Beyond Fun and Games: Essential Life Skills Children Develop at Redwood Day Camp

For 50 years, Redwood Day Camp has been creating summer memories for children in Montreal. While the laughter, friendships, and exciting activities are what immediately come to mind when thinking about summer camp, there's something even more valuable happening beneath the surface: the development of essential life skills that will benefit campers long after summer ends.

Why Life Skills Matter in Childhood Development

In today's rapidly changing world, practical life skills and social skills are just as important as academic achievements. Summer camp provides the perfect environment for children to develop these abilities in a fun, supportive setting away from screens and classroom pressures.

At Redwood, we believe that the skills children develop during their camp experience create a foundation for personal development that will serve them throughout their adult lives, education journeys, and future careers. The range of skills acquired at camp complements classroom learning and helps children become well-rounded individuals ready to face life's challenges.

Key Life Skills Children Develop at Redwood Day Camp

1. Social Skills and Emotional Health

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the camp experience is the opportunity for children to build their social network and develop crucial communication skills. At Redwood, campers interact with peers from diverse backgrounds, learning to:

• Navigate new friendships

• Resolve conflicts peacefully

• Practice empathy and compassion

• Develop emotional intelligence

• Build self-confidence in social situations

  
  

These social and emotional skills are fundamental to mental health and wellbeing, helping children develop healthy personal lives and relationships. The supportive environment at camp allows children to practice these skills in a safe space where mistakes become learning opportunities.

Unlike the structured school environment, camp provides organic social situations where children must adapt, communicate, and collaborate without constant adult direction. This natural setting helps develop authentic social competence that transfers to all areas of life.

2. Independence and Self-Reliance Skills

Camp provides many children with their first taste of independence away from parents. Whether participating in daily activities or experiencing our exciting overnight program, campers develop:

• Self-reliance and decision-making abilities

• Time management skills

• Personal responsibility

• Adaptability to new situations

  
  

For our youngest campers (Ages 4-8), these first steps toward independence are carefully supported by our experienced staff, creating a safe environment for growth. Children learn to manage their belongings, follow schedules, and navigate their day with appropriate guidance.

Camp activities naturally encourage children to develop these essential life skills through structured play and guided challenges.

3. Leadership Skills and Teamwork

Through our range of activities and special programs like our Counsellor In Training Program, Redwood provides natural opportunities for leadership development:

• Taking initiative and leading by example

• Mentoring younger campers

• Collaborating effectively in team settings

• Problem-solving as a group

• Understanding different personality types and working styles

  
  

These valuable life skills translate directly to future career paths and academic success. The ability to work effectively in teams while demonstrating leadership when appropriate is consistently ranked among the most desirable employable skills by employers across industries.

At Redwood, leadership isn't just taught to older campers—it's modeled and encouraged at every age level, allowing children to gradually build confidence in their ability to positively influence others and take responsibility.

4. Practical Skills Through Hands-On Activities

At Redwood, our diverse recreational activities offer more than just fun—they introduce campers to practical skills they might not encounter elsewhere:

• Physical skills: Swimming, horseback riding,rock climbing, biking, pickleball, zipline adventures, and more

• Creative skills: Art, music, and performance during special theme days

• Outdoor skills: Environmental awareness and appreciation

• Sport-specific skills: Technique, rules, and sportsmanship

  
  

Each activity serves as a form of skill training that enhances coordination, persistence, and mastery—key components of employable skills later in life. These hands-on experiences provide valuable alternative learning pathways for children who may struggle in traditional academic settings.

What makes Redwood special is our approach to these activities—we focus not just on skill acquisition but on the process of learning itself. Children develop resilience as they face challenges, perseverance as they practice difficult skills, and confidence as they master new abilities.

Special Programs at Redwood That Foster Life Skills

Theme Days: Learning Through Play

Our weekly theme days aren't just about costumes and fun—they're carefully designed learning experiences that develop creativity, planning, and adaptability. From Hero Day, where campers learn that "anyone can be a hero by helping out those around them through simple acts of kindness," to Sports Mania, which tests teamwork and sportsmanship, each theme day reinforces important life lessons.

The preparation and participation in these special events help children develop organizational skills, creativity, and the ability to step outside their comfort zones—all essential skills for personal growth and future success.

Each theme day provides unique opportunities:

• Summer Kick Off: Builds excitement and helps establish social connections

• Hero Day: Teaches values and character development

• Carnival Day: Encourages creativity and performance skills

• Sports Mania: Develops teamwork and healthy competition

• Decade Day: Explores history and cultural awareness

• Colour Blast: Promotes teamwork and collaboration

• Country Western Day: Broadens cultural experiences

• Woodstock Day & Variety Show: Builds performance confidence and self-expression

  
  

Overnight Adventures: A Supported Transition

Redwood's overnight program provides the perfect introduction to independence for children in grades 1 to 4. This supportive transition helps children develop confidence in being away from home while building practical living skills like:

• Personal care routines

• Organizing belongings

• Adapting to new sleeping environments

• Building resilience through new experiences

  
  

Many parents report that children return from these overnight experiences with newfound confidence and independence that extends into home life. These carefully supervised experiences create the perfect environment for growth, offering just the right amount of challenge with ample support.

Counsellors in Training: Career Development Foundations

For teens ages 14 -15, our  counsellor-in training program provides early career development insights and valuable employable skills. These programs help teens:

• Understand job skills and workplace expectations

• Develop responsibility for others

• Build basic training in childcare and activity leadership

• Create a foundation for future careers in education, recreation, or any field requiring leadership

  
  

These programs serve as a valuable transition between childhood and the adult world of work, offering real responsibility in a supported environment. Many of our staff members began as campers, moved through our leadership programs, and found their calling through these formative experiences.

How Parents Can Extend Camp Learning at Home

The practical life skills developed at Redwood don't have to end when summer does. Here are ways parents can reinforce and build upon these essential skills throughout the year:

1. Encourage independence by allowing children to apply camp-learned self-sufficiency at home

2. Discuss social situations and problem-solving strategies used at camp

3. Reinforce practical skills learned during activities by continuing them as family hobbies

4. Acknowledge growth in communication skills and emotional regulation

5. Use camp experiences as reference points when facing new challenges

6. Maintain friendships formed at camp through year-round connections

7. Practice teamwork by applying camp-style cooperation to family projects

   
   

Join the Redwood Family

For 50 years, Redwood Day Camp has been more than just a summer destination—it's been a vital resource for childhood development and a place where essential life skills are nurtured alongside unforgettable memories.

As our philosophy states: "Here, all of us, Redwood campers and staff, become part of something bigger than ourselves; a collective happiness that echoes throughout our lives."

When you choose Redwood, you're not just signing up for summer fun—you're investing in your child's future success through the development of key life skills that will serve them throughout their personal and professional journeys.

Ready to give your child the gift of fun-filled growth and development? Sign up now for Summer 2025!

Located on a private property in Vaudreuil-Dorion, a bus service is available to the camp from Westmount, NDG, Hampstead, Cote St. Luc, Montreal West, Dollard des Ormeaux, Pierrefonds, Kirkland, and Beaconsfield. 

Extended day hours at Redwood are from 7:30 am. to 5 pm Ages 4-15