Scheduling Unscheduled Time at Camp, And Why It Is Essential

July 30th, 2026

In our modern, high-achieving world, a child’s life is often a masterpiece of logistics. Between competitive sports, music lessons, or tutoring, every hour of their day is optimized for achievement. At the same time, game consoles and on-demand TV often usurp free play and are constantly present to fill the gaps that used to be filled with some of the boredom that led children into self-directed play. As a result, the “free play” that defined previous generations has shrunk to a much smaller part of childhood and can sometimes feel like a luxury to today’s child.

At Pierce Camp Birchmont, we certainly have a robust and professional schedule of activities. However, we also believe that some of the most profound growth happens during our intentionally scheduled blocks of unstructured time.

Whether it’s the “Rest Hour” that occurs every day after lunch, smaller breaks around meal times, or our dedicated “Option Sunday” afternoons, these blocks of time are a vital part of the Birchmont curriculum. Here is why providing unscheduled time in a child’s schedule is essential for their development.

1. Free Play Is The Engine of Creativity

When a child is handed a tablet or a pre-set activity, their imagination is in the passenger seat. But when a group of campers is given an hour of unstructured time, their creativity takes the wheel.

I’ve watched campers turn a few fallen branches into an elaborate village or invent their own sports. A perennial favorite at Birchmont is “Roof Ball”, a game that wasn’t created by a coach or a director, but emerged naturally from the campers themselves during their free time. This isn’t just passing time; it is the development of divergent thinking. By having the space to decide what to do next, children learn how to generate their own ideas rather than just consuming the ideas of others.

2. Building Social Intelligence in the Gaps

During Rest Hour, children are the primary navigators of their own social world. They are allowed to rest in the bunk, roam freely within their respective camp areas (Boys’ Camp or Girls’ Camp), or engage in spontaneous pickup games of tennis or basketball.

In these moments, children mediate their own interactions and organize the fun. Campers have to negotiate the rules of their games, decide who is on which team, and resolve the small, daily frictions of communal living. These unstructured moments are where true social intelligence is built. Campers learn the art of compromise, the value of leadership, and how to read the room—skills that are increasingly rare in an over-monitored world.

We train our counselors to allow this to happen and to only intervene and guide as necessary. Sure, this actually creates a little more work for us since managing this time is slightly more complex than organized activities, but we feel that the benefits it provides our campers and the depth it brings to the camp experience is well worth it.

3. Developing Executive Function

Executive function is the ability to plan, organize, and execute tasks. In an overscheduled life, a child’s executive function often goes dormant because someone else (a parent, a coach, a teacher) is doing the planning for them.

During Option Sunday, a camper has to ask themselves: “How do I want to spend my afternoon? Who do I want to play with? What equipment do I need to ask for?” This self-directed planning is a major milestone in a child’s journey toward independence. It allows them to practice being the “CEO of their own time” in a safe, supportive environment.

4. Recalibrating the Nervous System

Unstructured time allows for a mental reset. In a world of constant performance and external evaluation, children need moments where nothing is being graded or tracked.

This isn’t about doing nothing; it’s about doing something purely for the joy of it. Whether it’s a quiet conversation between cabinmates on the bunk porch, reading a book under a tree, or a spontaneous game of catch, this downtime reduces the performance anxiety that so many children carry today. It teaches them that their value isn’t just tied to their achievements, but also to their presence and their friendships.

The Director’s Perspective

We want our campers to leave Birchmont as creators, not just participants.

As a child development professional, the irony of scheduling unscheduled time is certainly not lost on me. By protecting these blocks of unstructured time, we are giving our campers the chance to discover their own interests, build deeper friendships, and learn that they have the internal resources to navigate their own world.

We provide the setting and the safety, but the campers provide the magic. I can’t wait to see what games and memories they create this summer in the “white space” of Rest Hour, Option Sunday, and all those little moments camp provides for kids to just be kids.

Yours in camping,

Will Pierce

Owner/Director, Pierce Camp Birchmont

The Birchmont Pillars: How We Build a Summer of Significance

June 14th, 2026

In the world of summer camping, people often focus on the “what”. The beautiful lake, or if the tennis courts are lit, or the number of activities. But at the best camps, like Birchmont, the most important focus is on the “why.”

Everything we do is built upon two foundational pillars: Community and Confidence. These aren’t just abstract ideas; they are active principles that guide every interaction, from the moment a camper steps off the bus and attends the lighting of their first campfire at Firelight, to the final embers of our closing campfire at Candlelight.

As I look toward the upcoming season, I want to share how these two pillars define the Birchmont experience.

Pillar I: Community

“There are no strangers within, only friends waiting to be met.”

Our camp motto is boldly emblazoned on a large sign right in the front of camp and is often the first thing everyone who arrives at Birchmont sees. But its true power lies in how our campers and counselors live it every day. In a world that can often feel fragmented, we provide a space where belonging is the default setting.

