We all know Summer Camp is fun. At Gilmont, campers play group games, sing silly songs, swim, create art, shoot archery, and try new adventures every day. The camp day is full of laughter, play, exploration, and wonder.
But beneath all that fun is something even more powerful: camp is a daily practice ground for essential social skills.
Research shows that children learn best through play and shared experience. A week at summer camp offers daily practice in:
- Communication
- Cooperation and teamwork
- Emotional Regulation
- Conflict Resolution
- Leadership and Adaptability
These skills are critical for success in classrooms, communities, and workplaces. At Gilmont Summer Camp in East Texas, these skills are not taught in lectures, but through laughter, movement, and meaningful connection.
A week at camp lays a strong social foundation for the future. At Gilmont Summer Camp, fun and formation for hand in hand.
Let’s take a closer look at how a typical day at camp builds these skills naturally.
Gaga Ball = Negotiation Training
The Gaga Ball pit is more than a game. It’s a crash course in communication.
Campers debate who is out, what counts as a hit below the knee, and whether the ball touched the wall first – and they do so with Supreme Court–level intensity. Along the way, they learn to advocate for themselves, listen to others, and resolve disagreements respectfully.
These moments help children practice fairness, compromise, and emotional control in real time.
Low Ropes Course = Problem Solving Lab
On the low ropes team-building course, campers work together to cross chocolate rivers, crawl through spider webs, and balance boats on whale-watching tours.
They try ideas, fail, try again, and make sure every voice – even the quiet ones – is heard as part of the solution.
This is teamwork, resilience, strategic planning, and creative thinking in action.
Canoeing = Leadership & Cooperation
Paired with campers of different skill levels, kids must coordinate strokes to navigate Lake Kilgore (home to Gilmont’s beloved, friendly orange octopus Rufus).
The front can’t see behind them. The back can’t see ahead. Success depends on communication, coordination, and cooperation.
As campers work together toward a shared goal, they practice patience, adaptability, and synchronized teamwork.
Emotional Regulation = Everyday Learning
Trust Based Relational Intervention (the behavior management technique Gilmont staff use) focuses on connecting and empowering before correcting. Staff teach breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and communication skills when emotions run high.
Campers learn how to express feelings and calm their bodies in healthy ways.
A week of summer camp is an investment in your child's future.
A week of summer camp is more than a vacation. It’s an investment in your child’s social and emotional development.
At Gilmont Day Camp and Overnight Camp, children and youth grow in confidence, learn how to work with others, and discover new strengths in themselves. The best part is that they grow in an environment surrounded by God’s creation and a welcoming community.
With a $100 deposit, families can reserve a spot and give their child the chance to build skills that last far beyond the summer.
Learn more about Day Camp or Overnight Camp and register today!