Kupugani Blog
10 Tips for Raising Non-Materialistic Children
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest summer camp near both Chicago and Madison, we’re all about partnering with parents to give resources to help raise amazing world changers. Check out this article by Penny Pinchin' Mom and our bulleted take on how to raise non-materialistic children. Spend time with your kids Gifts can never replace your attention Don’t go overboard with presents at celebrations Make celebrations more about the memories Do breakfast in bed Dessert for breakfast Fill their room with balloons ...
More Details8 Steps to Personal Empowerment
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest summer camp near Chicago and Madison, one of our core values is empowerment. At camp, we empower our campers in varied ways. For adults and kids not camp, we came across an article from entrepreneur.com with some great empowerment tools. Read our bulleted takeaways below, and/or click here to read the full article. Be open to possibilities Believe in yourself Find that place where anything and everything is possible Be open-minded Focus on who you are Try something even if you don’t think you can do it “Everyone was once...
More Details10 Truths Middle Schoolers Should Know
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest overnight summer camp near Chicago and Madison, we help kids become the best version of themselves through empowerment and play-based education. Away from camp, middle school can be a struggle for even the best-prepared child (and family). We came across an article recently with some helpful tips on how to navigate those challenging middle school years. Bullets below, with the full article from Kari Kampakis here. Today’s most awkward moments will be tomorrow’s funniest memories. Keep a sense of humor whenever possible. A sense of humor puts all thi...
More Details5 Ways Camp Helps with Character Development
Summer camps have long been connected with the personal growth of children. Many of today’s young adults struggle with the transition from home to college. Camp Kupugani, our overnight summer camp in the Midwest, can help prep your child for a good transition (and hopefully not to return to live in your basement in their middle age). See below for how our camp specifically can help your child(ren) be more successful in this transition period. Bullets below adapted from an article from the American Camp Association, with the full article here. Helps your child use community resour...
More DetailsWhy—and How—Parents Should Help Teens Develop a Healthy Understanding of Sex
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest overnight summer camp near Chicago and Madison, we strive to empower our campers by having them get reliable life information from good sources. As a recent Washington Post article (at this link) posited: “In a culture where abstinence-only programs have taken the place of real sex education, and where many teens lack the resources to prevent pregnancies or STIs, let alone the ability to deal with these situations if they occur, it is common for teens to feel shame, fear and anxiety about sexuality. And many feel like they cannot turn to adults for help when t...
More DetailsHelp Kids Understand Consent & Prevent Sexual Assault
Camp Director Kevin Gordon recently read Chessy Prout’s I Have the Right To: A High School Survivor's Story of Sexual Assault, Justice, and Hope, documenting her title story. It raised for Kevin the issue of the importance of people of ages learning about and respecting the issue of consent. Indeed, at Camp Kupugani, our overnight summer camp about two hours west of Chicago and 90 minutes south of Madison, a top priority is the safety of our campers. Safety relates to physical and emotional safety, and the autonomy and respect of one’s own body and the bodies of others. A recent Washi...
More Details10 Ways to Positively Influence Your Teen
At Camp Kupugani, our lovely summer camp in the Midwest (about 2 hours from Chicago and 90 minutes from Madison, Wisconsin), we care about children of all ages, and want each child to be the best version of themselves. We also know that--if parents and teens are each doing their jobs as parents and teens--it can be challenging for each to connect positively. It is critical for any child, and especially with teens, especially) that they feel heard and respected. A couple of good articles from the good folks at the Greater Good captures well some solutions. Bullets below, with the the full t...
More Details11 Ways To Be an Even More Amazing Parent
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest summer camp nestled in the woods about two hours west of Chicago and ninety minutes south of Madison, we appreciate the parents who value our camp experience enough to send their child to camp summer after summer! Given that our camp parents are already AMAZING and FANTASTIC, we culled some articles for a few ways that we can step up our parental game to become even more amazing and/or fantastic! Bullets below, with the full articles from the folks at Barking Up the Wrong Tree here and here. Connect! Be aware of the mood/timing. If someone is in th...
More DetailsSummer Camp Shines as a Beacon of Social Progress
LEAF RIVER, IL - Acts of hate and racism, whether online or in person, are painfully visible these days," said Phillip Martin, a senior investigative reporter at WGBH, a contributing reporter to PRI's "The World." The US Department of Justice has noted a sharp increase in hate crimes. One summer camp has a proactive approach to celebrating and appreciating diversity. This summer, Camp Kupugani, a multicultural camp for children ages 7 to 15, celebrates its thirteenth summer of creating positive change by empowering campers in an intentionally diverse environment to value and appreciate the differe...
More DetailsSee Other People’s Kids as 3-Dimensional Humans
At Camp Kupugani, our multicultural overnight summer camp two hours west of Chicago and 90 minutes south of Madison here in the beautiful Midwest, each child is treated as an individual. From arrival, each camper is individually recognized whether a first-timer or a 5-year Kupugani veteran. We celebrate and appreciate each child, trying to meet them where they are, while simultaneously challenging them to become even better. Each child deserves to start with a clean slate. Often, one encounters adults saying things along the lines of: “oh, that kid, s/he did this or that”, or “that ...
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Camp Kupugani has been named one of the 50 Most Amazing Summer Camps for Kids.
