Summer Camp Magazine | Camp Magazine | Summer Camps 2021| CampNavigator Magazine by CampNavigator

T H E U LT I M AT E M A G A Z I N E F O R C A M P E R S , P A R E N T S & FA M I L I E S

Vol. 10, Issue 1 | www.CampNavigator.com

HOW TO PREPARE FOR SLEEPAWAY CAMP 15USEFUL BENEFITS OF SUMMER CAMPS FOR KIDS SPECIAL NEEDS SUMMER CAMPS FOR KIDS: THINGS YOU MUST KNOW

HOW SPORT CAN ENHANCE OUR NEW YEAR OPTIMISM WHILST KEEPING AWAY THOSE WINTER BLUES.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Welcome! It’s hard to believe but spring is right around the corner. It’s time to start thinking about Camp again. Start asking ourselves some questions. Are you considering enrolling your child in a Spring or Summer Camp? Have you already secured your child’s spot for Camp? For those of you who have kids that are interested in spring & summer camp programs, now is the perfect time to start your search. Take a moment out of your busy day to sit down with your children and discuss the upcoming camp season, sessions, and activities that are most appealing to them. Create a search list, do some research, and contact your shortlisted camps. Have some fun with it and take advantage of early registration pricing in the process. In this issue we showcase an amazing Soccer Camp that caters to everyone involved in the game. We feature a Summer Camp that inspires confidence instead of competition. We showcase an amazing Performing Arts camp. We feature a wonderful Science camp that

lets kids explore their favorite science topics. We showcase a fantastic Animal Interaction that is both educational and inspirational. We feature an amazing Diabetes Summer Camp that offers fun and support for children and their families. We share some fantastic camp pictures, amazing camp videos, interviews with Camp Directors, and provide much more information about Summer Camp. CampNavigator gives parents accurate, insightful and valuable information, empowering them to make informed decisions about summer camp. CampNavigator Magazine shares knowledge to enrich the lives of children, youth and adults through the camp experience. Make your 2021 Summer Camp experience the best yet. We hope you enjoy this issue of CampNavigator Magazine! Jeff Nadeau

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EDITOR IN CHIEF

MAILBAG

Your rants and raves..

Jeffery Nadeau

ART EDITOR

T H E U LT I M AT E M A G A Z I N E F O R C A M P E R S , P A R E N T S & FA M I L I E S

Wishesh Digital Media

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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Peter Arch, Miriam Peretsman, David Brian Stuart, Ashley Napear, Dave and Aleaha Wacker, Ruby Draves, Maddie Cofer, Caroline Meyer, Heather Norton, Caroline Kern, Julia Hunt

TO CONTRIBUTE / ADVERTISE Jeffery Nadeau eMag@CampNavigator.com

The Benefits of DIABETES CAMP 3 REASONS WHY EXPLORING NATURE AND WILDLIFE IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST: HAVING FUN AT ZOO CAMP

BACK ISSUES & ENQUIRIES Jeffery Nadeau jeffn@CampNavigator.com

THREE REASONS TO ENROLL YOUR YOUNG EINSTEIN OR CURIE IN A STEM-ORIENTED SUMMER CAMP

ISSUE PUBLISHED BY Wishesh Digital Media

PARENTS - WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN A SOCCER CAMP? SUMMER CAMP: THE FUN WAY TO LEARN VALUABLE LEADERSHIP SKILLS THE PERFORMING ARTS ARE FUN! CAMP IS FUN! BUT LET’S DIG DEEPER!

INVITE COMMUNITY INTO YOUR DAUGHTER’S STRUGGLES

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The entire contents of CampNavigator are copyright 2021 by CampNavigator. All rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or part, or use without written permission of the publisher, of editorial, pictorial, or design content, including electronic retrieval system is prohibited in the United States & foreign countries. The trademark and tradename CampNavigator is owned by CampNavigator. The publisher does not assume responsibility for statements or work by advertisers. All submissions to CampNavigator are made on the basis of a license to publish the submission in CampNavigator. While every care is taken, neither CampNavigator nor its agents accept any liability for loss or damage. Our contributors offer a diversity of views; their opinions are their own and not necessarily shared by Wishesh Info Media.

Special thanks to our contributors, advertisers, and readers for making this magazine possible.

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Elsa

Wow, your website looks excellent. Great work developing everything.

Keith

Thanks so much. I deeply appreciate your offer of a listing and am sure it will provide us with exposure. Have a great day.

Erica Thank you for the email today. I like your site. The set-up is much easier than the pay sites I am on, the layout is also as good if not better than the other pay sites.

Matthew

Thank you CampNavigator.com, you made the listing process very easy! I appreciate it.

Chelsea

Thanks so much for all your help and I look forward to seeing how successful CampNavigator becomes.

Chris

I just checked out the listing that you did for our camp and it looks great!

