Camp is not for lazy kids

“Camp is not for lazy kids.”

You’d think this would be some quote that came up at a program staff meeting or in an aside director convo, but nope.

This is from an Evergreen girl we met with a few weeks ago at a family visit.

She wasn’t complaining. She was proud.

Said it like it was the very best thing about the place.

One line and it sure does capture something essential about K&E that most camps won’t even bother saying out loud.

What “Lazy” Actually Means

She wasn’t talking about being super-athletic or hyper-productive.

No, in this case, she was talking about kids these days who are ultra-comfortable sitting in bed most of the day. Moving from couch to bed to couch as the main summer activity.

Kids who resist any ask that requires effort: play a sport, make something, interact with others.

Kids who are always looking for the easiest possible day.

Lots of kids live this way. No judgment, it’s a very (very) easy default. I’ve got a little of it in me unless I’m on the lookout for it.

But for kids, there’s just so much out there to keep them inside. Roblox, Discord, YouTube, TikTok, between rolling out of bed and bedtime. Passive consumption + minimal physical movement + limited face-to-face.

At camp, everyone’s in motion. The days and weeks invite participation.

Jacki is famous for always saying give 110%.

You don’t just watch, you join.

Effort Isn’t Just Sports (But Those Are Awesome Too)

Camp effort looks like a lot of things.

Waterskiing on Eagle Pond, even though you keep face-planting.

Making another pottery bowl after your first attempt goes sideways.

Pushing through nerves on the high ropes course (more on my experience with this in a couple of weeks. I was shaking! And the new elements are incredible!).

Singing at campfire, even if your voice isn’t American Idol-ready.

Oh, and the friendship layer matters too.

At home, kids talk to friends constantly, just through filters.

Messaging apps, game chats, group texts.

At camp, friendship looks different. Face-to-face, all day, with actual effort required.

Everyone else is trying, so passivity stands out. Not through pressure, through invitation. The momentum carries you if you let it.

Effort becomes contagious.

Quiet Time = Real Quiet

Camp isn’t a 24/7 perpetual motion machine.

Plenty of downtime here.

Reading in a hammock on the dock (see above!). Journaling on your bunk. Zoning out after swimming.

The one key difference, though, is that quiet time is actually quiet.

Not scrolling. Not gaming. Not one eye on a Discord chat and another on a Snap streak.

It’s present rest or reflective rest, not passive consumption.

If a kid wants a summer of Roblox and Subway Surfers, this ain’t it.

If you want your kid to experience actual stillness, which is rare now, let’s go!

Why Parents Love This

Parents are always saying (in a variety of ways) that they want their kids to be engaged with life. I totally get it.

As a mom, I have gone back and forth on wanting my daughter to experience a lot of different activities, and wanting her to have some rest, and then wanting to prioritize friendships and healthy food, and, and, and…

The parenting standard really seems endless these days. It’s been a huge relief to me to think about offering my kids more of a balanced experience than a perfect one.

I think what we mean at camp is we want kids to truly engage when they participate.

Not just be high-achieving, but present. Not just busy, but connected. Not just entertained, but alive.

Effort teaches those things that matter.

You can do hard things. Friendships require showing up. Boredom passes if you move through it. Your body is meant to get up and do stuff. Oh, and this is kind of obvious, but it’s worth saying:

Other people are more interesting than screens.

All the kids I have met are so proud of this after a summer at K&E.

Not because camp compels them to be different, but because they spent weeks in a place where everyone around them was trying.

And it turns out that trying feels better than not trying.

Is Your Kid Ready?

Camp is not for every kid. It’s for kids who are ready to try. Or kids whose parents know they need a place where the whole vibe is about trying, and it’s contagious.

Not in a harsh way. In a “we believe you can do this” way.

Kids don’t have to be naturally energetic. Don’t have to love sports. Don’t have to be extroverted.

They just have to be willing to show up.

We’ll handle the rest.

Best,

Sylvia

PS -If you aren’t sure your daughter is ready for camp let’s talk about it. Grab a time with me here!​

Sylvia van Meerten

Evergreen Director
[email protected]

114 Eagle Pond Rd, Wilmot, NH 03287