Across Southeastern Massachusetts, Old Colony YMCA camps are coming back to life with the start of the season. Soon, there will be buses echoing age-old repeat after me songs, whistles being blown during capture the flag, cannon balls splashing into pools, friendship bracelets being made and traded, and lost and found treasure troves being added to daily. But behind the bug spray and sun screening lies something even more important: the development of young people—and the emerging leaders who guide them.

At the Old Colony YMCA, we see it firsthand every year. Summer camp is not a place where kids go to stay busy—it’s where they go to grow. It’s where they learn and live the values of honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility. It’s where youth development and social responsibility are in action and front of mind for everyone from our veteran directors to first-time counselors.

In a world where many relationships and identities are formed virtually, summer camp provides the unique experience for people of all ages to unplug and discover themselves and each other in real-time, face-to-face moments. At our camps, these moments are filled with meaningful interactions where campers organically develop empathy, gain life-skills, and build lifelong friendships.

Research backs this up. The American Camp Association has found that children in camp settings grow in confidence, independence, social skills, and leadership. Many of these outcomes—like self-respect, resilience, and appreciation for community—are the very traits that help young people thrive long after summer ends.

A 2016 Harvard Graduate School of Education article described camp as a “third place”—not home, not school, but a distinct environment where children can develop new identities, challenge themselves in safe ways, and test their independence. That space for self-discovery is vital, especially after years of disrupted schooling and social isolation for so many children.

At our summer camps, we’ve seen shy kids blossom into team captains and anxious first-timers pass the deep-end swim test. We’ve watched them come back summer after summer until they finally show up wearing their first counselor-in-training tee and begin their next phase of camp life: being a counselor.

Just as camp empowers children, it transforms those who serve as counselors into marketable, functional, thriving adults. Each summer, high school and college students step into leadership roles that demand creativity, patience, emotional intelligence, and responsibility.

Being a camp counselor is more than a summer job—it’s leadership training in action. Counselors learn how to manage groups, resolve conflicts, adapt on the fly, and serve as role models for the next generation. Many of our YMCA staff and directors began their careers as teen counselors, learning how to lead with purpose and empathy. They understand and value the importance of being a part of a team and community, and they carry that with them into their lives outside of camp.

And these aren’t just feel-good anecdotes. The National Academies of Sciences highlights that out-of-school-time programs like summer camp provide key opportunities for youth development—especially when they offer strong adult-youth relationships, a sense of belonging, and opportunities to contribute meaningfully.

Old Colony YMCA camps do exactly that.

Summer camp isn’t just a benefit to families—it’s a benefit to communities. When we invest in safe, enriching summer experiences, we’re investing in stronger futures and stronger communities. Children return to school more confident, more connected, and more resilient. They have spent all summer learning and are ready to continue that in their school setting. They have grown, played, survived, and thrived. Young adults gain workforce-ready skills, a sense of identity and purpose, and experience that translates beyond working at just camp. Parents and guardians gain peace of mind knowing their kids are active, supported, engaged, and safe. School administrators and educators close their doors in June, knowing that their students of all ages will be well-cared for and growing in their absence.

Here in Southeastern Massachusetts, Old Colony YMCA camps serve thousands of families each year. Trough financial assistance, we ensure that every child has the opportunity to attend, regardless of income. We work hand-in-hand with local school districts and community partners to keep the lines of communication open about our shared students, hire their staff for the summers, and support the families as a collaborative effort.

So the next time you pass by a bus of campers singing out the windows or see a counselor getting their pre-camp morning coffee with arms filled with friendship bracelets, remember: it’s more than just summer fun. It’s youth development in action. It’s leadership in motion. And it’s one of the smartest investments we can make in our kids—and our communities.