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! EMAIL

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Contents 2021

CHALLENGER SPORTS CAMP

HOW TO PREPARE FOR SLEEPAWAY CAMP

CLEARWATER CAMP FOR GIRLS

15USEFUL BENEFITS OF SUMMER CAMPS

CAMP INVENTION

NORTHWOOD CAMP

SPECIAL NEEDS SUMMER CAMPS FOR KIDS

TOP 5 REASONS TO ENROLL YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD

OCEANS OF FUN

DIABETES CAMP

CAMP HORIZONS

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How sport can enhance our New Year optimism whilst keeping away those winter blues. On the evening of the 31st December as the bells chime, for most people around the world, it is a time of optimism & excitement. It is the time when many of us make New Year resolutions with a variety of well laid out plans! The typical promises made to oneself are exercising more, eating less unhealthy foods & in general to try to be a better person. There is typically a business bump for all gyms by a 15% leap across the board. However, the dedication to stick to the gym is often found unwanted as statistically only 80% of paying members actually attend their local gym 6

even though they have a membership. But this past year alone (that horrible number of 2020) we can all be forgiven for having different reasons for not being out as much as we used to â&#x20AC;Ś

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I am sure we can all agree that just getting to the end of 2020 was an achievement in itself as the horrific pandemic continues to wreak havoc upon the whole world. Many families & businesses have suffered

this past year but going back to the start of this blog I want everyone to remember that this is a time to look forward and not backward. How exactly we do that can only be down to each individual, as no matter what life throws at you there is always a positive to take away, no matter how small or big that might be. A famous line that I was always given to me by my mum is to “not to worry or be concerned about the future, as you can get knocked down by a bus tomorrow” and that for me tells me to enjoy what you

have in life while making the best out of what comes your way. As I said those little positives can come in various forms & for many of us the excitement of sports is one thing to help lift the excitement of a person’s point of view. The first weekend of the year saw the Cleveland Browns make the playoffs for the first time in 18 years. Similarly, we saw the Buffalo Bills win their division for the first time in 26 years, ending the domination of the New England Patriots

who have won every year since 2008. This shows that as a fan group you don’t give up on your team and you continue to support through the thick & thin of disappointment in the belief that your team will come good once again. Apply that same thought process to life right now and it will keep you moving forward. Being a Pats fan myself, I have been asked by fans of other teams “how will you survive as a fan not winning the Superbowl

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CHALLENGER SPORTS CAMP each year?” It is simple … my soccer team Glasgow Rangers have just gone 10 years without winning anything but it is looking like changing in 2021 & my national soccer team (Scotland) has not even qualified for a tournament since 1998 but managed to do so at the end of 2020, and will play in the European Championships this upcoming summer. My love and devotion for both never wavered and with a little patience, both looked to have got there in the end. Even if your team isn’t winning anything, for soccer fans there is something else that the month of Jan alone brings excitement & fun via … and that is the January transfer window! The transfer window was introduced to European

soccer leagues back in the 02/03 season with 2 windows being open, 1 in the summer & then 1 in January. Prior to that transfers could happen pretty much at any time of the calendar year! Beyond those dates, teams were not allowed to buy or sell players. The thought process was to make the season more competitive and stop the teams with bigger budgets simply buying players to strengthen at will or weaken their opponents by signing the smaller team’s best player just before both teams played each other. The theory was also that it would force teams, managers & coaches to work harder to improve their abilities rather than buying their way out. But probably inadvertently it had a huge impact on the fans of the sport as it went from being able to buy players year-round to those set dates to get players in. Kind of like making Christmas twice a year rather than all year round. As much as many of us would say (just like Wizard) that they wished it could be Christmas every day, it would lose its magic & the build up sometimes is

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almost as much fun! So the January window became the soccer version of the Black Friday/ boxing day sales when every man, woman, child & soccer team were out looking for bargains.

normally the dullest month of the year anyway (except for fans whose NFL team made the playoffs). A little bit of hope & excitement in sport is always a good cure for the winter blues.

The belief that your team’s fortunes can change by getting that special player brings new vigor to life & let’s face it January is

As that famous 80’s rock band Poison said, “give me something to believe in” & that is just what January does! Regardless if it is a

new soccer player being signed or your NFL team finally getting close to the Super Bowl January can be a wild ride….and as we all know regardless of those 2 possibilities, 2021 has to be better, right!?!?

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Thinking of sending your child to Sleepaway camp?

Summer is a time for kids to relax, play and 1. ILLNESS: have fun. Sleepaway camps allow kids to do all Some of the most common of this while bringing them closer to nature.

WHAT IS A ENSURE A SAFE SLEEPAWAY CAMP? EXPERIENCE AT OVERNIGHT CAMP? Sleepaway camps are places away from home where kids stay for an extended period of time. They are a place where kids build lifelong friendships and memories. These are places where children build their independence and selfconfidence.

HOW DO YOU 10

Parents should be aware of the difficulties and issues a child may come across at camp. The following list contains difficulties your child might experience at camp and shares tips to prepare them for a safe overnight summer camp experience.

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health problems that children may encounter are:

FEVER Upper respiratory tract infections Skin infections Lice and scabies Insect Bites Heat or cold related illness Homesickness Behavioral or psychiatric conditions

PREVENTION: Parents should check with camp authorities to

Ask your child to do the following things: Get support: Ask your child to inform you and the camp staff if they are being bullied. Walk away and ignore: Ask your child to walk away from a bully to deescalate the situation. Be Persistent: Ask your child to keep reporting the bullying until someone does something about it.

determine if a camp nurse will be on staff and if the camp is capable and has a process of addressing and treating these common illnesses.

