A few recent notable trends among American boys include a decline in academics and close friendships, and an increase in disciplinary action and exposure to harmful influencer content. While not always a predictor of success, these trends still point to risks parents should be aware of.

But what if a way to help boys thrive is already available to us via all-boys summer camps?

Being in nature and regular exercise benefit everyone’s mental health and are core to most camps. But according to experts, all-boys summer camps—many of which now embrace gender inclusivity—are uniquely suited to benefit boys in three ways:

Parents recently spoke with experts to better understand how these camps can actually help counteract troubling trends among boys, and how families can make the best decision for them. 

Zac Seidler, clinical psychologist and global director of men's health research at the Movember Institute for Men’s Health, explains that boys have shown a level of discomfort and uncertainty around making in-person connections, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.

This likely contributes to an increase in screen time. But Seidler says residential summer camps’ strict no-screen policies can help to make the reintroduction of in-person interactions more seamless.

“There's real power in filling that void with something healthy that builds an emotional muscle for them,” Seidler tells Parents. He also notes it's easier to place some structure around technology when everyone else at camp is going to be screen-free as well, adding, “I think it's actually the healthiest way of getting boys offline."

Michael G. Thompson, PhD, a child developmental psychologist, who trains counselors and staff at several all-boys camps, notes the emphasis placed on selecting effective counselors is essential. Counselors who provide deep kindness and empathy to campers model healthier, more expansive examples of masculinity to boys.

“It's a magic combination,” says Dr. Thompson. “There's nobody that an 11 or 12-year-old boy admires more than a 21-year-old young man.”

Thompson believes the magic lies in the dramatic difference in physical appearance and maturity levels between campers and counselors, but the relatively small gap in their ages.

“The boys think, ‘I can be that in a few years,’” he says.

This is particularly important in light of a new study from the Movember Institute of Men’s Health that found 60% of American boys engage with masculinity influencers (like Andrew Tate) on a regular basis.

Krista Fisher, one of Movember’s researchers, explained that boys are likely drawn to this content because the influencers talk to their audience like a "cool big brother" and, as a result, boys end up seeing them as role models. But this hypermasculine content has also been found to increase feelings of worthlessness, depression, restlessness, sadness, and nervousness in boys who engage with it.

On the other hand, Seidler believes that having healthy, well-trained role models like a camp counselor, can have the opposite effect.

“There is a retraining and relearning that can happen when boys have a number of weeks with a ‘real guy’ in front of them,” he says.

When campers hear counselors talk about their own lives, relationships, and challenges it illustrates the multifaceted reality of masculinity: there is no single way to be a man.

“Boys need real-life offline figures who can speak to the messiness of manhood,” says Seidler.

The investment that camps make to educate counselors also reflects the moral and ethical guidance they provide to campers more broadly. Most camps have a set of mottos or rules that are meant to help campers navigate life’s challenges at camp and in society.

Take for example Camp Becket YMCA, an all-boys summer camp in Massachusetts. The camp’s mottos, which are posted all over the grounds include:

These types of lessons can be foundational to how boys grow into men. Dr. Thompson interviewed two men in their 50s who attended Camp Becket as children and, decades after their camp days, still referred to themselves as “Becket Boys.”

They said the moral lessons they learned at the all-boys camp became a foundational part of their moral compasses as adults.

An all-boys camp, of course, isn't going to be a good fit for every family. But if you do want to go that route, selecting one you're comfortable with takes a bit of research up front.

The American Camp Association lists 119 accredited all-boys camps nationwide. While parents can use the association’s database to find camps that match certain criteria like location, cost, and special needs, Thompson suggests taking a simpler and more effective route: ask the people in your community for recommendations.

From there, he advises having a conversations with camp directors about their approaches and the values of their camps. If costs are a concern, it’s also a good time to bring up financial aid, which is something that many camps now offer. 

It is also worth noting that Dr. Thompson thinks boys should only be sent to single gender camps if they attend co-ed schools during the academic year, noting that both co-ed and single gender experiences are vital for children’s development.

Choosing between sleepaway (or residential) camps and day camps can be important as well. Dr. Thompson says it certainly provides a more intensive and holistic experience while also giving boys the opportunity to fully disconnect from all technology for the length of their stay. But if they are not ready for the full experience away from home, Dr. Thompson says boys can still get some of the same benefits from day camps.

Providing boys with experiences like all-boys summer camps opens up an environment where boys and men are allowed to express the full breadth and depth of their humanity. Once this foundation is established, it becomes easier for parents and educators to build upon through supportive conversations.

“Boys can see that this [way of living] is something they want to fight for rather than feeling like it's thrust upon them,” says Seidler. “If you provide them that sense of autonomy, they will find a way to make better choices.”