We Live in an age where it seems that our value is based on the number of likes we receive on Instagram and the amount of friends we have on Facebook. I understand that we rely heavily on technology but feel that many of us use our beloved iPhones and Tablets more than we really need to. I am guilty, too, of spending free time binge-watching "Stranger Things" on Netflix and taking approximately 1,682 selfies until I find the one that I believe is Instagram-worthy. I am working on ways in which I can limit the amount of time I am spending on my various electronic devices.

One of the best things that I have ever done is go to sleep-away camp, and here's a little insight as to why.

Spending your summer away from a screen isn't mean

When I first started out at Camp Louise as a camper, I was shy, self-conscious and afraid to be on my own and away from my family and friends. I was placed in a bunk with one of my best friends but was still very much a little girl and felt very alone even when surrounded by my peers. I started going to camp before kids my age were given cell phones, so I can't necessarily relate to the separation anxiety young ones go through when they part with their beloved devices on the first day of camp. I did have to spend my summer away from the comforts of home and that was terrifying.

The fact that I didn't have access to a phone to call loved ones honestly was quite difficult at first. My counselors encouraged all the girls in my bunk to write home, which seemed tedious at first but became a skill I value to the utmost degree.

Camp encourages campers to document the events of the day and portray their feelings in a constructive manner, to their friends and family members.

I recounted my daily activities and events I partook in, through my letters and have grown as a writer as a result. Instead of spending our free periods listening to music or catching up on "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," my bunkmates and I bonded through games of jacks and slapjack. I truly believe that camp has taught me to appreciate the little things in life and letter writing is one of the little things in life that means the most.

Camp encourages kids to try new things and expand their horizons by stepping out of their comfort zone. Whether they attempt ziplining for the first time or master a new stroke at the pool, camp enables children to learn new things and gain confidence as a result.

Living the good

A quote that resonates throughout Camp Louise is to "live the good you learned here." Campers are encouraged to make friends and try new things. Staff members are seen around camp inspiring their campers to treat others with kindness, love, and acceptance. One of the major lessons I learned at camp is that everyone has a sparkle within and things that should be celebrated as well as embraced. Counselors help to find what makes each child special and do their part to celebrate what makes each individual unique, which I believe is a true treasure.

I know that camp isn't for everyone, but I feel that going to Camp Louise has shaped me into the young woman I am today. Because of the friends I made, the life lessons I've learned and the things I've tried as well as accomplished, I am proud of the individual I have become. I want to strive to be the best version of myself that I can be and want to encourage others to find goodness, seek goodness, and share goodness with all they encounter in life -- that, to me, is truly something special.
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