2. BULLYING: Bullying can happen in many places, including summer camp. Bullying will negatively affect a child’s summer camp experience.

PREVENTION: Teach your child what bullying is and how to face it.

Try not to be alone with the bully: Ask your child to limit the interaction time with the bully. Ask them to be around counselors and camp authorities for the majority of the time.

9 WAYS TO PREPARE FOR SLEEPAWAY CAMP: Summer Camps help children grow socially and emotionally. Here are some tips to get help your child get ready for Sleep away camp.

1. TRY A SLEEPOVER Try a few sleepovers at your friend’s or relative’s home. Sleepovers are a great way to find out how comfortable

your child is away from their home.

2. GO SHOPPING! Involving your child in camp preparation will help to build excitement towards summer camp. Let your child shop with you for camp essentials.

3. TEACH YOUR CHILD HOW TO DEAL WITH EMOTIONS: Make sure to teach your child that homesickness and anxiety are normal feelings that all children face when they go to sleepaway camp. Emphasize that you are sending him/her to enjoy a great camp experience and that they can contact you any time they need you. However, not all camps allow cellphones. If your child’s camp allows cellphones, implement a plan for how many times your child can call home.

4. MAKE IT EASIER TO MAKE FRIENDS: Sometimes kids worry whether they will be able to make friends at camp. Remind your child to be a good sport and demonstrate team work

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How to Prepare for Sleepaway Camp when involved with camp programs.

5. KNOW EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION Make sure you to have all necessary information like summer camp phone numbers, physical camp addresses, camp director and camp office email id’s, etc. just in case you need to contact your child in an emergency. Additionally, make sure your child has your phone number and all contact details programmed on their phone or accessible to them while at camp. Have this emergency contact information before your child leaves for camp.

6. MAKE HEALTH HISTORY AVAILABLE Some camps require health history of up to 12 months and a physical exam. Make sure you have the information ready as the health form will need to be completed and turned in prior to enrollment in the camp.

7. DON’T MAKE PROMISES Don’t promise your child that he /she can come back home at any time if they feel homesick. Emphasize that you expect them to have an 12

amazing time at summer camp.

8. PACK SMART Ensure that you take the time to pack all of the necessary things to make your child’s camp trip hassle free. Here are the few packing tips for the Sleepaway camp: a. Talk to the Camp Office Look into specifics of camp programs, sessions, activities, camp location etc. This will help you create the right list of supplies to pack for your child rather than guessing and packing what you think they should bring with. b. Pack Enough Snacks Some of the best camp snacks are – popcorn, carrot coins, single-serving chocolate, peanut butter cookies, cereals, cheese puffs, single serving fruits or vegetables. c. Write Down Your Child’s Needs: Provide written documentation of your child’s special dietary needs. Also, include information on any food allergies your child has. This will allow the camp director to plan accordingly ahead of time to ensure there are no issues at meal

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time. d. Label Everything Make sure that you label everything with stickers. Labeling things will avoid arguments when kids inevitably bring the same things in the same type of backpacks / bags.

e. Address Homesickness: If it’s your child’s first trip to Sleepaway camp, chances are they will be homesick. Pack them something special which will remind them of home – a picture, gift, stuffed animal, their favorite storybook, photo album, etc.

9. AVOID A LONG TEARFUL GOOD BYE! A tearful goodbye might make your child feel like they are leaving you alone and moving away from you. Remember, this is a growth opportunity for your child and they need your support, guidance, and partnership from the very beginning. Assure your child that they will have great experiences that will make memories that last a lifetime.

How to Prepare for Sleepaway Camp

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DISCOVER

CLEARWATER CAMP FOR GIRLS

- By Ellen King

There is not a parent out there that doesn’t want the best for their kids. After all, who knows them better? So if you’ve decided that an all-girls camp experience is the way to go, you are probably looking for a camp that can give your daughter the time of her life. If top qualities are for it to be safe and fun (that is a given, right?), then the camp must rise as a distinctive and special place for your daughter. Knowing this, consider Clearwater Camp for Girls located in the beautiful Northwood’s of Wisconsin. What makes Clearwater Camp for Girls unique? Clearwater is an extraordinary combination of people, place, and spirit, which makes the days each girl spends at camp more than memorable. We mix in our 83+ years of camping and collaborate with parents and their daughters in crafting their time at camp. Add in the following philosophies and you have a camp designed for an educational experience that provides dividends far into her future.

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CLEARWATER IS NONCOMPETITIVE. We value a girl’s best efforts rather than give awards.

Clearwater focuses on the

goals and accomplishments of each of our girls. Whether it be standing up on water skis or holding a mainsheet for the first time, each new effort gets recognized in the dining hall, and girls take pride in trying something new. Clearwater campers improve their skills with few external rewards, leaving each girl the now rare experience of doing something purely for the joy of improving her skill and a personal sense of accomplishment.

