Camp Kupugani Blog
Thoughts on Fostering Child Independence
If you have seen our recently released video of parent testimonials, you’ll notice a theme that ties them all together–fostering independence. Almost every parent mentions that their child comes back more independent than when they first dropped them off at Camp Kupugani. Outside of camp, children are typically seen as somewhat incompetent beings dependent upon adults, with the expectation that children will eventually gain independence during their young adult years. However, at camp we recognize that, at a younger age, independence not only helps children now and later on in life, but also […]
How to Make an Empowering Plan for the New Year
The new year is approaching for us at our summer camp near Chicago, and for everyone around the world. For those who are resolution makers, here’s a recent article from psychotherapist Maud Purcell on how to make a plan that you can stick to. Highlights include: • Work backward: Start now by clarifying your goal and then envisioning, in precise terms, what you want to have accomplished by the end of 2014. Now work backward to determine the objectives necessary to get there. • Create a schedule: Break down your objectives into […]
Youth Committed to Diversity Education
At our multicultural summer camp, we recognize that children crave global unity, acceptance of each other, and understanding. Here’s a cool video showing how tomorrow’s leaders address language discrimination and the importance of accepting others. While we’re pondering diversity and acceptance, check out this Chicago-based organization, Genesis at the Crossroads which uses arts education to bring cultures in conflict together globally.
Are We Wired to Want Stuff?
With the recent coming and going of the craziness of “Black Friday” and its rampant commercialism…with the holiday season ramping up…with my son in the second grade, exposed to classmate talk about what presents they plan on getting in the next few weeks, it reminded me of an article by social psychologist Christine Carter discussing whether we’re “wired to want stuff.” Like the author, as intentional parents, we want to foster positive emotions like gratitude and altruism-to bring meaning, connection, and positive memories. So how can we do so at this challenging […]
Tips on Yelling Less
I like to think that I’m a good parent, and know that I always do my best. Nevertheless, we all have times that we’re challenged more than others to maintain our composure and do right by our kids. Check out this link for tips on doing that and minimizing yelling, especially as holiday tensions might ramp up.
Where It’s Hardest to be a Woman
As a camp based on female empowerment with intentional diversity, it is only right for us to not only know about female limitations in our own country, but also in others. One major population consistently placed in an inferior position is that of Arab women. I found a recent article on Buzzfeed, ironically, when I was searching for something funny to send to a friend. When I looked at the article, I was astonished. I had no idea there was so many difficulties and struggles for Arab women outside of […]
Saving Our Earth Starts Now: Save the Bees
With each passing year, it becomes more important to incorporate into our own lives critical practices that will allow our Earth to sustain itself for our children and their children. At our multicultural summer camp, environmental awareness and respect for the natural environment is one of our core values. We take seriously our relationship with the environment and convey that attitude to our campers. In addition to providing learning opportunities through experiential education, we teach the campers service to the environment by modeling good practices that are respectful of the […]
Multiculturalism is Better than Colorblindness
I recently came across an article, which articulates well why and how we try to celebrate and appreciate difference at our multicultural camp. Below is a summary (in her words) of the full article by Monnica T. Williams, PhD. What is racial colorblindness? Colorblindness is the racial ideology that posits the best way to end discrimination is by treating individuals as equally as possible, without regard to race, culture, or ethnicity. At its face value, colorblindness seems like a good thing — really taking MLK seriously on his call to judge people […]
Developing Good Listening Skills
A recent article noted some interesting attention span statistics, including some good tips on how to improve attentiveness and foster good listening skills. A great thing to emphasize at our multicultural summer camp! Some interesting points: The average attention span in 2012: 8 seconds The average attention span in 2000: 12 seconds The average attention span of a goldfish: 9 seconds As we navigate a world of technology seemingly competing for our attention, it’s easy to get increasingly distracted and more difficult to do the one thing that may be […]
How Girls Can Make a Difference
“We exist for girls as they are… so they imagine the women they can become.” This is what we do in our girls-only camp at Camp Kupugani. Female empowerment is an intentional incorporation into all things Kupugani. It is important to be strong women and be proud of who we are as individuals and also as a unified group. Being female is not always the easiest thing. Thankfully, American society has progressed, making us a more equal force to men. Unfortunately, not all women enjoy a similar opportunity. There are […]
How to Wire Your Brain for Happiness
A recent article from the Huffington Post summarized a book by neuropsychologist Rick Hanson, author of Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm and Confidence. To summarize, on a day-to-day basis, we need to stay with our positive experiences long enough for them to be encoded into neural structure and transfer better into our long-term memory. Below are five of his tips, that we’ll certainly be sure to try to incorporate further into our multicultural summer camp. Take in the good. Appreciate moments of joy and increase their intensity and duration by lingering […]
Embracing Our Differences
Below is a piece by Lee Mun Wah, renowned facilitator of multicultural and diversity exercises. It so encapsulated what we try to do at our multicultural summer camp that I thought it most poignant to reproduce it in its entirety. It comes from a recent newsletter from his organization, Stir Fry Seminars, and is available at this link. “Recently, at a training I was facilitating, a young white man adamantly shared that he didn’t see differences in people and thought that my talking about our differences only added to our […]