Camp Kupugani Blog
Son of Jamaican Immigrants Tells His Tale
Originally posted in the Chicago Tribune on April 29, 2008 Kevin Gordon is the Canadian-born son of Jamaican immigrants. He has lived half of his 40 years in Canada and half in America. He has the unique perspective of seeing how both countries have handled and mishandled race. This is Kevin Gordon’s essay about immigrants: Over the years, I’ve been a bartender, furniture mover, bus driver, blackjack dealer, and garbage man. I’ve traveled to Europe, Africa, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. I have a BA from Harvard University, […]
6 Ways to Become Well-Liked
At our Midwest summer camp, we focus on individual empowerment. Just as our campers maximize fun and sociability at camp, a recent blog by Lolly Daskal reinforces some ways that help one maximize sociability and become well-liked. See below for bullets, with the whole article at this link to become more well-liked. Well-Liked Traits Be positive and encouraging. An attitude of positivity and praise goes a long way. People are drawn to positivity. Have fun! Seriously. Be sensitive to what’s going on around you; there will be times your playful […]
10 Tips to Get your Kids through the Holidays
Around this time of year, it is important for parents to maintain their sanity while also continuing to be intentional about the life lessons their children learn. I recently came across an article by Amy Joyce, editor of On Parenting column for the Washington Post containing some great tips on thriving during the holiday season. The whole article is at this link with bullets below. Have them help with meal preparation. Take them with you when you shop for the holiday meal and ask for their input there and in the […]
5 Ways to Become a Lighthouse Parent
Child psychologist (and fellow Expert Online Training guru) Caren Baruch Feldman wrote a recent piece describing the challenges of mindful parenting, specifically about how to sufficiently guide children yet give them enough leeway to foster their independence. “Lighthouse parenting” allows children to ride the waves, while providing sufficient guidance so they don’t crash into the rocks. Being a lighthouse parent differs from “helicopter parents” who are constantly hovering anxiously overhead (or snowplow parents who would remove the rocks from the ocean). Bullets below, with the whole piece available at this […]
4 Ways to Encourage Your Child to Give Back
Especially as the holiday season with its accompanying bombardment of ads and other enticements to folks to buy buy buy, it’s a good time to be mindful of encouraging our children to give back. A recent Washington Post blog by Amy Joyce has some tips from the Family Dinner Project, a grassroots movement to encourage eating well and talking over dinner about things that really matter, about how to encourage children to give back. Text or call someone you appreciate. Talk about people your family appreciates, then take the time to […]
6 Ways to Be a Better Parent
We value working with our campers’ parents at our summer camp near Chicago, Illinois. Just as we continually strive to improve our camp experience via counselor training and continually reviewing our program, we recognize that our parents also seek to be a better parent for their children. A recent article offers some good tips on how to be a more “intentional” parent. Bullets below, with the whole article by Susan Swann available at this link. 1. Be consistent. Be consistent with how you reinforce the implementation of your values. Remember […]
9 Things to Do Before Bed to Maximize Your Well Being
At our summer camp outside of Chicago, Illinois, we recognize the importance of goal setting and positive psychology to maximize one’s well being. A recent article details 9 steps you can take each night to do the same for yourself. Summaries below, with the whole article by Jacquelyn Smith available at this link. 1. Read. Experts agree that reading is the very last thing most successful people do before going to sleep. 2. Make a to-do list. Clearing the mind nightly means cluttered thoughts don’t end up invading your head space during the night. 3. Spend […]
Three Things You Didn’t Know About Teens
Sociologist Christine Carter has an interesting piece culled from her conversation with scientific expert on adolescence Ron Dahl, regarding insights about teens (and pre-teens). Highlights below, with the whole article at this link. #1: Your adolescent isn’t a teenager. Dahl avoids the term “teenager” because it implies that all the action only after the age of 13. Puberty typically lasts only two to four years, with most at the end of puberty by the age of 13. Today kids have a longer period of time to figure out who they […]
7 Ways to Maximize Your Emotional Intelligence
At our multicultural summer camp outside of Chicago, Illinois, we focus on individual empowerment and development of leadership skills to help with emotional intelligence. Psychologist Daniel Goleman (see his web site for more) emphasizes some critical pieces regarding emotional intelligence that help one maximize leadership capabilities. TO INCREASE SELF-AWARENESS, you should: Maximize realistic self-confidence by understanding your own strengths and limitations so that you operate from competence and know when to rely on someone else on the team. Develop emotional insight by understanding the origins of your feelings FOR SELF-MANAGEMENT, you […]
Learning How To Let Go
Parents, especially American parents, sometimes obsess about safety. While we certainly want to encourage parental warmth and love (especially with newborns and toddlers), as children mature, you must create safe spaces to let them explore on their own. As we recognize at our girls-only and boys-only summer camps here in the Midwest, by giving children opportunities to overcome discomfort in new situations, they grow into competent, independent adults. As a blog by Steve Baskin—former executive board member of the American Camp Association (in this article from Psychology Today) discusses—children need […]
Tips on Preventing Cyber-Bullying
At our summer camp in the Midwest, we recognize how important parents value the safety of their children in a physical location. It is no less important in the “virtual” world. Indeed, especially as social media become increasingly prevalent in the lives of youth, we need to be mindful of the impact that smartphone and online computer use can have on our children. Cyber-bullying is real, and bears a huge daily toll on many young people. Here are a few ways that we can help. Even if you can’t necessarily be there in […]
The Stuck At Home Generation
The percentage of 20-somethings living at home doubled over the last few decades. Although some critics blame this increase on the struggling economy, statistics prove that the fear of leaving the nest began earlier. It seems that being independent is no longer a characteristic of a young (North) American. Parents can take three steps, detailed fully in a blog by sociologist Christine Carter here, in order to promote their children’s individual growth. (1) Foster the growth-mindset, or the belief that people are successful because of their hard work and effort rather than their innate talents. When we foster the […]