generations: children who arrive tense and distracted almost immediately soften, focus, and come alive in new ways.
Why this matters
Look, anxiety, depression, and physical health challenges among young people aren’t exactly trending in the right direction.
Camps offer a complete wellness reset.
For a few weeks each summer, your child rocks out in an environment where healthy habits aren’t a struggle – they’re built in.
Natural movement. Easy connections. Deep sleep. Nature doing its thing.
And those habits and memories they build at camp don’t just stay at camp. They become reference points for what healthy living feels like → joyful, connected, and full of adventure.
So next time an expert recommends more outdoor time, better sleep routines, increased physical activity, and richer social connections – you can just be like, “All good, we’ve got camp for that.”
You got this!
About the contributor:
Jack Schott is in charge of Family Engagement & Camper Support and brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for camp culture to Kenwood & Evergreen. As one of the most sought-after staff trainers and camp consultants in the industry, Jack has spent years helping camps across the country build stronger communities and create meaningful experiences for kids. Jack joined K&E to focus on Family Engagement & Camper Support, ensuring that every child feels seen, supported, and empowered throughout their camp journey.