Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults

Audrey ＂Sunshine＂ Monke, mother of five and camp owner-director, shares nine powerful parenting techniques-inspired by the research-based practices of summer camp-to help kids thrive and families become closer.

Research has proven that kids are happier and gain essential social and emotional skills at camp. A recognized parenting expert, Audrey Monke distills what she’s learned from thousands of interactions with campers, camp counselors, and parents, and from her research in positive psychology, to offer intentional strategies parents can use to foster the benefits of camp at home.

Our screen-obsessed, competitive society makes it harder than ever to raise happy, thriving kids. But there are tried-and-true methods that can help. Instead of rearing a generation of children who are overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, and who struggle to become independent, responsible adults, parents can create a culture that promotes the growth of important character traits and the social skills kids need for meaningful, successful lives.

Thousands of parents attest to the ＂magical＂ benefits of summer camp for their kids, noting their children return more joyful, positive, confident, and resilient after just a few weeks. But you can learn exactly what it takes to promote these benefits at home. Complete with specific ideas to implement the most effective summer camp secrets, Happy Campers is a one of a kind resource for raising happy, socially intelligent, successful kids.

Audrey Monke has a master’s in psychology and has worked with thousands of parents and campers as owner and director of Gold Arrow Camp in Lakeshore, California, since 1989. Known by her camp name ＂Sunshine,＂ Audrey is a speaker and writer about positive parenting techniques for raising successful children. She is a former president of the Western Association of Independent Camps, as well as a regular contributor to Camping Magazine and the American Camp Association’s Camp Parents blog. Visit her website at sunshine-parenting.com.

Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D., LCSW, is the New York Times bestselling co-author (with Dan Siegel) of The Yes Brain, The Whole-BrainChild, and No-Drama Discipline (Random House). She’s a pediatric and adolescent psychotherapist, parenting consultant, and the director of parenting education and development for the Mindsight Institute. A frequent lecturer to parents, educators, and professionals, she lives near Los Angeles with her husband and three children.