Sander Scouts: Far More Than Just Cool Camping & Hiking Trips Out In Nature!
Many children and families love the fun, nature and adventure that a great camping trip provides. But, do any of them ever stop to think about all the benefits that camping really provides for their children? Why does it feel so good to get out in nature away from distractions of the modern world? Why, exactly, do kids love camping and playing outdoors so much?
One might begin to answer these questions by considering this: Children are much like plants - they go towards the light,... towards things that will help them grow and develop and reach their fullest potential. Running, playing, climbing, exploring, and imagining out in nature helps them grow – and in so many different ways. Just ask any of the families who gather on the monthly Sander Scouts trips at some of the most beautiful camping and hiking spots in the country. (Joshua Tree, Anza Borrego Dessert, Malibu Beach, etc.).
When the children first arrive at an empty campsite they see nothingness, just nature. But then they watch, and even help, their parents to set up camp and they soon see that it is not a fast or easy process. Then, after all camps are set up, they begin to see that the hard work that everyone invested resulted in a temporary civilization of sorts out in the middle of nowhere. Just imagine how that lesson could be applied to other things in a child’s lifetime.
These trips are also a way to build stronger relationships and social skills. The children play and explore together out in nature. They discover caves or water holes as they adventure together on a hike. They laugh and learn with each other over an impromptu card game or at a cozy campfire while listening to each other's stories. In these moments they are truly present with each other, looking each other in the eyes – a social skill that seems to be diminishing in this day and age. Having this time away from noisy distractions gives them time to develop social skills, which are the single most important childhood skill linked to later adult success. Group camping also provides children with learning opportunities when conflicts arise with their peers. For example, not every child can be the first to cook their marshmallow for the S’mores. They may have to wait until a friend takes their turn with the long metal skewer. But, at the end of each day, the children love being with their friends, new and old, playing, enjoying and decompressing from their normal routine.
And, it’s not entirely different for the parents who also enjoy the change-up in routine and the fun camaraderie with other parents. It provides opportunities for cooking and eating together, and helping each other as needed (ie. with setting up camp, with borrowing camp gear, or even helping with that occasional car battery that won’t start on the last day). When we zoom out, one can see that the group camping experience is almost reminiscent of a tribal support system in which every family holds every family close, and operates as a whole – all for one, and one for all. What a great model for children to observe!
Recently, while climbing a small mountain in the deep Arizona desert, a couple of children, and one or two adults wanted to turn around and give up about halfway through the climb. But they didn’t. They encouraged each other, supported each other, turned back around and lent a helping hand so they could all get past yet another stint in their long journey. And what did they gain? A sense of connectedness, of community, teamwork, problem solving, and decision making, just to name a few. They also walked away from the experience with feelings of accomplishment, competence, independence and confidence that will follow them for their entire lives, serving them well whenever faced with another significant challenge. All of these hikers hesitated to finish this mountain hike in its entirety, but none of them regretted finishing it, as exhausted as they were. Each one walked away feeling proud of themselves instead of how they would have felt had they turned around just halfway through. This is what a community does for its members, it helps them to reach their fullest potential even in the face of adversity.
True to the Waldorf values, camping promotes a reverence and appreciation for nature and all the beauty found therein. A magnificent sunset or sunrise with a myriad of changing colors over a mountain. The evening sky, illuminated with bigger and brighter stars and a glowing moon. The compelling sounds of wildlife off in the distance, the interesting topography of foreign lands, and the new and interesting plants a camper may have never seen before. With all of these things, a deep sense of wonder is sparked in a child.
Occasionally the Sander Scouts camping trips to primitive lands can bring even more valuable surprises. For example, on the most recent trip to the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona, children discovered old pictograms carved into cave walls, and animal skeletons which generated a ton of excitement, speculation and discussion.
Indeed, our Sander Scouts program at Sanderling Waldorf School offers our students so much more than camping. It offers them life enriching opportunities that equip them with all they will need to be confident, socially skilled, hard-working, team-players well into their childhood and into their adult lives.
To learn more about the Sander Scouts program, available only to current students attending Sanderling Waldorf School, schedule a tour today!
