Camp Kupugani Blog
How to Be Happy Without Trying Too Hard
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest summer camp, we appreciate that happiness can be a challenging space in which to live consistently. Here is an article to help be happier without having to try too hard. Check out the article by Barking Up the Wrong Tree here (https://www.bakadesuyo.com/2021/03/happier-without-really-trying/) and see a quick summary below. Your brain is a time traveler It projects into the past and future constantly and this can be an express ticket to regret and anxiety. Counteract it with mental distance to regain control. Say your name “I” Read more…
4 Secrets That Will Make You Emotionally Intelligent
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest summer camp, we strive to help our community maximize emotional intelligence. No matter how one feels about oneself, we can always get even better! Here is an article to help become even more emotionally intelligent. Check out the article by Barking Up the Wrong Tree here and see a quick summary below of the “four R’s” regarding how to do it. Realize Self-awareness can stem from others’ thoughts. Recognize and label Ask yourself how you’re feeling. Label the emotion specifically. Refine Broaden your emotional vocabulary. Read more…
Some insights from Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
Kevin Gordon, Director of Camp Kupugani in Leaf River, IL–located two hours west of Chicago–recently read Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. According to Wilkerson, “caste is the granting or withholding of respect, status, honor, attention, privileges, resources, benefit of the doubt, and human kindness to someone on the basis of their perceived rank or standing in the hierarchy.” Racism and casteism overlap; “what some people call racism could be seen as merely one manifestation of the degree to which we have internalized the larger American caste system.” Read more…
5 Best Overnight Sleepaway Summer Camps In 2021
Your favorite summer camp has again being recognized for excellence. Check out why Camp Kupugani has been honored as one of the best 5 overnight sleepaway summer camps for 2021! 5 Best Overnight Sleepaway Summer Camps In 2021
4 Steps To Increase Happiness, According To A New Study
Especially over the past year, it has been challenging for many to stay well, given added isolation and stress. At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest summer camp, we recognize that even the strongest human can struggle. A recent research paper offers a mental training plan on the “how” of well-being. With four key behaviors that tend to contribute most to overall satisfaction, the plan helps folks cultivate mental wellness. The full article originally from HuffPost is at this link, or check out our summary below. Cultivate Awareness — And ‘Meta-awareness’ Awareness Read more…
How to Solve the Top 10 Parenting Problems
Camp Kupugani is our Midwest summer camp offering two-week sessions for children ages 7-15. We recognize that even the best of parents and families can struggle sometimes. We found this article from Mom Junction describing the top 10 parenting problems and solutions. You can read the whole piece here or check out our summary below. Frequent Tantrums? When they are in this mode, they don’t see clearly. Don’t lose your cool. Allow your child time. Children Who Do Not “Obey” This can often be your children trying to assert their Read more…
6 Ways to Engage Shy People (or for Shy People to Be Engaging)
Lots of people, like this current blog writer for instance, are either shy or formerly shy people. At Camp Kupugani–our overnight Midwest summer camp pretty close to Chicago, IL and Madison, WI, we recognize this. We want each child to be the best version of themselves, sometimes stretching to do so. Because not every person has the same level of comfort in dealing with others, we found this article from Learning Mind about how to engage an introvert. (Also useful for just any social interaction…) Read our brief takeaways below Read more…
How to Make Your Kids Amazing
Camp Kupugani is our Midwest summer camp located in the beautiful wilderness of Northwest Illinois. We know your children are already pretty great; here is an article to help your children be even a bit more amazinger (that is totally a word…okay, it is now?). Check out the article by Barking Up the Wrong Tree here and see a quick summary below. Help Your Kiddos with Balance Green zone? All is well, happy, peaceful Red zone? Losing control, acting out Blue zone? Kids shut down or withdraw How to get Read more…
3 Ways to Maximize Your Resilience
These days, it is especially important to continue hanging in there, especially given many life challenges. At our Midwest summer camp, we emphasize the importance of resilience in character building. The good folks at Barking Up the Wrong Tree have a recent post regarding fostering resilience. Check out the full article at this link, or the excerpt below. These are the 3 things the most resilient people do every day: Goals: Have some. Think about the key areas of your life and finish the sentence, “I want…” Then get specific. Oh, Read more…
How to Prevent Consumerism from Undermining Your Child’s Well Being
Camp Kupugani is our overnight summer camp that offers girls-only, boys-only, and blended (intentionally co-ed) two week overnight sessions for children ages 7-15. Our camp is located a close enough drive from either Madison, Wisconsin or Chicago, Illinois, but far enough away that the distance feels like a true independent experience. We at camp know the importance of having a well-rounded child. We found this piece on the dangers of consumerism; check out the full post from Doing Good Together here, and/or see our summary below. Focus on True Happiness Read more…
4 Ways to Enhance Your Life During a Pandemic
For sure, life during a pandemic is rough for so many (and for so long). Nonetheless, even when times are tough…or maybe because times are tough, there are still important lessons to be learned that can enhance your life. At our Midwest summer camp, we have endured not summer camp, communicating with families and kiddos who have been missing so much–especially, and including the important jobs of being a kid–i.e. socializing, bonding, playing, singing, exercising, being in nature, etc. Even while we miss those, we can focus on positive growth. Read more…
The Secret to Engaging Your Kids After Their Day
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest summer camp, we offer two-week sessions (your child can attend more than one). We are located a stone’s throw away (whatever that means) from Chicago, IL and Madison, WI. Everyone that has spent any time around children appreciates that it is not always easy to find out how their day went. A recent article from The Art of Manliness can help parents or youth professionals get to the bottom of that age-old question– How was your day? Read below for some quick pointers and read Read more…