CLEARWATER IS FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY. Girls that experience a summer at Clearwater regularly call it their “second home” and our campers return with such consistency that many alumnae view Clearwater as a place where their core values were shaped. Campers are strategically placed in cabins of

four to six girls with similarly aged campers.

our oldest campers can go out for a trip as

The girls also find an identity based on their

long as 10 days and can choose from sea

age group as a Harbor, Cape, or Point girl.

kayaking, canoeing in the Boundary Waters,

We intentionally schedule cabin, unit, and

hiking in Isle Royale, and more.

mixed-age activities to encourage campers to bond in their cabin as well as with

OUR

campers of different ages. One such way

Clearwater is lucky to be located on

we build community is during meal times,

beautiful 3,400 acre Tomahawk Lake and

where campers of all ages are carefully

nestled into a 200-acre conservancy area.

placed together.

This provides miles of forest pathways for

WE VALUE OUR TRADITIONS.

LOCATION

AIN’T

BAD.

our horseback riding, mountain biking, and nature exploration classes. Clearwater also

While Clearwater Camp’s traditions have

has a 5-acre private island which divides the

evolved, Clearwater’s spirit, philosophy, and

waterfront into two bays. The southern bay

culture have not changed since 1933. The

is home to sailing, kayaking, and swimming

Clearwater culture encourages campers to

and the northern bay is home to water

try new things, advance in each activity, and

skiing, wake-boarding, and our historic

to make lifelong friendships. Founder Sarah

boathouse which houses canoeing and

Holiday Sprague originally conceptualized

arts and crafts. Cabin names have a sailing

camp during Christmastime, and to this

theme, where you can find Harbor cabins

day, Clearwater celebrates “Christmas”

spread along the mainland, our Cape

during the camp season to commemorate

cabins on the nearer side of the island, and

our beginning. Many of our traditions

our Point Cabins on the farther side of the

remain unchanged, which allows our

island.

current campers to feel connected to the Clearwater daughters who came before them.

OUR PROGRAMMING PROVIDES A UNIQUE BALANCE. We offer more than 25 program areas and every camper receives their own personalized schedule. Activities vary from archery, horseback riding, water skiing, canoeing, sailing, sketching, drama, and much more! Each camper is scheduled into these activities weekly. Additionally, each

Clearwater is a place where girls come to be themselves and experience life outside of societal pressures. Campers are exposed to challenges different from those faced at home (e.g. tripping, sharing a living space). A Clearwater girl is encouraged to believe that she can do anything from portaging canoes, to starting a campfire, and organizing events. Clearwater girls are destined to become leaders.

camper goes out on an overnight canoeing or hiking trip. Our youngest campers leave camp for a one day-one night trip, whereas

CAMP VIDEO

VIRTUAL TOUR

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CLEARWATER CAMP FOR GIRLS founded in 1933 We strive to foster confidence, courage, compassion, and community – four points on Clearwater’s compass – by providing a traditional sleep away camp experience for girls. Sessions available in 2 weeks, 3 1/2 weeks, and 7 weeks.

Minocqua, WI 1-800-399-5030

h c t a s t! nWe w e! ur e o h e r v id

www.clearwatercamp.org

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1 W , a u q Minoc

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Useful Benefits Of Summer Camps For Kids For children summer break is all about camps, playing games, relaxing, doing fun activities, making new friends, joining new camps etc. As a parents it is a very major part of your responsibility to take few step forwards towards giving a proper summer camps for kids. Well in this article we will focus on the various benefits of summer camps for kids that you are not even aware of. So just scroll down the article to find out the advantages of summer camps for kids.

Benefits Of Summer Camps For Kids1. Develops Lifelong Skills: As in summer camp,the children come across with variety of group activities and members. For instance while participating in a sport like a volleyball or bowling, a child learns how to work on a team, and communicate with other children and solve problems on their own. This circumstances or sistution helps the child to learn pr develop a lot of variety

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children together in an environment that encourages a greater sense of community and appreciation for individual differences, whereas school environment focuses mainly on academic achievement.

2. Promotes Independence: This a time frame where the child stay away from their parents, so the children get a chance to learn the sense of independence in them. That leads to develop a sense of identity in later course of time. The children gets a chance to discover their strengths and weaknesses. Independence is vital to becoming a selfsufficient adult.The benefits of summer camps for kids is that it help them transition to independence as they explore the world in a new and exciting way. It also helps boost

of life long skills.

a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self-esteem. Independence means

This also leads the child to develop develop leadership skills,or a child will develop stronger

communication

skills

while

communicating with one another. The very most important life long skills a child learns is the power of decision-making skills. This come on their way as they face challenges and overcome obstacles while trying new and exciting activities. All these skills are important in the real world and are nurtured in summer camp which will help them in later

teaching responsibility. This encouraging exploration and providing a safe environment for a child to make decisions independently. All this a child gets to lean in summer camps.

