Have you noticed how we talk about kids’ activities these days?

• “We’re doing football this spring.”
• “We have band practice on Thursdays.”
• “We have an orchestra thing this weekend.”

That little word—“we”—says a lot.

Today’s parents are more involved than ever in their children’s lives. That’s amazing news! Kids are absolutely winning because today’s parents are present, and more supportive than ever before.

We’ve talked about how it was great when kids could run and play until the streetlights came on. But there used to also be commercials reminding parents to think about their kids.

Think back to, “It’s 10 PM, do you know where your children are?!” We definitely don’t want to head back in that direction.

And yet, in all this push and pull around modern parenting, I’ve noticed something special at Camp Champions. Over the years, I’ve watched thousands of children discover a newfound confidence (even strength) during moments when they navigate experiences on their own, while knowing they have consistent support from home.

From “We Can” to “They Can”

You’ve probably heard the term “helicopter parent” thrown around, often with negative connotations. It implies hovering way too close, but there’s also some virtue here. It means being involved. And again, that’s a great thing.

But more and more I prefer a different metaphor—one that honors your commitment while recognizing the value of independence.

A lighthouse.

A lighthouse doesn’t follow the ship out to sea. It sends the ship out to sea and waits to guide it back.

The lighthouse provides guidance, safety, and a beacon to return to, all while allowing the ship to chart its own course.

The point isn’t to be involved less or care only a minimal amount. Not at all. The pendulum has swung toward greater parental involvement, and that’s largely a positive change from previous generations.

But we can intentionally carve out times and spaces to step back, letting kids know that we believe in them enough to navigate certain waters on their own.

Independence With Training Wheels

I completely understand how difficult it can be to drop your child off at camp. That moment of separation can be genuinely challenging. But know that camp is one of the few remaining spaces specifically designed for children to practice independence within a safe, structured environment. It’s an intentionally curated run-around-by-yourself experience unlike almost anywhere else.

When your child is at camp, they make their own decisions about:

• Which activities to try
• When to speak up in a group
• How to manage their belongings
• How to resolve conflicts with cabinmates
• Who to sit with at meals

And this is only the start of it. These daily choices—made without direct parent guidance—are stacking blocks of confidence and self-reliance on top of what they’re already given at home.

Camp isn’t just turning kids loose without supervision. Think of it more like independence with training wheel, room to wobble and find balance, with great role models nearby ready to steady them if needed. Our counselors are there to guide rather than solve, to support rather than fix.

And to be clear, the supervision at camp is constant. It just feels to a camper like they are having an independent experience because the adults they spend the most time with (their parents) aren’t there.

Lighthouses and Preparation for Life

Readiness for life requires experiences away from home. We sometimes joke (only kind of) that your kids are going to go away to camp in a few years, it’s just called college.

And this doesn’t mean we value parental involvement any less—it means we recognize that independence also requires practice.

The lighthouse metaphor reminds us that our job isn’t to captain USS Kids Today throughout their entire journey. It’s to be a steady light, visible when they look back to shore, with the trust they can navigate increasingly complex waters as they grow.

Camp offers a unique opportunity for children to practice being the captains of their own ships while still having a clear view of the lighthouse.

By the time they reach adulthood, they’ll have practiced making decisions, solving problems, and handling challenges independently. They’ll be ready to sail further from shore because they’ve had years of practice in protected waters.

Finding the Balance

We don’t need the pendulum to swing dramatically back to a hands-off approach to parenting. We just need specific, intentional spaces where kids can practice independence.

Camp provides exactly that—a place where your child can build confidence in their abilities while still within the safety of a structured, supportive environment.

Because ultimately, that’s what lighthouse parenting is all about—standing strong and steady, providing guidance from the shore, and believing in your child’s ability to navigate the waters ahead.

Erec Sir