Supervised but Undirected Free Play

Some of our activities, such as archery, are one hundred percent structured. In archery, all the shooters do exactly as they are told 100% of the time. Safety is the main reason for conducting archery sessions in this way. Another is that becoming skilled at archery requires intensive instruction to develop good form.

However, undirected supervised free play is also an important part of Devil's Gulch Ranch. Please take a moment to read this section to be sure you understand our philosophy and why we choose to give our campers ample time to explore a creek, run up a hill and roll down it, or just use their imagination. We do not consider these activities to be wasted time. We firmly believe that many of the activities that take place during free play are the essential "work" of childhood.

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I am returning to Devil’s Gulch this year for my fourth summer. I go every year because it means a lot to me that there is still a place where there is fun to be had that doesn’t involve electronics. People get lots out of Devil’s Gulch because of everything they learn there.

Andy Gardner 11 years old

In today’s world of standardized testing, TV, and electronic toys, children have very little time for just being kids and engaging in real self-directed free play. Many parents and education specialists worry that children are losing opportunities for character development and interpersonal skills.

In the January 2007 issue of Pediatrics*, Kenneth R. Ginsburg, MD, MS Ed., starts off. "Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth." Playing a directed game with learning objectives is not enough. Children need undirected self-initiated free play. Ginsburg continues, "Undirected play allows children to learn how to work in groups, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and to learn self-advocacy skills. When play is allowed to be child driven, children practice decision-making skills, move at their own pace, discover their own areas of interest, and ultimately engage fully in the passions they wish to pursue."

Make no mistake: free play is not free time for our staff. There is always a staff person to make sure the kids stay safe, but we work at not hindering their play, creativity or imagination during this time..

Devil's Gulch Ranch,