With something like 10,000 camps in the United States, parents often feel over-whelmed when it comes to choosing a summer experience for their teen.

Many teens are reluctant to try anything new, feeling that they might not fit in, might make a fool of themselves or because they will have to leave the “comfort zone” of their neighborhood, or the camp they have attended for the past several years.  While returning to a camp year after year may be fun, it usually doesn’t do much for expanding horizons and developing new skills.

The teen years are a time of preparation for adulthood – a time to expand ones circle of friendship and develop skills which will last a lifetime.  Attendance at a traditional residential camp is great for introducing a child to many recreational pursuits, but in most cases doesn’t provide opportunities to advance very far in any given  skill area.

These days there is a wealth of opportunity for teens to concentrate in an area of interest.

There are camps for kayaking, mountain biking, photography, foreign languages, rock climbing, soccer, windsurfing, theater and a host of other activities.

The Columbia Gorge Teen Camps were created to add to these opportunities.  The Columbia Gorge is in the heart of America’s outdoor paradise…snow-capped peaks, ancient forests, raging rivers and crystal-clear lakes.  Combine this setting with experienced outdoor educators and world class outdoor athletes and you have the formula for a first-class outdoor recreation experience.

Campers will be arriving from as far away as Russia and Japan to further their interest in climbing and mountaineering, windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, photography, backpacking, canoeing, etc.  Future years will see the addition of other activities such as mountain biking and kayaking.

Several on-line camp directories cater to teens and their parents, just do a search for teen camps, or more specifically teen theater camps, or teen climbing camps, etc.   You will be amazed at the opportunities that exist.

For further information, give a call to Jan Mayer (801) 679-9099 or go to www.columbiagorgeteencamps.com.

About Robert Hanson

Mr. Hanson is recognized as an expert on camps for teens with many, many years of experience. His background includes: