I took a few pictures walking around camp today...
12.22.2009
12.21.2009
Because of Camp
I was recently watching the "Because of Camp" PSA that the American Camp Association made...
So I started thinking about my "because of camp"...
Because of camp... I've gained self-confidence. I've developed my leadership skills. I've learned to think on my feet and solve problems creatively. I've met amazing campers, staff members, and friends--and my life has been changed by knowing them. I've had the opportunity to work with people from various countries. I've learned time management skills and group management skills. I've had the opportunity to try things outside of my comfort zone and expand my skill set.
The first summer I worked at camp, I was a very shy, very easily intimidated, 16 year old. Outside of my cabin, I barely talked. Fast forward a few summers, and I was supervising the girls side of camp. I led campers and counselors in cheers and songs, planned staff training, dealt with issues ranging from homesickness to discipline to counselors not getting along to parent complaints, evaluated staff, and made decisions with confidence. Without camp and the experiences I've had there, I would be much more shy and much less confident today. Because of camp, I was able to get hands-on leadership experience that served me really well throughout college, and has prepared me for the future.
Because of camp, I've been able to spend amazing summer after amazing summer playing outside, building relationships with peers and campers, learning about myself and others. I've been exposed to people and ideas I otherwise wouldn't have encountered. I have developed an interest and passion in the way nature affects development in children, and our quality of life.
Because of camp, I have become the person I am today.
So I started thinking about my "because of camp"...
Because of camp... I've gained self-confidence. I've developed my leadership skills. I've learned to think on my feet and solve problems creatively. I've met amazing campers, staff members, and friends--and my life has been changed by knowing them. I've had the opportunity to work with people from various countries. I've learned time management skills and group management skills. I've had the opportunity to try things outside of my comfort zone and expand my skill set.
The first summer I worked at camp, I was a very shy, very easily intimidated, 16 year old. Outside of my cabin, I barely talked. Fast forward a few summers, and I was supervising the girls side of camp. I led campers and counselors in cheers and songs, planned staff training, dealt with issues ranging from homesickness to discipline to counselors not getting along to parent complaints, evaluated staff, and made decisions with confidence. Without camp and the experiences I've had there, I would be much more shy and much less confident today. Because of camp, I was able to get hands-on leadership experience that served me really well throughout college, and has prepared me for the future.
Because of camp, I've been able to spend amazing summer after amazing summer playing outside, building relationships with peers and campers, learning about myself and others. I've been exposed to people and ideas I otherwise wouldn't have encountered. I have developed an interest and passion in the way nature affects development in children, and our quality of life.
Because of camp, I have become the person I am today.
12.17.2009
Staff Training, Parent Training...
I was recently chatting with a parent who was dropping her child off for a mini-camp, and she asked if we ever did trainings open to parents. I'm used to getting all kinds of questions from parents, but this was the first time I'd ever gotten that one, so I asked her to elaborate a little.
She told me that she has been so impressed by our camp staff--they are not only professional and friendly, but are also full of ideas for entertaining and engaging children, and best of all, when they return her kids to her--they are more confident, responsible, and respectful. The reason she decided to send her kids to camp didn't really have much to do with any of that: she was just looking for something to keep the kids busy for a while, but was thrilled to find that camp was so much more. "I had no idea that camp would teach my kids to be more confident... they are great kids, but weren't that confident in themselves.. but after camp, there was a huge change in them" was one of the things she mentioned.
It is always wonderful to hear parents say positive things about their kids experience at camp, but I thought this mom gave us an incredible compliment. Not only did her kids have a great time at camp, she was so impressed by their experience and what they learned, she wants us to share what we know with her!
12.15.2009
Embracing the Freedom of Camp
I was on a bus with some of our staff trainees the other day, and something one of the girls said caught my attention. They were talking about camp, and how they don't have time to think about putting on makeup or what outfit to wear, and one of the girls said "but you know, it's actually really great to not have to worry about any of that stuff at camp."
Now, I'm somewhat of a girly-girl. My favorite color is pink, and while I don't wear makeup very often, you are much more likely to see me in a skirt or dress than jeans. I love to shop, and thoroughly enjoy a reason to get dressed up. But I am a huge fan of the fact that camp is a place where girls don't have to worry about what they are wearing or whether or not to wear makeup. In fact, when I was a counselor, every Monday we would let our campers (the youngest girls) do what we called "Makeover Monday." It isn't your typical makeover--the campers have free rein with giving the counselors makeovers, and it usually resulted in me looking something like this:
Now, I'm somewhat of a girly-girl. My favorite color is pink, and while I don't wear makeup very often, you are much more likely to see me in a skirt or dress than jeans. I love to shop, and thoroughly enjoy a reason to get dressed up. But I am a huge fan of the fact that camp is a place where girls don't have to worry about what they are wearing or whether or not to wear makeup. In fact, when I was a counselor, every Monday we would let our campers (the youngest girls) do what we called "Makeover Monday." It isn't your typical makeover--the campers have free rein with giving the counselors makeovers, and it usually resulted in me looking something like this:
Then we let the girls show off our makeovers at lunch. I even occasionally had to make a trip to Target with lipstick on my cheeks, eyeliner on my forehead, and eyeshadow in various colors covering my entire face. I have plenty of pictures tagged on Facebook with me either covered in ridiculous makeup, wearing a ridiculous outfit (the '80s outfits are my personal favorites), or covered in some concoction from messy games--chocolate syrup, sprinkles, who knows what else. I am definitely a huge fan of the fact that camp is a place where girls can have fun, be ridiculous and silly, and not worry about what they look like--and despite my usual girliness, I fully embrace that aspect of camp!
Normally once girls get to camp, they also embrace that aspect--whether they are staff, trainees or campers. But I thought it was really cool to hear a 15 or 16 year old girl reflecting on that in the middle of winter. Right in the middle of school, when what you wear and how you look is a really big deal. Right at that age when what everyone else thinks of you can make or break your day. Sitting there with her makeup on and her straightened hair, talking about how she likes that camp gives her the freedom to be herself and not worry about any of that stuff.
I'm not against the wearing of makeup. But I'm for the idea that camp is a place of freedom where "cool" can be redefined, and society's standards aren't the end all and be all. Wear eyeliner on your nose. Or don't wear it at all. Wear old clothes. Wear crazy outfits. Rock out the one piece bathing suit and crazy tan lines. Figure out who you are, and have the freedom to embrace it!
12.13.2009
Camp and Technology
The other day, @CampLeadership started a discussion on twitter about whether or not summer camps should allow campers to use cell phones to text and tweet from camp. My immediate reaction was "absolutely not", but I try not to dismiss new ideas before thinking them all the way through. It's been on my mind ever since, and yesterday I read a blog post that he had written (http://campleadership.wordpress.com/2009/12/12/texting-is-good-for-camp/) about the same subject. After I read the post, I was driving to meet some friends, and just couldn't get this whole camp-technology thing out of my head.
There are plenty of reasons I was immediately against it--the logistics of it, the potential for parents to get overly involved in camp, the fact that camp promotes re-connecting with nature and that can be easier to do with limited technology, the fact that phones can get lost or broken... the list could go on and on. There are a lot of really good reasons to leave your phone at home when you head to camp. But then it struck me--THE reason I am so adamantly against camps letting their campers bring cell phones/tweet/etc.
In my opinion, THE reason to keep campers separated from their technology for a camp session is the culture of camp. Part of what makes camp what it is, is that camp is literally "its own little world". Camp has its own traditions, its own slang, its own culture, a different pace of life, and I think that is appealing. When you are at camp you are only with those people. You have limited distractions to keep you from fully enjoying the moment. There is a magic to camp, that is in part its separation from the rest of the world.
Some campers are experiencing their first time away from their parents--the first time they get to make their own choices. How empowering for them to know that they can choose what activity to go to, and can be responsible to get themselves there. For that camper who is SO homesick at the beginning of the week, but their counselor works through it with them, and at the closing campfire, they are sobbing because they don't want to go home--give them their cell phone, and they are going to be working through it with mom or dad instead of their counselor, and they'll miss out on the triumph of knowing they made it on their own for the first time. Separation from parents for a week, two or three, can give campers the chance to discover more about who they are, and what they are interested in, without pressure to try mom's favorite activity or be the best at dad's favorite sport.
Now--I definitely think camps should embrace social media and technology. Post some pictures for parents to see what is going on, use twitter, facebook and blogs to share what might be happening at camp. Do whatever works for your camp as far as social media--but keep that separation for the campers. Let your full-time staff handle the communication and help parents feel comfortable with the fact that they aren't able to just send their kids a text. Camps have to change with the times just like everyone else, but for 150 years summer camp has been about reconnecting with nature and disconnecting with the outside world. Should we change one of the core aspects of camp just for the sake of convenience?
If you are running a good camp, your campers are already marketing for you through social media. The minute they get home, they are posting their camp pictures on facebook, setting their status as "I miss camp", joining groups and fan pages about your camp, and if you are doing a really good job, whatever social media tools they use will reflect their love of camp all year long. I think the fact that they are talking about camp six months after the fact is more valuable than in the moment. There is a "I can't even really describe it to you, its something that you have to experience for yourself" feel to the stories and pictures they share throughout the year, and that is powerful.
Technology is great, and I love social media, but in the case of camp, part of its allure for campers is the separation from the rest of the world during those summer sessions. Give them their cell phones, and I think you are decreasing the value of the camping experience.
There are plenty of reasons I was immediately against it--the logistics of it, the potential for parents to get overly involved in camp, the fact that camp promotes re-connecting with nature and that can be easier to do with limited technology, the fact that phones can get lost or broken... the list could go on and on. There are a lot of really good reasons to leave your phone at home when you head to camp. But then it struck me--THE reason I am so adamantly against camps letting their campers bring cell phones/tweet/etc.
In my opinion, THE reason to keep campers separated from their technology for a camp session is the culture of camp. Part of what makes camp what it is, is that camp is literally "its own little world". Camp has its own traditions, its own slang, its own culture, a different pace of life, and I think that is appealing. When you are at camp you are only with those people. You have limited distractions to keep you from fully enjoying the moment. There is a magic to camp, that is in part its separation from the rest of the world.
