Camp Gives Kids a Leg Up: A Conversation on Resilience and Independence

Recently, North Star Director Andy Shlensky sat down with Dr. Brooke Weinstein for an episode of her podcast, Thrive Like a Parent.

Brooke is a North Star mom and an expert in neuroscience-based sensory and emotional regulation. During the conversation, she was incredibly candid about her own journey as a parent—specifically, moving from the initial fear of “letting go” to seeing her boys thrive in the North Woods in a way that truly surprised her.

Giving Your Child an Edge
One of the most impactful points Brooke made was about the perception of summer camp. While some see camp simply as “shipping kids off” for the summer, she argues that in reality, it is how you give your child a competitive edge. It is a decision similar to picking the right neighborhood or the best school for them.

Camp gives kids a leg up on life’s most important things: values, social skills, and character development.

As Andy and Brooke discussed, these critical life skills are all disguised in the most fun ways possible, like archery, canoeing, or water skiing. While the boys think they are just hitting a bullseye or paddling across the lake, they are actually building the resilience and independence they need for the future.