Diverse experiences create a richer foundation for later adaptation.
It can be difficult to send your son to a new location or off to try something you know he may not enjoy, especially when you are not there to protect him.
West End House Camp spends a majority of the morning focusing on team sports.
That’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
Some boys would rather play chess, learn to speak French, build rockets, use a hammer and nails or go hiking in the woods.
West End House Camp spends a majority of the morning focusing on a different team sport each day.
Even for our athletes, this may not be their cup of tea.
Some boys are more basketball players, some play soccer only, or think they are better at baseball than any other sport.
But as David Epstein’s book Range: Why Generalists Triumph is a Specialized World suggests we should be encouraging an exploration of a variety of activities.
Roger Federer was quoted saying, “I would tell all the juniors and kids out there, do other sports too, for fun. Go play squash, go ride your bike, go play basketball, go ski, whatever it is… I think it’s really good for the mind to do different sports.”
Kids need diverse experiences
Sharing your “bedroom” with 10+ other people is a diverse experience and sometimes can be considered a sport.
Remembering where you left your water bottle and towel is a diverse experience and is also a fun game of hide-and-go-seek.
Watermelon-style softball, Council Ring wiffle ball, the Iron Man, Inter-Camp games, the chess tournament, and the spelling bee are all diverse experiences.
Here it is again for those in the back…Diverse experiences create a richer foundation for later adaptation.
If he can do it at camp, where there is a support system designed so he can’t fail, then he will build the foundation to adapt to whatever comes his way in the future.
And with that, the Spirit of the House will never die,
Jessica