3. Teaches Teamwork: This doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any relations with what the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interests are, about whether it be sports or arts and crafts. The summer camp

course of time.

program engage the kids in activities that

A summer camp environment just brings

life skill that is required in each and every

require teamwork. Team work is an essential spirit of life. www.CampNavigator.com Vol. 10, Issue 1

15 Useful Benefits Of Summer Camps For Kids a child learn the opportunity to graps the skill Children will learn to work together, whether

of resiliency. The resiliency is an essential life

they are playing during Drama Rama at Camp

skill as it means to get up and push forward

Seneca, conducting a scientific experiment

after an inevitable setback. The camp create

during Weird Science Week or playing a

an good environment for many challenges

round of golf at Golf Camp. Teamwork

and to practice overcoming challenges.

matters a lot in life as it helps to develop the communication skills, emotional intelligence

The child can get to know that practice will

and leadership skills.

make them a better player. The child will otherwise will learn not to give up and to

An understanding of teamwork helps a child

keep trying till they get success. Once they

realize working with others is sometimes the

make it to the top, they will feel stronger and

most efficient way to get things done. They

more resilient than they did before.

will value teamwork as a solution, rather than think they need to handle tasks on their

The benefits of summer camp for kids is that

own. As a result, children will grow up with

it teaches the value of effort and helps kids to

an eagerness to be active members of their

believe in themselves as they can overcome

community.

challenges with their own determination, patience and a drive. It also teaches positive

4. Teaches Resiliency:

outlets to cope with life struggles, and this

Here comes with an important advantages of

camping buddies to help them leap over

summer camps for kids. From summer camps

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leads to build a strong support system of obstacles.

15 Useful Benefits Of Summer Camps For Kids

5. Camps helps to build a Unique Interest: This is the major summer camps benefits for

Read also: Top 5 summer games for kids

6. Camps Allow For A Deep Dive Into New Skill:

kids. Schools are not the place where the kids will learn the scope for certain unique interest

Here comes with another benefits of summer

such as archery, entrepreneurship and many

camps for kids . it varries a lot even the school

more , well this skills they get a chance to

does offer â&#x20AC;&#x153;differentâ&#x20AC;? activities, but where as

build in camps with different children around

the summer camp allows for a deeper dive

them.

into new skill for the kids. Give your kids more a specific skill-building in a sport like

There are number of camps that are

Lacrosse.

specialized in such activities. As per research there are about 14.000 camps in US as

These all opportunities exist at camp, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

founded by the American Camp Association

tough to find such focused activity elsewhere.

(R)

Not to mention that if it is something like coding you choose this summer, there are

Summer camps are the place where the child

a number of benefits of technology for

the child gets the opportunity to learn or gain

children, on top of the camp benefits.kids

experience. As camps are good, distraction

and teens are able to really get out of their

free, and allows the kids to kick the tires on a

comfort zone to take some risks with their

new interest.

skills, without the looming fear of failure and resulting repercussions

7. Friendship Building: If you want your kids to learn the real meaning of friendship then put them in summer camp. As a result they will able to cope with the special skill in life which is friendship. This plays an important role in each segment of life. It is founded that the children who interact with like- minded pears are able to easily built friendships which are rotated in similar

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15 Useful Benefits Of Summer Camps For Kids

interest. This relationship can even leads to

benefits to understand the benefits of play.

even more in later phase of life. The students do have networking, and have names to call on a side project,and that helps in finding an

9. Provide Fun Screen -Free

internship, or even starting a new businesses with the friend they met a at a summer camp.

8. Make Time For Play: Here comes with a major summer camps benefits for kids. Where as in school the children has a routine life with full on academic pressure. The children gets less time to play, but at summer camps the things are different. At summer camps the children gets a scope to play a lot and have more fun time with their friends and children around them. summer camp is more relaxing than the school regular routine. It doesn’t provides time and freedom for spontaneous play for the kids. Playing is very much important for the child as it helps in the proper child development. This as a results leads to develop creative thinking skill and explore their imagination through play. Playtime creates a safe place for children to express their thoughts and emotions, creating stronger and happier kids.plays helps the children to learn to interact with the world around them. They also helps to resolve conflicts, and build negotiating skills and relieve stress. There are “n” numbers of

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Activities: The bigger advantages of summer camps for kids is that the kids stay away from the electronic gazards and other screen free elements. In today’s world the children spend more time in all this elements than doing any

15 Useful Benefits Of Summer Camps For Kids

physical activities. As per studies the children

opportunities to engage their minds in other

spend more than seven and a half hours (R)

ways than the screen activities.

a day in front of a screen, whether that be on a mobile device, in front of a TV or at a

10. Encourages a connection with nature: Staying connect with nature is also an important aspect that the kids should learn or get expose with. This will help them to lean the value of the environment they are used to. The nature stimulates all smell and sense. So when the child is outdoor they get to see, touch, hear, smell, and taste also. So nature helps a lot in this aspect.it is believed that the sensory developments makes life richer,fuller and more pleasurable. The outdoor time encourage the child to develop the physical, mental, emotional, well being. In out side environment the children are free to run. Skip, jump, climb.laugh, breath etc. More over they get to expose to the Vitamin D from the sun.

