We Knew Camp Built Strong Kids.

Now We Know How.

For years, we’ve said that Camp Champions builds strong kids. We believed it because it’s true. Camp does build strong kids.

But recently, I heard a phrase that changed how I think about how that happens. A phrase that gets to the very heart of building strong, compassionate, kind, and fun-loving kids. That phrase?

Durable skills.

I was sitting there at the National Camp Conference in Dallas, listening to Lynn Lyons speak about child anxiety and resilience when I heard her say this. This phrase.

Durable skills.

It was one of those snap-into-focus moments where things just click. All of a sudden I’m seeing the whole summer at Camp Champions through this lens of durability.

We used to think about “transferable skills”, but durability is different. It’s not just about taking skills from one place to another, packed in your duffel bag for the next adventure.

It’s about lasting as part of who you are.

Durable skills have two parts:

1. They can be applied in many different situations and contexts

2. With practice, they can last a lifetime

For years, I’ve known what we were helping build in kids: confidence, leadership, resilience.

Now we’re starting to see how it happens.

It happens by building durable skills—skills that endure, adapt, and prepare kids for whatever comes next.

What Are Durable Skills?

These durable skills are the kinds that apply across different contexts, different situations, and different moments (big and small).

The first day of school, a rainy day, tryout for the football team, asking someone on a date, moving to a new town, heading off to college, getting your first job.

With a little practice, they can last a lifetime.

And for all those list-lovers out there, a few of the durable skills kids practice at camp include:

• Communication – Getting those ideas out clearly and listening to others.
• Collaboration – Working with different people and perspectives to solve problems.
• Critical Thinking – Making thoughtful and logical decisions.
• Creativity – Finding new and maybe different ways to approach challenges.
• Responsibility – Owning decisions and then owning the repercussions.
• Resilience – Bouncing back up when things don’t go as planned.
• Flexibility – Adapting to change, not resisting it.

That list is not personality traits. They are not things you memorize from a book. They are skills you build.

They can be developed, practiced, and strengthened. Exercised, like a muscle. And camp is the best environment to do just that.

This isn’t about overcoming one challenge. It’s about learning how to handle all of them.

How Durable Skills Grow at Camp

We see this all the time, at every age, every day, every week, and every camp session.

For the 2nd and 3rd graders, it might be their first time away from home. Learning independence. Packing their own bag, choosing their own activities, making new friends outside of structured playdates or classroom time.

For the 4th and 5th graders, it’s learning they don’t only impact themselves—they impact those around them. Taking care of shared spaces, building campfires, handling small conflicts, and having a sense of ownership.

The 6th through 8th graders? They are discovering how their own unique talents and skills fit into their group of peers. They are nurturing the seeds of leadership as they practice when to share, when to listen, and how to make decisions as a cabin.

And believe me, I could go on for hours here about all the different opportunities. Over the next few weeks and months, we will.

Durability Travels With You

Durability isn’t only for childhood. But without a doubt, it starts there.

Durability allows your child to feel confident, gain strength, overcome anxiety, and truly believe in themselves.

Durability allows teens to handle the transition to high school or college without feeling overwhelmed.

Durability allows adults to take on new jobs, move to a new city, or navigate a challenge without shutting down.

Durability allows leaders to make decisions with confidence, even when the path forward isn’t clear.

We’ve always known we were building strong kids. Now, we know we’re building durable ones.

And that lasts far beyond the summer.

Erec Sir