Building a true community is an intentional act. In my role as a speaker at American Camp Association conferences, I often speak about the intentional social architecture of camp. At Birchmont, this means:

The Bunk Family: Creating a micro-community where children learn to support one another, share space, celebrate each other’s successes, resolve conflicts when they arise, and lift each other up after a failure.
Being Part of Something that is Larger than Themselves: From our youngest campers to our most veteran staff, there is a shared thread of tradition in which we all partake. At our first campfire this summer, I will be sure to mention that 75 years ago, campers who are now older than their grandparents sat around this very same fire doing exactly what we are doing now. Imagining people their grandparents’ age as children always blows a few young minds, but it also makes everyone realize that they are part of something much larger than themselves.
Inclusivity by Design: We teach our campers that true friendship isn’t a closed circle; it’s an open invitation. When we are in a safe space to remove the barriers of strangerhood, we can allow children to develop the social intelligence and empathy that will serve them for a lifetime.

Pillar II: Confidence

“What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?”

At our very first Quiet Hour of the summer, we ask every camper this question. It is a challenge to set a goal for their time with us; not a goal defined by achievement, but one defined by the courage to make the attempt.

True confidence isn’t the absence of fear; it is the willingness to try something new despite it. We believe that a premier camp experience should be a brave space to take safe risks. We create an atmosphere where the stakes start off low, but the rewards of personal growth are high.

The Freedom to Fail: Whether it’s climbing to the top of the rock wall or auditioning for the camp play, we encourage campers to stretch. Because we have first built a supportive Community (Pillar I), campers can feel confident enough to take those risks.
Competence Leads to Confidence: When a child learns to hit a golf ball or get up on waterskis, they aren’t just gaining a skill; they are gathering evidence of their own capability.
The Goal-Setting Journey: By asking that Quiet Hour question, we empower campers to take ownership of their summer. We aren’t telling them who to be; we are asking them to ask themselves who they want to become.

The Director’s Perspective

When you combine a welcoming Community with the pursuit of Confidence, magic happens. You see a camper who arrived hesitant suddenly making a new friend or performing in the talent show. You see a child who was unsure of their swimming ability suddenly passing their deep-water test.

Kristie and I believe that these two pillars are what make Birchmont summers so transformative. We don’t just want our campers to have a great summer; we want them to return home with a stronger sense of who they are and a deeper appreciation for the people around them.

As we prepare for the 2026 season, I invite you to ask your own child that same question: “What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?” Their answer might be the start of their greatest summer yet.

Yours in camping,

Will Pierce

Owner/Director, Pierce Camp Birchmont

Why Should I Send My Child to a Co-Ed Overnight Camp This Summer?

October 5th, 2022

Co-ed camps offer a comfortable family atmosphere that is simply not attainable at unisex camps, or separate camps which bill themselves as Brother/Sister camps to attract siblings.

Birchmont activities are both single sex and co-ed depending on the activity: While Birchmont’s athletics are not co-ed, we do host a range of special events, activities, trips and meals which are co-ed. Our campers share the facilities, and pass each other throughout their day, emphasizing an “at-ease” atmosphere rather than stressing the absence of a particular gender.

Promotes healthy relationships: Co-ed overnight camps provide a unique opportunity for children to interact with peers of the opposite gender in a safe and supportive environment. This can help them develop healthy relationships and learn how to communicate and collaborate with others.

Strengthens family bonds: Many siblings and cousins have found great common ground at Birchmont, and the shared experience is one which will carry them through years and distance. The idea of spending one visiting day together as a family, without the logistics of visiting two camps, should not be underestimated.

Feeling connected, accomplished, and making friends is what camp life is all about…no matter your gender.

How A Screen-Free Summer Helps Kids Be Better Friends

May 7th, 2022

In today’s digital age, children are spending more and more time in front of screens, whether it’s watching TV, playing video games, or using social media. While technology has its benefits, it’s important for children to have a break from screens, especially during the summer months when they have more free time. Here are some ways a screen-free summer can help kids be better friends:

Encourages face-to-face interactions: When children are not distracted by screens, they are more likely to engage in face-to-face interactions with their friends. This can help build stronger connections and improve social skills such as communication, empathy, and problem-solving.

Fosters creativity: Without the constant stimulation of screens, children are forced to find other ways to occupy their time. This can lead to more imaginative play and creative activities, which can foster a sense of camaraderie among friends as they work together to create and explore.

Builds independence: When children are not constantly entertained by screens, they are forced to rely on themselves and their friends for entertainment. This can help build independence and encourage children to take the initiative to plan and execute their own activities, which can lead to a greater sense of accomplishment and confidence.

Promotes physical activity: Screen time often leads to a sedentary lifestyle, which can have negative impacts on physical health. A screen-free summer encourages children to be more active and engage in outdoor activities with friends, which can improve physical health and well-being while also strengthening friendships.

Reduces social comparison: Social media can create pressure for children (and especially teens!) to compare themselves to their peers, which can be detrimental to self-esteem and lead to feelings of jealousy or inadequacy. A screen-free summer can provide a break from this constant social comparison and allow children to focus on building authentic relationships with their friends.

In conclusion, a screen-free summer can have many benefits for children, including improved social skills, creativity, independence, physical health, and self-esteem. By spending more time engaging in face-to-face interactions, being active, and using their imaginations, children can build stronger friendships and develop important life skills.