Camp Kupugani Blog
2019 Kupu-Olympics!
We started the day with our usual community gathering followed by Tash’s camper favorite of coffee cake (and cereal) for breakfast. We then moved into some team building activities to make our friendships and bonding even stronger. We enjoyed some delicious BBQ chicken sandwiches for lunch and had some relaxing time during siesta. But the day wasn’t any ordinary day; instead of normal camptivities, we had our KUPUGANI OLYMPICS! The first part of our Olympics consisted of a full camp gaga game, a relay involving potato sack racing, three legged Read more…
Confessions of a First Time Counselor
I didn’t know counselor training could be this fulfilling. I’ve met a lot of people here at Camp Kupugani, all the way from people from halfway around the world to people from my own backyard, and it’s been only three days! I have several more weeks to go and I haven’t even met the campers yet. When I was a camper, I met a lot of people, too. Now, I can’t say I’ll remember everyone’s name, but I will certainly look back fondly on my time and experiences here at Read more…
A Counselor’s Journey From South Africa to Camp
My trip started with a nerve-racking drive from my home to the airport. Although I was nervous, I was just as excited for what was soon to come. The first part was a 15-hour flight from Johannesburg to Atlanta. I sat next to an American lady who was very friendly and shared some insight on what to expect when I landed. The plan eventually landed in Atlanta, where I wandered around the airport and tried all the fast food places that I had never encountered at home; this was an Read more…
Mindfulness Tips from a GPS
At Camp Kupugani, our overnight summer camp in the Midwest, we emphasize positive conflict resolution as we strive to have a peaceful community. I was listening to a radio station the other day, where the guest (Sylvia Boorstein) was emphasizing that we always have a choice in how we react to things. We can choose indignation or, like a GPS does when confronted with a new path, we can choose “recalculating…” We can choose to be indignant over a real or perceived slight. Or, we can choose to try Read more…
Easy Ways to Help Your Teen Practice Gratitude
Camp Kupugani is our multicultural overnight summer camp where campers from across the country and the world come together to learn from one another and work together. We’re less than two hours from the bustling cities of Chicago and Madison (two progressive, Midwest towns). Camp Kupugani is thankful for our families and friends who helped us navigate towards our 13th summer fostering world changers. Part of that is facilitating ways to practice gratitude. We provide our 14- and 15-year-olds chances to give back by visiting nursing home residents and helping Read more…
9 Helpful Things We Can Learn About Our Sons
Camp Kupugani is our overnight summer camp in Northwest Illinois in the Midwest about two hours away from both Chicago and Madison. We offer a 2-week boys only session and a 2 week blended (intentionally coed) session where we focus on the way boys can become their best selves. A recent article from Deep Roots at Home has some good tips on what we can learn about our sons. Bullets below, with the full article here. Ours sons’ brains work differently. Boys learn with movement Give brain breaks Boys tend Read more…
5 Easy Ways To Make Your Life Fantastic
Camp Kupugani (located close to Chicago and Madison) is a Midwest summer camp providing overnight camp experiences for kids ages 7-15. We want all of our families to live their best lives. A recent article can help with just that. Here’s How: The True Enemy Is “Reverse FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Living too much online means missing real-life interaction Constant phone use cuts time into small increments. Too much phone time make us worse at connecting with others. Forget Lifehacks — Start with Values Use tech for good, not Read more…
5 Solutions to Kid’s Impatient & Entitled Attitudes
At Camp Kupugani, our overnight summer camp in beautiful small town Illinois (near Chicago and Madison), we’ve had to evolve how we engage our campers over the years. From its beginnings twelve summers ago, for sure in the last several years, we have comparatively spent more time on facilitating and developing social skills, and making kids comfortable with having to be “busy” all the time. A recent article by Deep Roots at Home speaks to this observation; check out the full article here. Read the Summary Below: Kids get everything Read more…
“Boys Will Be Boys” Mentality
4 Reasons We Should Be Weary of this Stereotype At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest summer camp near Chicago and Madison, we empower each child to feel welcome and to live their best life. We do not subscribe to the “Boys will be boys” mentality. A recent article from Psychology Today elucidates why that mantra is non-positive; see below for bullets, with the full article here. It prompts children to construct gender stereotypes (read our FAQ about blended camp to see how we feel about gender stereotypes). Children should be seen Read more…
10 Tips for Raising Non-Materialistic Children
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest summer camp near both Chicago and Madison, we’re all about partnering with parents to give resources to help raise amazing world changers. Check out this article by Penny Pinchin’ Mom and our bulleted take on how to raise non-materialistic children. 10 Great Tips Spend time with your kids Gifts can never replace your attention Don’t go overboard with presents at celebrations Make celebrations more about the memories Do breakfast in bed Dessert for breakfast Fill their room with balloons Lead by example Children learn by Read more…
8 Steps to Personal Empowerment
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest summer camp near Chicago and Madison, one of our core values is empowerment. At camp, we empower our campers in varied ways. For adults and kids not camp, we came across an article from entrepreneur.com with some great empowerment tools. Read our bulleted takeaways below, and/or click here to read the full article. Be open to possibilities Believe in yourself Find that place where anything and everything is possible Be open-minded Focus on who you are Try something even if you don’t think you can Read more…
10 Truths Middle Schoolers Should Know
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest overnight summer camp near Chicago and Madison, we help kids become the best version of themselves through empowerment and play-based education. Away from camp, middle school can be a struggle for even the best-prepared child (and family). We came across an article recently with some helpful tips on how to navigate those challenging middle school years. Bullets below, with the full article from Kari Kampakis here. Here’s How to Navigate Those Challenges: Today’s most awkward moments will be tomorrow’s funniest memories. Keep a sense of Read more…
