Reflecting on Summer Camps
We are in the midst of change, moving into fall. I ask myself, “What have I let bloom so far this season?” This question brings me into reflection on the summer camps for children ages 4–7—two joyful, nature-based camps centered on honoring selfhood. I call this the living compass of being human: agency, autonomy, and sovereignty.
Supporting children in honoring their full selves also honors nature itself. Moreover, staying rooted in their being allows them to move through the world with purpose, guided by their own inner compass, in relationship with others—without losing their center.
Nature is a web of diverse connections. For example, each being acts from its own truth while supporting the greater whole. When children stay connected to their inner compass, they remain connected to their nature center—a living recognition that they are part of nature, not separate from it.
The Living Compass: Agency, Autonomy, Sovereignty
Summer camp provided the perfect ground to mentor this relationship. In addition, it offered a place where the seeds of connection could be sown and tended. To support a child’s agency, autonomy, and sovereignty, three core values took root and began to flourish:
- Take care of yourself.
- Take care of each other.
- Take care of this place.
Learning to care for oneself begins early in life. Self-care isn’t only about eating, drinking, or using the restroom. It also means understanding feelings, trusting intuition, setting boundaries, and nurturing emotional well-being.
Children need space, a sense of safety, and steady support. Furthermore, they need this energy reflected back to them. As their naturalist and summer camp host, I mirrored that care. Camp provided the perfect environment for them to embody the first core value: Take care of yourself.
Nurturing Selfhood and Belonging
Agency declares: “I can do things. I can act.” Similarly, a child might think: “I can try things on my own. I can get a drink, feed my hunger, use the restroom, and make things happen.”
Autonomy says: “I get to make choices.” Children might say: “I can think for myself. I can make safe and kind choices.”
Sovereignty states: “I am the boss of my body and my heart. I fully own who I am.” Children might reflect: “I am important just the way I am. I know what feels good and safe for me. I get to say yes or no.”
I intentionally created a space where children could listen to their feelings, needs, and choices, rather than follow a rigid schedule. As a result, their agency, autonomy, and sovereignty guided the experience. This approach fostered a deep sense of belonging:
“I belong here because I can act, choose, and fully be who I am.”
Shy children became seen, learning became an adventure, and discovery beyond comfort zones felt safe.
Lessons for Adults: Reconnecting with the Inner Child
Perhaps what we nurture in children is the healing many of us longed for. Consequently, reclaiming our own agency, autonomy, and sovereignty reconnects us with our inner child—restoring the parts that were overlooked, silenced, or shaped by systems that demanded conformity.
When we lovingly support children in staying whole, we are invited to do the same for ourselves. Therefore, rooted in selfhood, we no longer need to grasp, control, or project onto others to feel safe or worthy. From this inner clarity, we can meet others in mutual, respectful, and supportive ways.
Interdependence and Caring for the World
When we teach: Take care of each other or Take care of this place, we affirm what children already learned by taking care of themselves. True care for others begins with self-awareness. From this space, helping others—or the Earth—is not about fixing, managing, or controlling. It is about coexisting in shared respect.
At camp, children were encouraged to live this expression of interdependence, grounded in selfhood, just as it occurs in nature.
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