Gender Issues

5 Ways To Make Your Office More Welcoming for People of All Gender Identities

At Camp Kupugani, our multicultural overnight summer camp in northwest Illinois, we’re all about appreciating all aspects of diversity–not just of race, ethnicity, and religion, but also regarding gender identity and expression. We want our campers and entire community to be inclusive and welcoming to all. We recently came across an article regarding how employers and colleagues can respectfully make their workplace welcoming to folks of all gender identities. Check out our quick summary below, and read the full article here. Do your own research. Use the internet for good […]

Amplifying Women During Women’s History Month

Our Midwest overnight summer camp–located near Madison, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois–offers girls-only, boys-only and blended (intentionally co-ed) sessions. National Women’s Day is celebrated annually in March. As a camp that was started as a girls empowerment camp, we are always mindful of empowering our female-identifying campers and staff. A recent article by the folks at DDI Worldwide has a good take on 4 Power Moves to Amplify Women on International Women’s Day. See below for bullets and/or read the full article here. Power Moves to Amplify Women Declare yourself. Don’t […]

7 Ways to Empower Women and Girls

Camp Kupugani is our Midwest summer camp offering girls-only, boys-only and blended (intentionally coed) overnight sessions. We focus on giving girls a place where they can be themselves and be empowered to grow into their best personal versions. We not only want to empower our campers to be their best but also to help better our world outside of camp. A recent blog from World Vision had some tips on how to empower women generally. Check out our notes below and read the full article here. Empower Women Provide the […]

Ways to Help Girls Become Strong Women

At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest summer camp near Madison, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois, 14 years ago, we started with a girls-only session (later growing to include boys-only and blended (intentionally coed) sessions). Our focus was then (and continues to be) to give girls a safe place to be themselves, being mindful of sometimes-limiting societal pressures. We want all of our strong campers to be proud of who they are as they are (while also striving to improve to be their best selves). Check out this article from Greater Good Magazine […]

8 Ways to Empower Your Girl

In 2007, Camp Kupugani, our Midwest overnight summer camp (near Chicago and Madison, Wisconsin) started with a single two-week girls-only camp focused on the empowerment of young ladies. Although we now offer boys-only, blended (intentionally co-ed), and a girls-only session, we are continually mindful to empower your girl(s). We want every family to feel powerfully connected with their girl(s). A recent article described eight things you should do to empower your girl; check out our bullets below. Empower Girls By: Believing in her. Be her biggest fan. If she doesn’t […]

10 Ways to Improve Body Image

At our summer camp outside of Chicago, Illinois, we emphasize empowerment by appreciating ourselves and doing the same for others. At a conference some years ago, there was a good panel discussion regarding how to improve body image. Here are ten great takeaways: (1) Before you look in the mirror, think positively. (2) Stop comparing yourself to others. (3) Nurture your inner self. (4) Wear clothes in which you feel comfortable. (5) Take risks to challenge yourself. (6) Make a “why I like myself” list. (7) Spend time with people […]

Beware the Pernicious Effects of Advertising on Girls

Especially with the season of consumerism upon us, it’s worth being especially mindful of the pernicious effects of advertising, especially on girls. Sociologist Christine Carter has a good post on the subject, including: the elevation of the status of “slut” the negative impact on self-esteem and body image increased objectification by males of girls (and women) Check out the whole post here: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/market_victoria_secret#When:09:00:00Z Keep Up to Date Have access to incredible articles and keep up to date with all Camp Kupugani life here!

Minimize Effects of Gender Bias on Your Daughter

At our girl summer camp programs near Chicago, we have always been about empowering young women. As we put it, we exist for girls as they are so they imagine the women they can become. Lynn Johnson of Go Girls! wrote a recent blog detailing how gender bias negatively impacts young women. Below are some takeaways from the article, with tips on how you can minimize the effects of gender bias. The whole piece is available at this link: http://blog.spotlightgirls.com/gender-bias-is-hijacking-our-girls-right-to-lead-what-to-do 65% of Americans believe that women are more compassionate leaders […]

Positive Girl Culture & Friendships

During the all-girls sessions of our Midwest summer camp, we bring girls together from different cliques, grades, neighborhoods and life experiences. For many, our camp is the first and sometimes only positive all-female environment they have encountered. Trust and respect is emphasized in order to model new ways to form female friendships. In an all-girl environment, youth are given opportunity to practice leadership in our cabins and teams through leading activities, actively engaging in discussions, building consensus, and setting meaningful goals collectively and individually. I am strong, kind and smart, […]

Complimenting without Bring in Beauty

I recently read a blog post by Chicago Tribune staffer Heidi Stevens, emphasizing some of what we try to do at our girls summer camp to focus on character development. Please see below for excerpts from her piece, “Can we compliment each other without bringing beauty into it?” “Your hair looks beautiful and so do you,” reads the first Facebook comment beneath a photo [a friend] posted of herself at the Roman Colosseum. We bring [Facebook comments] around to appearance an awful lot of the time, particularly when the photos […]

How to Enhance Your Daughter’s Future

Our son Mico had a soccer game yesterday (in which he and his team played very well…but that’s not the point). His team is coached by a now-sixteen year-old girl, who has been coaching his team for several years now, since she was thirteen. (Her little sister also plays on the team.) She is confident, assertive, caring, great with the kids on the team who play very hard, practice very hard, learn a lot, and have a ton of fun. Clearly, her parents avoided doing any of the child development […]

Importance of Girls Camps Given Societal Issues

If you’re an NFL fan at all, lately there has been a lot of attention surrounding the league’s treatment of players with allegations of domestic violence. While the controversy has had potential good points, like the increased attention regarding the dearth of women in decision-making positions in the league, it has highlighted just how far the league, and American society generally, has in regards to issues that significantly impact women. For me, it underscores the importance of continuing to foster environments where girls and young women can strengthen themselves. It […]