Camp Kupugani Blog
How Summer Camp Helped A Camper to Never Say “I Can’t”
At our multicultural summer camp near Chicago, we recognize the power of a good camp experience to transform campers’ lives, and the impact of positive psychology. A recent blog by author Blake Boles reinforces the powerful lessons he learned. As he puts it, “Summer camp taught me that my habit of saying ‘I can’t’ was a cage, and this cage had a key called ‘I could if I.’ To escape the cage, all I had to do was pick up the key and think a little differently.” Other positive lessons he […]
8 Good Tips on How to Be an Intentional Parent
At our multicultural summer camp near Chicago, we strive to be intentionally challenging, intentionally empowering, and intentionally fun. The concept of intentionality appeals to many of our parents, who are also quite intentional in the values and character development they wish for their children. A recent blog post by Jon Helmkamp—who writes a good series called Finding Fatherhood—gives some good tips on ways that parents can be intentional in their parenting. Below are some bullets summarizing his blog entry. 1. Think about how you were raised..about the day in, day […]
Camp as a 21st Century Skills Learning Environment
At our summer camp outside of Chicago, Illinois, we recognize the critical piece that a summer camp experience can play in the development of children and young adults in the 21st century. A recent blog by Andy Pritikin (Owner/Director of Liberty Lake Day Camp in New Jersey and the President of the American Camp Association, New York, and New Jersey) recognizes how a good camp program is critical to developing an important forward-thinking skill set. Pritikin recognizes that child-rearing occurs in multiple ways: what parents teach their children at home, […]
10 Great Ways to Prepare for Camp
Even though winter is fully upon is in the Midwest, we are busy preparing for this summer’s great versions of our girls-only and boys-only camp programs! As we’ve been visiting with potential camp families at camp fairs, a common question is how they should prepare for a first-time camp experience. To help your child maximize a camp experience, here are ten ways to help that happen! Talk with other parents and friends to learn from their camp experience. Ask the camp director to tell you about other camp families in […]
Should we focus on achievement or caring?
At our multicultural summer camp, we try to be intentional to foster an environment encouraging children to be their best selves to and with each other. You’d think that most parents would share that goal right? Unfortunately, a recent study shows otherwise–that children believe their parents are more concerned with the kids’ achievement than whether they cared for others. Richard Weissbourd–a Harvard psychologits with its graduate school of education–and his colleagues have some good recommendations about how to raise kids to become caring, respectful and responsible adults. It’s something that […]
Why Your Child Can Go to Camp for the 1st Time
Parents, especially those of first-time campers, often tell me that their child is looking forward to attending camp, but that they’re comfortable doing so only if they go with a friend. At first blush, this seems like a good idea—what better way than to enjoy a fantastic new camp experience than to do so with a good buddy? However, often what that child might really be saying is that they’re not sure of what to expect from their camp experience, and, like a security blanket, the friend will offer them […]
Why Parents Appreciate Summer Camp
As the new year picks up pace, resolution makers ponder how to come through on the self-promises made. As parents resolving to enhance the experiences of their children and themselves in the coming year, finding a great summer camp program offers many great growth opportunities. In a recent blog article, camp directors Stephanie and Mitch Reiter explore what children develop at summer camp and how families and parents appreciate those developments. Bullets below, with the full article available at this link. 1. A willingness to try new things. When […]
Good Family Dinner Table Conversation Starters
As the new year gets underway, it’s a good time to start new family habits or reinforce good ones that you’re already doing. At our dinner table, it can sometimes help to have some tricks up our sleeve to facilitate easy conversations and bonding with our child. A recent article by Casey Seidenberg has some good additional ideas—some highlighted below—to add to your go-to list! In her words, “Parenting books tell me to develop a tight bond with my children now so it will withstand the teen years and beyond. […]
Striving for Daily Peace and Harmony
I’m not one for writing reviews, but Rachel’s recently published book Not Quite Nirvana drove me to do an Amazon review. In addition to offering stories cute, pithy, and funny, the book also offers practical tips and easy suggestions for bringing more peace and harmony into one’s daily life. One of my favorite passages reads: “I want to act as if I’m in a world where compassion, kindness, and the awareness of our mutual dependence is the status quo. There is no need to wait.” The Amazon description: “With honest and vivid […]
Why Businesses Should Hire Former Camp Counselors
Now’s the time of year when our earlier applicants start to think about applying for summer jobs. We know firsthand the difficult task of being camp counselors — someone who serves as an amazing mentor, big sibling, facilitator, manager, and all-around go-to person for a group of young people. A recent post by Anne Archer Yetsko, associate director of Camp Merri-Mac in Black Mountain, North Carolina recognizes how great these counselors are and how important their skill set is as they pursue jobs in other venues. Snippets are below, with […]
8 Ways to Help Children Become Better Problem-Solvers
In this podcast, sociologist Christine Carter discusses how to encourage creativity and help kids become better problem-solvers. To do so, we should foster creativity, which is the number one skill needed for success and creating good problem-solvers. Some other takeaways from the podcast: Creativity is not just in terms of arts. Creativity is a skill we can practice and develop. Creativity development should focus on the process, not the outcome. We should create and problem-solve and limit goal-orientation. To provide opportunities for creativity, we should: Provide resources for creative expression […]
5 Reasons Camp Makes the Perfect Gift for the Holidays
It’s never too early to think about gifts that can enrich children’s lives. If you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, big sister, big brother, cousin, or family friend, looking to find just the right holiday gift for the children in your life, camp makes a perfect gift – and here are five reasons why! For young athletes, camp lets children play their favorite sports. Camps offer physical activities and sports that enhance health and teach self-confidence. Children can do a wide array of activities–from kayaking and swimming to archery, soccer, […]