Camp Kupugani Blog
Kupugani’s Version of Challenge by Choice
At Kupugani, our child development philosophy is based in large part on the concept of “Challenge by Choice,” meaning that campers participate voluntarily in various activities and challenges of our team building program and other aspects of camp life. A camper may choose to sit out an activity, with that right respected by other campers and counselors. An integral tenet of our camp community respects the individual’s right to choose with regard to the degree of participation in any activity. Campers are empowered by taking personal responsibility for their choices; […]
20 Things a Dad Should Tell a Daughter
At our summer camp for girls in Illinois, we recognize that empowerment and identity formation need multiple sources for your daughter. We had an earlier post with tips from a mom raising a daughter; below is a digested version of a good post from blogger Dorkdaddy, an intentional dad with a good sense of humor, with thoughts on 20 things a dad should tell a daughter. Things to Tell Your Daughter Pay attention to the way a man loves his mother. That is the way he will love you. You can […]
Some Good Questions to Ask Camp Directors
Embarking on a summer camp experience is an important decision for both parents and children. For prospective parents at our multicultural summer camp for girls-only and boys-only in Illinois, we encourage them to get as comfortable as possible with their decision beforehand. For some, that means scouring web sites; for others, that means talking with parents who have previously had their kids attend the camp; for others, it means discussing with the camp director what the camp is all about. For parents in the latter group, they should ask good […]
Ten Summer Camp Prep Tips
Summer camp is a great, powerful child development tool…so much so, that we should be sure that our children can make the most of a camp experience. Here’s a good post by board-certified clinical psychologist, and youth development specialist Dr. Chris Thurber emphasizing 10 tips on how to maximize our children’s potential at camp. Five highlights are below: Don’t make a “pick-up deal.” Instead of saying, “If you feel homesick, I’ll come and get you,” normalize their anxiety and talk positively about camp. Double-check the camp’s packing list. Spend practice time […]
20 Things to Say to Your Daughter Before She’s Grown
At our summer camp for girls in Illinois, we exist for girls as they are, so they imagine the women they can become. Below is a digested version of a good blog post from mom Jenna McCarthy, an internationally published writer, TED speaker and author helping to facilitate similar character development, with some wise/fun specific tips. From a very young age our girls are targeted with messed-up media messages (think “Thin is beautiful, and beautiful is everything, and if you want to be happy, you need these shoes!”) and exposed to all […]
Children in Camp Can Be Their Essential Selves
Below are some excerpts from a Slate article entitled “My Daughter Went Away to Camp and Changed,” by John Dickerson. It provides insight into how kids can be their essential selves at camp–not worrying about how their parents might react. You can also check out the entire article here about children being their essential selves. “Some of my best encounters with our children are the ones they don’t know about. At school pickup, I watch them conspiring with friends. When I drive carpool, I stay quiet so I can hear them […]
The 9 Essential Habits Of Mentally Strong People
At our overnight summer camps near Chicago, we strive to be intentionally empowering and intentionally challenging, so that our campers maximize their potential. Carolyn Gregoire posted this Huffington Post article, summarized below, (and in full at this link) describing nine essential habits of mentally strong people: Mental strength is a difficult-to-define psychological concept that encompasses emotional intelligence, grit, resilience, self-control, mental toughness, and mindfulness. …It’s the reason that some people are able to overcome any obstacle, while others crumble at life’s daily challenges and frustrations. The ability to cope with […]
5 Ways to Raise Kinder Kids
At our summer camp for girls-only and boys-only near Chicago, we try to foster a community where it’s cool to be kinder kids (as opposed to sometimes in the larger community outside camp, where sometimes the prevailing culture is that it’s cool to be cruel.) Sociologist Christine Carter posted this article, summarized below, (and in full at this link). Raising Kinder Kids Model kindness yourself. Kindness can be contagious: when we see someone else perform an act of kindness, we are more likely to feel an impulse to help out, too. […]
Reasons Kids Should Speak Another Language
Studies show there are diverse benefits for a child receiving exposure to a second language. Unfortunately, budget cuts to schools have threatened our children’s introduction to learning another language at a young enough age where they can reap the ultimate social, communicative, and cognitive benefits. In a time when children’s options for learning another language are limited under their schools’ curricula, one potential resource–emphasized by some of the parents at our multicutural summper camp–is consituted by local businesses focused on providing immersive, community-building classes for kids. One such business is […]
Make A Positive Impact in Your Home
At our summer camps for girls and summer camps for boys, we try to be intentional about fostering a culturally competent atmosphere that is welcoming to everybody. Here are some good tips, culled from a calendar from the Anti-Defamation League, detailing how you can make a positive impact in your home. Be an ally – speak out against jokes and slurs that target people or groups. Support young children’s curiosity about diversity in our world. Visit ADL’s Question Corner at www.adl.org for ideas on how. Stop e-mail bigotry at your computer. Forward […]
Strategies for Maximizing Childhood Independence
Children need to develop a sense of independence to successfully navigate an increasingly complex world. As intentional parents and seasoned youth professionals, we realize the need to give them space to grow. Psychologist Michael Thompson spoke with CNN about childhood independence. The author of a book about summer camp as a place for childhood self-discovery, Thompson, who is also a school consultant, recommends having minimal contact with your kids at camp. He also emphasizes that today’s kids are stressed and need whimsy in their lives. See the whole article here.
19 Things to Say to Your Son Before He’s Grown
At our summer camp for boys in Illinois, we exist for boys as they are, so they imagine the men they can become. Below is a digested version of a good blog post from mom Holly Pevzner helping to facilitate similar character development, with some wise/fun specific tips. “There are many (many) life lessons that parents should share with their children, like …be kind, floss every day and always send a post-interview thank-you note. But there are some nuggets of knowledge that are exclusively for boys — things to say […]