11. Build Self Esteem: computer playing a video games. This as a results hampers a child sleeping time, reading etc. It affects negatively on performance of

The best part of positive benefits of summer camps for kids is that it helps to build self esteem. At the summer camps the kids

the child on school.

has the opportunity to achieve, whether

Camp helps in connecting children to the

painting. In summer camp the kids have an

joy of life beyond the screen. In all our camp programs, children will have endless

that be to catch a fish or to paint their first less competitive environment than school. As we know that achievement is the main

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15 Useful Benefits Of Summer Camps For Kids

ingredient in self-esteem. Self esteem is an

camp activities, such as swimming, painting,

important aspect in life as it helps to make

physical activities, etc and makes the camps

decision in life about how we carry our self in

unique. Camps gives the kids an environment

the world around us.

or ambience to develop their inner skill and interest as I said above also.

Some of the important decision we take care in our life such as career, relationship, etc . This all decision influence your self esteem. The kids gets the the opportunity to learn self esteem through taking action and earning through results. The kids learns the value to learn themselves.

12. Forster Growth:

13. Confidence: The best benefits of summer camps for kids is that it helps the kids to gain or learn confidence, With the spirit of activity and growth comes success or failure for the kids. No matter what games it is all about. It may be basketball or 3D modeling each activity comes with its own set of milestones and

One of the biggest benefits of summer camp

tests.

is it takes children out of their comfort zone and pushes them to try new things, as well

There are certain activities that might be

as explore their established interests as per

brand new to your child, while others could

the kids age and surrounding. The kids grow

be extensions of what they already know.

well as they develop their skills of doing their

Some of the kids have never played tennis

favorite activities in their own way of out of it.

before, or perhaps theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve played tennis but have never attempted an overhand serve.

The children at the summer camps develop new skills as they try activities that they have

On the court and learning to play tennis,

never tried before. By the end of the summer

or even by putting together in form of an

camp the child will leave the place with a

overhand serve,leads to an level of increase

stronger sense of identity and a better idea

factors in confidence in kids. By leaving the

of what they love, and hate, what they like

camp the kids with internal support strong

to do and what they dislike to do. This skills

enough to compel them to try out for the

help them to choose a career path in the

school tennis team. This will guide them to

future also. In the summer camps the kids

what they deserve to be in life.

get the chance to participate in traditional

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15 Useful Benefits Of Summer Camps For Kids

14. Teaches kids to respect Difference: In summer camp, children do come up with different caste, creed, socio economic status, background etc . the kids gets a chance to learn or work with other children in order to accomplish common goals. This can be to build a shelter or win a baseball game. Children will gain exposure to different viewpoints and opinions while engaging in a lot of variety of activities they are engaged into. They will learn to accept not everyone has the same perspective or beliefs they do. They will also learn that to accomplish a goal with others, or to live and play in harmony, they must respect and work with differences. As we all know that summer camp creates an positive environment that encourages respect and consideration for others that are surrounded by you. Children get praise for including others and behaving respectfully.

15. Promotes Growth In A Safe Environment:

provides a safe, comforting and structured environment. Campers follow a schedule and routine, which provides a sense of security. This structure also teaches responsibility and self-control. They get into a routine that encourages a decent night of sleep and healthy eating. Children may follow these habits far into adulthood. When a child feels safe and secure, they feel free to explore their interests, to play and to laugh. Camp gives kids a chance to express themselves and learn who they are. For children summer break is all about camps, playing games, relaxing, doing fun activities, making new friends, joining new camps etc. As a parents it is a very major part of your responsibility to take few step forwards towards giving a proper summer camps for kids. Summer camps are too good for kids. The parents should send their kids to the summer camps for the benefits of their kids to learn life skills and lessons. I hope this article has provided you a number of benefits of summer camps for kids. So do explore the kids with new

As we know that the kids enjoy the freedom

and innovative summer camps programs and

to play and choose the activities that interest

makes their holiday amazing and fun loving.

and motivate them. The summer camp also

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Invention Camp

Top 10 Ways to Raise an Innovator 1

Let Curiosity Be the Compass

Thomas Edison was curious about everything. His curiosity led to a model career in invention and innovation. When we empower children’s curiosity, we teach them to use their questions as a guiding compass. (Edison’s father once gave him a compass when he was sick in bed that served as a lifelong beacon of inspiration for him). 26

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Support Them in

Bringing

Their Ideas to Life If you speak with any inventor, they will highlight the importance of getting one’s thoughts and ideas into physical form. There are a million ways to make this happen— from sketching to modeling with clay to making 3D prototypes. The one critical aspect, however, is to move

an idea from a thought to reality, so that it continue to evolve in its novelty and usefulness.

Have Value

Grit-Building

Call it stick-to-itiveness, perseverance, or grit, children need to build skills in pushing past barriers and overcoming obstacles if they are to be successful in the 21st century. One of the best ways to do this is to identify projects that provide the right level of challenge—a balance of appropriate difficulty with the possibility for success.

