5 Ways Camp Helps Girls Build Confidence & Independence
March 25, 2025
By Your Friends at Camp Conowingo
For generations, Girl Scout camps like Camp Conowingo have been shaping strong, confident, and independent young women. But what is it about the sleepaway camp experience that has such a lasting impact? A study by the Girl Scout Research Institute in partnership with the American Camp Association (ACA) confirms what we’ve always known—camp builds critical life skills that set campers up for success in all areas of life.
Here are five ways sleepaway camp at Camp Conowingo helps campers develop confidence, independence, and leadership skills that last a lifetime:
- Encourages Decision-Making & Problem-Solving: At Camp Conowingo, campers take charge of their own experiences—choosing activities, setting personal goals, and working together to solve challenges. Whether it’s navigating a ropes course, planning a group hike, or deciding on the best way to build a campfire, campers gain critical thinking skills that extend far beyond camp.
- Builds Healthy Relationships & Teamwork: Living in a camp setting teaches campers how to work as part of a team. From caring for their unit and campgrounds to navigating friendships with diverse campers and staff, they develop communication, empathy, and leadership—essential skills for both personal and professional success.
- Develops Adaptability & Resilience: Camp life is full of surprises—unexpected weather changes, new foods to try, and learning how to adapt to a new schedule. At Camp Conowingo, campers learn how to face challenges head-on, embrace the unexpected, and develop a growth mindset that empowers them to tackle obstacles with confidence.
- Fosters Self-Discovery & Confidence: From climbing to the top of the rock wall to trying archery for the first time, Camp Conowingo provides campers with opportunities to step outside their comfort zones and celebrate their achievements. Learning to trust themselves, embrace new challenges, and take pride in their accomplishments fosters lifelong confidence.
- Provides a Supportive & Encouraging Environment: One of the key findings from the Girl Scout Research Institute’s study is the importance of supportive relationships at camp. Camp Conowingo’s experienced, caring staff mentor and guide campers, providing encouragement and motivation to try new things, build resilience, and develop leadership skills that will serve them for years to come.
- The Impact of Camp Lasts a Lifetime. The research is clear—Girl Scout camp experiences are unique and provide benefits that extend far beyond the summer. The skills girls develop at camp, such as responsibility, perseverance, and leadership, influence their confidence and decision-making abilities well into adulthood. And the longer a girl participates—whether as a multi-year camper or a counselor-in-training—the more these skills become ingrained in her daily life.
Give your campers the gift of confidence, independence, and adventure this summer at Camp Conowingo! Spaces are filling fast, so don’t wait—register today and watch them grow into the strong, capable leader they were meant to be.
