Raising Multidimensional Boys in a Complex World
December 4, 2025
Why “Today’s Boy” Needs a Space to Drop the Mask
As a Camp Director, and as a parent, I hear the hesitation in prospective parents’ voices all the time. They love the idea of camp; the outdoors, the activities, the time spent without screens and the independence. But when they get to the words “All-Boys Camp,” it causes some parents to pause.
In today’s cultural climate, the concept of an all-boys environment for some, can raise concern or questions. Parents worry about hyper-masculinity, aggressive behavior or an environment where their son might feel pressured to be someone he isn’t. They worry that their kind, funny, multidimensional son will get crushed by a “tough guy” culture.
I am here to tell you that at Camp Winaukee, the exact opposite is true.
The Paradox of the All-Boys Environment
Here is the secret that most people don’t realize until they step onto our shores on Lake Winnipesaukee: When you remove gender dynaics from the equation, the pressure boys often feel to be “tough” often disappears.
In co-ed settings (like school), boys are often performing. They are posturing for attention, trying to look cool, and terrified of looking foolish. They put on a “mask” of what they think a boy should be.
But at Winaukee, that mask drops.
Without the social pressure they face at home and school to impress, boys become freer. They become goofier. They are louder, yes, but they are also softer. In an all-boys environment, we see high-level athletes embrace a friend and cry as they say goodbye. We see 13-year-olds cheering the loudest for the boy who is trying waterskiing for the first time and failing. We see boys hugging each other freely when they score a goal . . . and when they miss one.
A Place for the Multidimensional Boy
We talk a lot about “Today’s Boy.” Today’s boy is complex. He might be a fierce competitor on the soccer field, but he might also be quiet and thoughtful. He might love loud cheering in the dining hall, but also need downtime to read a book.
At Winaukee, we don’t ask him to choose.
Our philosophy is “Side-by-Side.” It’s a simple phrase, but it dictates everything we do. It means that no matter who you are, you have a place in the circle. You are supported.
When a boy realizes he doesn’t have to posture to be accepted, he gains a profound sense of confidence. He learns that he can be competitive and kind. He can be brave and vulnerable.
The Ultimate Freedom
Giving your son a summer at an all-boys camp isn’t about separating him from reality; it’s about giving him a break from the performance of reality. It is a few precious weeks where he can just be a boy, in all his messy, wonderful, multidimensional glory.
If you are looking for a place where your son can take off the armor he wears at school and just breathe, he belongs at Winaukee.
