College Prep Camps Teach Teens How To Handle Peer Pressure

Teens today face more pressure than any generation has before; pressure from school, parents, their future, and especially their friends. For the past 28 years, SuperCamp’s academic summer camps and Quantum U’s college prep camps have instilled learning and life skills to thousands of kids and teens to help them cope with the reality of pressure, especially peer-pressure.

SuperCamp teaches teens how to stand up for what is right and avoid negative influences without causing added drama. During the 10-day program, students are shown how to step up out of their comfort zone and stand up for what they believe in. Many problems occur for teens because no one wants to take a stand and speak out about how they feel. This type of boldness takes courage that many teens aren’t willing to exert in fear of being rejected by their peers.

There may be one alpha personality among a teen’s group of friends who dominates the rest of the group – the one who stirs others into action. That’s great. However, when this person wants other teens to do something they’re not comfortable with, it’s important for them to speak up. Chances are that they are not the only person in the group who feels uncomfortable. Others may share their opinion, but are hoping someone else will take the lead and speak out.

To ‘Just say no’, SuperCamp teaches students how to state their position firmly, while avoiding ways to put the other person suggesting the activity on the spot. Calmly stating “I don’t want to drink” is better than “No, thanks; I don’t want to end up like you.” They are taught to always avoid personal attack – to make the activity the issue, not the person.

If this doesn’t work, SuperCamp participants also learn ways to ignore the situation. When someone comes up with a zany plan they don’t want to be a part of, it is sometimes easiest to pretend they never heard it. They learn that if they turn up the radio or pretend to be concentrating on a task or another conversation, the other person will likely take the hint and the idea is likely to be dropped.

Blaming the parents is another common tactic to avoiding peer-pressure. This is one time, in a teen’s mind, that a parent’s rules can come in handy. A teen can say, “No way! If my parents find out, I won’t leave the house for a month! It’s not worth the risk.”

Campers learn that no matter the strategy they choose, they can feel proud knowing that they have the capability to say no to peer-pressure. What is popular isn’t always right, and what is right isn’t always popular; it takes courage and self-respect. The more they stand up for themselves, however, the more their courage and self confidence will grow. Their peer-respect will also grow from those thankful that they not only stood up for themselves and for what is right, but for their friends as well.

SuperCamp summer enrichment programs are filling up quickly for the 2010 summer season, but there are still some sessions still available. To learn more about SuperCamp curriculum, summer camp locations, and enrollment information, parents can call 1-800-28-LEARN, or visit www.SuperCamp.com.