Carrying the lessons of confidence, teamwork, and independence into everyday life is what makes summer at Camp Southern Ground so powerful. In this blog, Chief Program Officer (and Camp Director!) Matty Cook shares how the camp experience equip kids with skills that help them thrive in school, with friends, and in their communities.
It’s hard to believe the summer of 2025 is in the rearview mirror. On the journey of life, while we need to stay focused on what’s in front of us, it’s just as important to hold onto an awareness of where we’ve been and what we’ve learned in the process. To apply our learning to the next situation, and the next. Case in point, when our campers take the skills they learn here and carry them confidently back into their lives at home and school.
Our camp environment is intentionally designed to give children space to stretch themselves. They navigate a day packed with adventure – mastering the archery range, conquering a mountain bike trail, or kayaking across the lake – and in doing so, they build real confidence. That confidence, rooted in curiosity, friendship, teamwork, and responsibility, becomes the foundation for independence.
The transformation is often subtle but powerful. A camper who hesitated to join group activities in the first days of camp might lead a song during mealtime by week’s end. Another, who struggled to keep track of their belongings, might be the one reminding cabin mates to bring their water bottles to the next activity. These moments are the building blocks of self-reliance; independence forged in a community that cares deeply about every child’s growth.
Zac Brown, our founder, puts it beautifully: “You’ve got to make everybody feel included, no matter who they are or where they come from, because when people feel they belong, they can be their best selves.” At Camp Southern Ground, inclusion is the foundation of everything we do. When children feel safe, accepted, and celebrated, they are more willing to take risks, try new things, and trust their own voices.
The independence our campers leave with isn’t about separating from others; it’s about standing tall with others. It’s about knowing that they can make a difference, both on their own and as part of a team. By the time our campers step back into the rhythms of home and school, they’re not just older by a summer… they’re more prepared for the world. And the world, in turn, is a little brighter because they’re in it.