Camp Kupugani Blog
Black Lives Don’t Matter (Regarding the USA’s Only Black-Owned Private Overnight Summer Camp)
Dear Governor Pritzker: Don’t tell me Black lives matter. Don’t tell me Black lives matter when the only black-owned private residential camp in the U.S. is precluded from operating, maybe permanently. Don’t talk emptily of how “Black lives matter”; instead, actually facilitate my black life. Don’t tell me Black lives matter when you ban our multicultural summer camp—depriving children of an empowering experience, especially when they so badly needed the social interaction. Don’t tell me Black lives matter when you deprive campers of the opportunity to timely address issues of Read more…
Why Parents Send Kids to Sleepaway Camp
Camp Kupugani is our Midwest summer sleepaway camp. Our sleepaway summer camp families recognize the benefits that camp brings to children, families, and communities. A recent Washington Post article elucidates how overnight camp can give children a competitive advantage in life–and is a perfect introduction for those who have not experienced camp…yet! Check out our spin on the article below and read the full blog here. Sending your kids to camp is harder on you than it is them. Children are usually excited for new things. Children make friends quickly. Read more…
Four Ways to Help Your Kids Find Their Calling in Life
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest summer camp, we recognize that each camper has something they want to become. We want to help our campers shine and find their calling not only while at camp but also at home, school, and in their individual futures. A recent article from Barking Up the Wrong Tree highlights some ways to help your kids find their calling in life. Read our summary below and check out the full article here. Fan the Flames Expose your children to new things. Take note of the new Read more…
How Love Can Help Your Child Be More Compassionate
Camp Kupugani is our Midwest overnight summer camp, less than two hours from Madison, WI, and Chicago, IL. As a summer camp, we see the value that love provides for children. Each person who steps foot onto the camp’s beautiful grounds quickly becomes a part of our family. A recent article from Greater Good Magazine emphasizes how love can help your child be more compassionate. You can check it out here and see our short summary below. Love is a good reason to pause. Put down the distraction and focus Read more…
Some Ways to Become Antiracist
Especially lately, the importance of seeking a solution to the racial issues polarizing this country is underscored. A fantastic tool towards this goal is contained in: “How to Be an Antiracist” (One World, 2019) by Ibram X. Kendi. “Not racist” isn’t good enough. People need to recognize and confront their own racist thoughts (as the author describes his own ongoing journey of becoming an Antiracist. Check out our summary below. Some definitions include: Racist: One who is supporting a racist policy through their actions or inaction or expressing a racist Read more…
Ways to Help Your Kids Be Diligent
Camp Kupugani is our overnight Midwest summer camp that welcomes children ages 7-15 from all walks of life. We challenge our campers daily to step out of their comfort zones and try new things and being diligent about it. Some character traits are being perseverant and diligent that we try to help instill. We found a recent article on that very topic by Greater Good Magazine here; you can check out our summary below. Perseverance is a skill all people need Connects to better school achievement Better emotional health Women Read more…
4 Rituals To Maintain Your Mental Strength
Camp Kupugani is our Midwest summer camp near Chicago, IL and Madison, WI. We want all our campers to have mental strength. Check out a recent article from Barking Up the Wrong Tree here and read our bullet points about mental strength below. Ask “What’s The Worst That Could Happen?” “Own” what can go wrong in your day. We all know difficult people…don’t try and control them. Allow yourself to experience the negative with the positive. Use A “Reserve Clause” Acknowledge that part of the outcome may not be in Read more…
What Does It Mean If Your Child Is Sensitive?
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest overnight summer camp, we celebrate and appreciate each child for whoever they are (while also challenging them to be the best version of themselves). We all know a child who is more sensitive than most. We found this article from Greater Good Magazine that can help families connect with their sensitive child. Read below for our take and read the full article here. Sensitivity often has a negative connotation (not in our book) People see them as “weak” People use this to discount their perspective Read more…
How to Help Teens Handle Their Emotions
Camp Kupugani is our Midwest overnight summer camp that offers girls-only, boys-only, and blended (intentionally co-ed) sessions for children 7-15. We recognize that every child handles stress differently; we want to help our families help their teens handle their emotions. Check out this blog from the New York Times here and our takeaways below. Teens feeling stressed out is one of the largest issues parents face daily Too often we as parents try and “solve the problem” Asking too many questions (not good) Putting yourself too far into the situation Read more…
4 Ways to Help Your Child Be Humble
Camp Kupugani is our Midwest overnight summer camp near Madison and Chicago. Recognizing that our campers and staff are amazing people each in their own way, we also want to avoid being smug, boastful, or pretentious. We recently found this article from The Greater Good Magazine to help our amazing community find ways to be humble. Our bullet points below, with the full article here. Help them be secure in their identity. Help your child know who they are. Help your child know what they are good at. Open-mindedness is Read more…
How to Help Children Dealing with Adversity
Camp Kupugani is our sleepaway Midwest summer camp located near Chicago, IL and Madison, WI that offers girls-only, boys-only, and blended (intentionally co-ed) sessions. When campers face difficult times, we want them to know how to address and overcome them. We found this article from The Greater Good Magazine on helping children with adversity; read our take below and read the full article about adversity here. Build supportive relationships Show your children positive relationships Youth-serving professionals can make a positive impact on our children Social situations in the classroom can Read more…
5 Ways to Stay Resilient and Mentally Tough
Camp Kupugani is our Midwest overnight summer camp offering girls-only, boys-only, and blended (intentionally coed) two-week sessions for children 7-15. We try to empower our campers to stay resilient. Especially, when times are challenging, these tips from the folks at Barking up The Wrong Tree can help with persevering. Read our take below and the full article about resilient campers here. Positive Self-Talk Find the silver lining in all things. Estimated self-talk words: 300-1000 per day. Physical Fitness Exercise is key. Feeling physically fit helps the brain. Make It A Read more…