Create Safe

Environments for Risk-Taking

It is so important that youth feel supported in taking chances with their thoughts and ideas. They need spaces where they can express themselves without fear of judgment—from others, as well as themselves. Additionally, they need to engage in activities where they employ creative and critical thinking—scenarios where there is more than one right answer.

Understand Their Ideas

Provide

Opportunities

Help them

The United States Patent System is built on a concept known as the Progress of the Useful Arts and Sciences (it is even featured in the Constitution). Inventors who have pursued patents have laid the stepping stones for innovation. Children should understand that their ideas are their Intellectual Property and they have the opportunity to help build the rich tapestry that has shaped our lives and society.

6 Use

from getting stuck?” You will be amazed at how this simple tweak in words invites solutions.

Invitational Language

In order to become a paradigm-shifting innovator, you must look at challenges as opportunities. As National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductee Garrett Brown (inventor of the Steadicam camera stabilizer) states, “Find the Gap!” Practice turning challenges into invitational questions. Instead of saying, “This door always gets stuck,” try saying, “How might we keep this door

Access to Role Models

Identity is a critical aspect of a child’s self-esteem. They need to see people who they feel they can emulate. By introducing children to a wide variety of inspiring individuals in the same role (e.g., scientists or innovators), the more likely they are to find role models with whom they resonate.

Give Them

Inspire Their

Entrepreneurial Side

It is not enough to have a great idea. It is critical to develop the skills to be able to communicate that idea and get others excited about it too—sometimes enough to invest in it. As children have opportunities to present (e.g., a school science project), log a little extra time helping them explore various methods of presenting. Entrepreneurs must be willing risk-takers who are able to hook the interest of others.

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Invention Camp

How Have We Gleaned These Insights? Make Reflection

the Star

Innovation is about iteration. It is about getting ideas into the world, testing them out, gathering feedback, making changes and adaptations, and applying insights from the process. Facilitating youth to think about their key learnings is paramount to helping them build deep reflection skills. And these skills are imperative to being a successful innovator.

Willing to 10 Be Grow Alongside Them

The only way we can inspire our children to innovate is if we, ourselves, demonstrate a willingness to be creative problem solvers, risk takers, and change makers. We must model how to make observations, employ empathy, explore the value of ideas, and evolve those ideas based on feedback and learning. As we do so, we are preparing the nation’s youth for jobs and fields that do not yet exist and unique challenges and opportunities our imaginations cannot yet fathom.

For more than 27 years, the National Inventors Hall of Fame team has been developing programs that are inspired, informed, and shaped by our nation’s greatest innovators. Our flagship program, Camp Invention, is specifically designed to reach children in their vital, formative years. Youth engage with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics), Creative Problem Solving, Teaming and Collaboration, Entrepreneurship, and Intellectual Property enrichment through the exciting lens of Innovation. This particular program has been running for more than a quarter of a century—annually partnering with more than 1,500 school districts across the country. To date, the National Inventors Hall of Fame, creators of Camp Invention, have impacted over 2 million children, teachers, parents, college students, and inventors through its outreach initiatives and have a presence in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Next summer, children will have the opportunity to personalize, test and take home their own line-tracing robot in Optibot™;

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catapult cupcakes in Stick to It™; try their skills at being high-tech vets in Robotic Pet Vet™; and design their own smart, interconnected homes in Mod My Mini Mansion™. In this program series, children receive invention advice, insights, and direct challenges from National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees. In addition to Camp Invention, the National Inventors Hall of Fame also serves preschoolers (through Invention Playground), middle school youth (through Invention Project), and college students (through the Collegiate Inventors Competition). The organization has leadership opportunities for middle school and high school students to be CounselorsIn-Training and Leadership Interns. Visit us at www.campinvention.org to type in your zip code and identify opportunities near you to be part of the next great wave of innovation!

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Promo Code: Navigator25 1,500+ programs nationwide throughout the summer. In Partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office

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Northwood Camp

Camp for

Autistic Spectrum Campers? Summer vacation for students on the autistic spectrum can be extremely challenging at best. The lack of routine and structure during the summer increase general anxiety, while a lack of social and recreational programming can further isolate children already trailing their peers in social development. Yet, this traditional school break can also present a unique opportunity for socially anxious and isolated students to immerse themselves in the 30

socially rich culture of summer camp. As an added bonus, these same students develop their independence as they learn how to transition away from home. All too often, parents of autistic spectrum children are unaware of summer camps that strive to provide socially therapeutic programming to this unique population. The general inclination is to feel that their children are not ready or able

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to make the break from home in order to experience what thousands of neurotypical children experience each summer in the camp setting. Yet, there are camps out there that specialize in providing exactly what autistic spectrum campers need in order to maximize their summer camp experience. Social skills, just as independence, cannot be learned in a vacuum, or at

Provide direct and formalized social skill instruction as well as ongoing support to reinforce their curriculum in order to help students internalize social strategies? Emphasize social skill development as a critical goal for the camp community and use traditional activities as the vehicle for achieving social goals? Recognize and acknowledge the debilitating impact that anxiety has on the performance level of autistic spectrum children? Create a daily structure and routine to reduce anxiety and in doing so, maximize social engagement? Provide age appropriate social opportunities for campers so that they can apply social skills in structured and supervised settings? Maintain a continuous social dialogue between campers and their counselors designed to reinforce skills or redirect behavior in real time to provide immediate feedback?

home. With the appropriate supports in place, there is no better setting for social skill development than a summer camp.

