Campamento Kupugani Blog

At our summer camp near Chicago, living the good life is pretty easy.  Sun, fun, and connecting with friends on the daily–who can beat that? In the cloudier non-summer months, with less sunlight and shorter days, it’s important to focus on strategies that can help us continue to live the good life.  Here are some good tips from the folks at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.  Summary below, with the full article available at this link. Smile: Flex that happiness muscle.  Laugh: How many things prevent divorce and can help you deal […]

During the summer at our Midwest summer camp, it’s relatively easy to connect with new and old friends–mostly by just being yourself, but sometimes by being intentional about using good socializing techniques, like the good, active listening techniques below. Here are some good tips from a former FBI agent about how you can get people to like you by active listening. The summary below (from the folks at Barking Up the Wrong Tree), with the full article available at this link.   Active Listening The single most important thing is non-judgmental validation. […]

Here are some good tips on rituals you can incorporate to facilitate being happy.  Summary below (from the folks at Barking Up the Wrong Tree), with two relevant articles available at this link and this link.  Here’s what brain research says will make you happy: Ask “What am I grateful for?” No answers? Doesn’t matter. Just searching helps. Label those negative emotions. Give it a name and your brain isn’t so bothered by it. Decide. Go for “good enough” instead of “best decision ever made on Earth.” Hugs, hugs, hugs. Don’t text — touch. Here’s […]

When we’re at our Midwest summer camp and playing GaGa, rock climbing, or just hanging out with friends, it’s pretty easy to be happy. After all, communing in nature, having fun, and having a great time in the sun are easy ways to create smiles and be happy. When we’re not at camp, we might need to be a little more focused to make those smiles last all day. Below are some good scientifically-backed research tips on what you can do to get that happy feeling all day. The summary […]

At our multicultural summer camp near Chicago, we practice assertiveness techniques to help empower our campers and staff. A recent blog from Barking Up the Wrong Tree has a few useful tools.  Bullets are below, with the full blog available at this link.  Focus on controlling only your own behavior, i.e. not other people’s If you want something, ask! Try to get people to change their behavior, not their personality.

It may be easy to have fun and thrive at summer camp. Sometimes it might take a little more intentionality. Luckily, science has some ways to help us out regarding how we can be more successful in life. Below are some good scientifically-backed research tips on how you can do exactly that. Bullets below, with the whole article available at this link on how to be more successful in life. Successful Habits  Happiness brings success (i.e. not the other way around, as is commonly misconstrued). See problems as challenges, not […]

While it’s relatively easy while at summer camp to do things that make you feel good, when not at camp, it might take a little more intention to do so. Below are some good scientifically-backed research tips on what you can do to maintain a good mood. Bullets below, with the whole article available at this link. Feel Good Activities Get out in nature Exercise Spend time with friends and family Express gratitude Meditate Get enough sleep Challenge yourself Laugh Touch someone Be optimistic