Touch Grass: How Summer Camp Reconnects Us to Our Authentic Self

Last month, I wrote a blog post about the importance of honoring one’s authentic self. We talk a lot about that at camp – about being exactly who you are. But how a teenager, or anyone, gets to “know” that authentic self in order to “be” that, is a whole other topic.

Emotions live in our physical bodies and reveal the key to uncovering what feels authentic to us. In the same way that a muscle may be sore from too much of the same exercise, or that fire in the pit of your belly may be trying to tell you that a boundary may need to be put up. Our physical world holds the key to finding our truest selves – and I worry about how many teens live outside of the physical world.

The sense of “home” and of belonging and of being really fully understood can’t be found in virtual land.  Our connection to others starts with an understanding of, and connection with, our emotions and they live in our physical bodies. And so when teens on the internet say, “touch grass,” — I think that’s more than just a funny meme

At OTC, we don’t allow teens to use any device that connects to the internet. This can be challenging for a teen who has used their electronics to avoid the very real anxiety of being around new people and not knowing quite what to say. Social anxiety exists within all of us – and unfortunately, the only way to move through that feeling and get over it is to be present with it. How many of us avoid awkward conversations or hard feelings by escaping into the virtual world?

I grew up in the 1990s, and in my perception of reality, I’ve always viewed the physical world and the virtual world as two separate places. My concept of self, the self known by my closest relationships in the real world, feels very separate from my online persona.

My fear is that many of us are slipping out of the physical world and existing more and more in the virtual world. I think a big part of our initiation into adulthood in this society is, in many ways, leaving the physical world behind. Children are extremely in tune with their bodies and emotions – they know exactly what makes them feel joy, what makes them mad, and how to find their creativity. Somewhere in teenagerland, we have to adapt to what society expects of us instead of honoring our joy. Disconnecting from the body so that we don’t even hear the whispers coming from our deepest emotions, telling us about our authentic truth makes a lot of sense.

I believe that a week or two weeks or five weeks in the beautiful Berkshire mountains, surrounded by wonderful people who care deeply about how you feel and what that feeling says about how you want to be treated and how you’d like to live, can do wonders for any human being.

At Odyssey Teen Camp, bringing your consciousness back to the physical world is easy. Maybe a beaver crosses your path, or an owl circles your cabin, and everyone jumps to catch a glimpse. Being surrounded by nature and each other, free of the distracting virtual world, reminds us that true happiness and connection are all about honoring what your body and emotions are trying to tell you. The key to unlocking our highest potential is getting back in touch with our true selves.

Leaving the phone at home for a few weeks is TOUGH, we get it. But it’s all worth it. And it’s because we want to meet YOU. We want the real you so that our community can connect with each other in a real, authentic way. Come to OTC! Touch grass! Your true self is waiting for you.