Some campers are experiencing their first time away from their parents--the first time they get to make their own choices. How empowering for them to know that they can choose what activity to go to, and can be responsible to get themselves there. For that camper who is SO homesick at the beginning of the week, but their counselor works through it with them, and at the closing campfire, they are sobbing because they don't want to go home--give them their cell phone, and they are going to be working through it with mom or dad instead of their counselor, and they'll miss out on the triumph of knowing they made it on their own for the first time. Separation from parents for a week, two or three, can give campers the chance to discover more about who they are, and what they are interested in, without pressure to try mom's favorite activity or be the best at dad's favorite sport.
Now--I definitely think camps should embrace social media and technology. Post some pictures for parents to see what is going on, use twitter, facebook and blogs to share what might be happening at camp. Do whatever works for your camp as far as social media--but keep that separation for the campers. Let your full-time staff handle the communication and help parents feel comfortable with the fact that they aren't able to just send their kids a text. Camps have to change with the times just like everyone else, but for 150 years summer camp has been about reconnecting with nature and disconnecting with the outside world. Should we change one of the core aspects of camp just for the sake of convenience?
If you are running a good camp, your campers are already marketing for you through social media. The minute they get home, they are posting their camp pictures on facebook, setting their status as "I miss camp", joining groups and fan pages about your camp, and if you are doing a really good job, whatever social media tools they use will reflect their love of camp all year long. I think the fact that they are talking about camp six months after the fact is more valuable than in the moment. There is a "I can't even really describe it to you, its something that you have to experience for yourself" feel to the stories and pictures they share throughout the year, and that is powerful.
Technology is great, and I love social media, but in the case of camp, part of its allure for campers is the separation from the rest of the world during those summer sessions. Give them their cell phones, and I think you are decreasing the value of the camping experience.
*This article from the Boston Globe gives an insight to what campers are saying about the lack of technology at camp http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/family/articles/2009/08/01/unplugged_at_summer_camp/?page=2
12.11.2009
Best Christmas present ever?
Earlier this week, a mom called the office asking for some camp DVDs to be sent to her--she wanted to wrap them up and give them to her kids for Christmas, so they could see what she was really getting them: a week at camp. The more I thought about that, the more I decided it very well might be one of the best Christmas presents ever. I don't remember a whole lot of specific Christmas gifts from my childhood, but I do clearly remember and cherish my camp experiences growing up.
It's easy for Christmas to turn into another giant spending occasion. Kids love getting toys and presents. But toys break, they grow out of clothes, and things go out of style. While through the years, there are memorable gifts here and there, I love the idea of giving an experience for Christmas.
Giving a session of camp gives the recipient something to look forward to beyond Christmas. Watching the camp DVD, looking at the website and brochures gives them something tangible to plan for and anticipate. It gives the opportunity to try new things, make new friends, build their character, and spend time learning and growing. It's more than just something to add to your collection of stuff--it is a memory to be made!
It's easy for Christmas to turn into another giant spending occasion. Kids love getting toys and presents. But toys break, they grow out of clothes, and things go out of style. While through the years, there are memorable gifts here and there, I love the idea of giving an experience for Christmas.
Giving a session of camp gives the recipient something to look forward to beyond Christmas. Watching the camp DVD, looking at the website and brochures gives them something tangible to plan for and anticipate. It gives the opportunity to try new things, make new friends, build their character, and spend time learning and growing. It's more than just something to add to your collection of stuff--it is a memory to be made!
12.03.2009
It's the little things
We've been re-doing our office at camp, and as new walls have been going up and bathrooms are being reconstructed, we've been coming up with all kinds of little things to make the office look even better. New pictures on the walls, clipboards with our logo, reorganizing the space--lots of little details that are quickly adding up to make it look like a whole new office!
Every time someone comes up with another idea for a detail we can tweak to make it just that much better, I get so excited to see how everything is coming together. So I've been thinking a lot about the details. It's great--and important--to have the big picture in place. You have to know what you are about, and why you are doing what you do. But it is the details that separate an average experience from a great experience.
When I was a kid, I went to three other camps before ending up where I am now. I had fun at all of them, but when I got to Kanata, there was no doubt in my mind that this was the place for me. From the outside, all of the camps appeared relatively similar: all co-ed, around the same size, facilities pretty comparable, the same general activities were offered. But at Kanata, the counselors had an energy that the other camps didn't have. The staff appeared to be a lot closer. When you got to camp, there was a poster on the outside of your cabin with your name on it. You didn't have to buy a camp t-shirt at the store--you were given one as soon as you got there. The counselors made a point of going around to each bed and saying "goodnight" to each camper individually. Cheering in the dining hall was a lot more fun because everyone was so excited about it. There was a song that we all sang together before going to campfire (that's where the name of my blog came from!). On Saturday when you left, you were sent home with a picture of your cabin.
At the time, I had no idea that all of these details were what added up to make my camp experience at Kanata so much more memorable than at other camps, but more and more I realize that it's the little things that can make a really big difference.
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