Step into any summer camp in the country during the months of July and August and you’ll see something crazy.

Groups of kids (gasp) walking, talking, running, laughing together.

It shouldn’t feel like some outlier outcome. But it’s increasingly so.

Kids are more connected digitally than ever. More group chats. More likes and reactions. More ways to reach each other instantly.

And also, lonelier than they’ve ever been.

Meeting someone has always taken a certain amount of courage. But screen time, among other things, has weakened the muscles kids need for connection.

Belonging to something is a core piece of growing up, not just some nice-to-have bonus.

This is part 3 in our series on what camp does uniquely well. We’ve already tackled leadership and purpose. Belonging matters just as much because it gives kids access to some core pieces of growing up. Namely, being seen, chosen, and connected.

The Second Family

A kid’s first family is chosen for them the day they’re born.

Camp becomes a second family, and I don’t say that lightly. In this family dynamic, the kid is chosen. That makes a big difference.

Being chosen carries extraordinary emotional weight.

It goes a long way to explaining why camp friendships feel different than those at school or extracurriculars.

I bet everyone on this list is nodding their heads slowly to that, picturing their own camp friendships and how they just don’t fit in the same bucket as everywhere else.

Being Seen

Belonging is built through small, intentional actions.

A camp counselor noticing a camper’s struggle and responding like an actual human. Sitting next to someone new. Laughing together at a campfire. Showing silliness or creativity in a safe group.

Kids expect parents to affirm them. When affirmation comes from a counselor or peer, it lands much differently. Being actually seen (not just called on) by someone outside your family creates confidence in a way family validation can’t replicate.

These small moments add up to deep connection.

And in the absence of connection, especially in an overly online world, kids will construct stories about themselves. And those stories aren’t usually the best ones.

Belonging interrupts that cycle by providing reassurance through relationship. It gives kids evidence that contradicts the isolating narratives loneliness creates.

The Contrast

Screens create isolation even when kids are “connected.” Kids will scroll alone, even in crowded rooms. I’ve seen it. It’s not amazing.

And year-round competitive sports, while amazing, often create performance-based belonging. The top players feel essential while the next group can feel expendable.

Camp pulls kids out of both patterns. Removing the phones and dialing up the activities replaces solitary scrolling. Inclusion is built into everything that happens. And participating has almost nothing to do with skill or smarts.

Belonging is there for every kid. And it’s a unique feeling.