Take Risks Like a Teenager

Reflection on healthy risk-taking at camp, by Associate Executive Director, Jenna Johnson.

I recently watched Adriana Galvan’s TED Talk “3 reasons to take risks like a teenager” and was immediately hooked when it starts with comparing teens to superhumans and then tells us three reasons why we should be celebrating their “superpowers”.

These superpowers are not always admired, but perhaps what the 10 to 25 age group needs is a safe and supportive environment to learn how to use their superpowers in the best way they can.

At Camp Greenville, it is our goal to make sure we create an environment that is just that: a place where embracing uncertainty, feeling comfortable if you stumble, and being a strategic risk taker are supported and celebrated.

I invite you to spend 7 minutes enjoying Galvan’s TED Talk linked here, and then consider how the summer camp experience provides endless opportunities for healthy risk-taking and resilience-building for youth, teens, and young adults.

Embracing Uncertainty

Participating in summer camp is a new experience no matter how many times you attend. Even a return trip will have different variables where you will have to meet new people, try new activities, and eat new foods. Perhaps this is the first time campers are in charge of their day-to-day habits, communicating their needs, and asking questions about things they are unsure about. Campers are away from their typical routine, navigating different social dynamics, and learning how to live in a new community. These experiences may seem small, but they often require courage, vulnerability, and a willingness to step into the unknown.

There are many parts of life that are uncertain as we go through this adventure of life. Learning how to embrace uncertainty while at camp can give campers the tools and the confidence to implement the same superpowers in every day life.

Feeling Comfortable If You Stumble

Failure can be scary. So much so that it causes us to not even try in the first place. Camp Greenville keeps this in mind by supporting leaps of faith with guidance and encouragement. We don’t want failure to be feared, but seen as a necessary part of growth.

Surrounded by positive role models and a strong sense of community, campers are more likely to take that first step outside their comfort zone. Camp is an environment that emphasizes effort over perfection and connection over competition. And when mistakes happen—as they inevitably do—camp provides the space and support to reflect, try again, and grow.

Whether it’s forgetting a line in a skit, not getting to the top of the climbing wall, or navigating a tough conversation with a cabin mate, campers are constantly being given opportunities to test limits and learn from what does or doesn’t work. With support from counselors and peers, they can reflect, regroup, and try again. This creates a powerful learning environment where resilience, adaptability, and a stronger sense of self grow side by side.

Strategic Risk Taking

Camp Greenville offers campers a unique environment where healthy risk-taking is not just encouraged but a part of everyday life. Camp provides a community where campers learn that risk-taking doesn’t have to be reckless to be rewarding. In a safe and supervised setting, risk becomes less about danger and more about discovery. Campers learn that stepping outside of their comfort zone is not only possible, but powerful.

By the end of the week, they return home more self-assured and open to new challenges. Most importantly, they possess a deeper understanding of their own capabilities and the courage to pursue them.

A Community of Support

The 10 to 25 age group really does have incredible superpowers. We can all reflect on how to learn from them; but, to start with, how can we best support them? Overnight camp allows a unique environment where all of these superpowers can be tested, supported, and merged together to truly enhance a camper’s well being far beyond their week at camp. At Camp Greenville, we want kids, teens, and young adults to be bold and be adventurous. We want you to discover things about yourself and others. We want you to learn from trial and error. Whether you “win” or not, there will be someone there celebrating you, because this a safe space to try.