Foster a community environment in which non-competitive and non-judgmental programming deemphasizes competition, reduces anxiety and celebrates unique interests and skills?

What are these supports and how should families gauge a campâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to meet their childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cognitive and socially developmental needs? The criteria in the following list are critical factors to consider when families are seeking an appropriate camp for their autistic spectrum child.

Does the camp, their administration and cabin counselors: Understand the developmental needs of children on the spectrum; in particular the non-verbal processing and other learning challenges experienced by this population of students? www.CampNavigator.com Vol. 10, Issue 1

Northwood Camp

Age appropriate social skill development for students on the autistic spectrum is challenging at best. There are too many factors related to processing, anxiety, rigidity and immaturity to take your chances with programs not specifically prepared to provide the necessary supports and structure to foster success and growth. When researching camps to determine their ability to meet the needs of your child, don’t hesitate to ask plenty of questions and be honest and up front about your child’s strengths and weaknesses. It is in the family’s, camp’s and, most importantly, camper’s best interests to find the right summer camp community to meet their individual needs. There is no one camp out there that is able to meet the needs of every child. The community of camps is as diverse as the children we serve! Yet, there is a camp out there for every child! When a family finds the right match, their children find a second home that can provide a lifetime of wonderful memories as well as a community that they can call their own!

By: Gordon Felt

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SPECIAL NEEDS SUMMER CAMPS FOR KIDS:

Things You Must Know

If you are preventing your child from participating in the summer camps due to the special needs, you must think about it again. There are special needs summer camps which offer specialized medical care for specific disabilities along with one-toone buddies to cater to their needs. Your dream of letting 34

your child experience the summer camps can surely be fulfilled. Kids with needs are no exception. However, the idea for camping seems challenging to the parents and the kids too. Parents worry about the attention their kids might needs

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while camping and over the course of the days outdoors. Especially when the kids cannot participate in most of the outdoor activities fully. Will the other campers understand your child? Many such questions pop up as a worry in parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head. But the good news is that

many camps provide tutoring for individuals with disabilities along with outdoor activities. There are varied choices for kids with special needs and also have highly specialized camps to regulate their needs and accommodate special kids. Special needs camps do exist and lets your child experience the same as any other. Summer camps are enriching for your kids and you do not want them to miss on the experience and learning. But where should you start? To find the best summer camp for kids with special needs, you have to take into account many factors. The kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest and willingness to participate keeping in mind the age of the child and the best-suited camp for them. The duration, cost, and location follow. Special Needs Summer Camps For Kids There are some things you must consider for camps for kids with special needs before selecting it.

1. Know Who is Organizing It: You must know who is organizing the camp. The camps may be run by any groups such as the schools,

or down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, etc.

private organization or the recreational departments or any non-profit organizations. Your kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camping experience with the summer camp with special needs will depend on the people behind it and the organizers. It will impact the philosophy and activities that your kids will indulge in the camps daily. You have to make sure it is approved by you. The camps that are accredited by the American Camp Association are the ones you must look for as they meet the standards of the camp operations and take care of the quality and health and safety standards of the campers and staff.

2. Know the Type of Camps: Finding the right camp for your child is important. There are many different summer camps and thus figuring out the one that suits your child right is vital. Some camps serve the special needs for children such as diabetes,

The benefits of such camps for special needs help your little one to have an opportunity to be friends with the kids with similar needs and they do not feel different or uncomfortable. They get to learn a specific skill and cope up with strategies together.

There are also children camps with and without the special children or kids with disabilities. Thus parents whose kids are academically used to the integrated environment could choose such inclusive camps as the kids try to cope up to the environment.

3. Accessibility: Accessibility The children camps with special needs must cater to physical disability. Parents must inquire more about the accessibility feature of the camp areas. The building

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Special Needs Summer Camps For Kids: Things You Must Know

or the dining facilities or the other areas must be accessible. The campers might require accessible bathrooms with sinks and showers as per their needs. The safety measures at all the places like the trail or the pool or waterfront. Transportation to pick the child in the morning and drop at the evening as per their schedule must be catered to. Kid and adults with special needs must always get their answers to the needs and be aware of the camping area.

4. Medical and Behavioral Possibilities:

The medical staff must be fully aware of the medical conditions that your child is going through and the behavioral considerations that they will need to maintain and look after. The parents have to let their child being taken care of by other people in the camp. Based on the kid’s needs, you must tailor your questions to ask the camp organizers for special needs, such that they are able to handle your child’s special care. Questions like, how are the medications given? Are the staff qualified for behavioral training? How are the health related issues or illness in the camps dealt with? Such similar questions must be answered by the camp organizers for being sure to take care of a special child. Also, make a point to talk to your family doctor before going in for such camps. There would be many more questions popping a worried parent’s mind. And it is absolutely important to know what and where your kid is camping.

5. Preparations: The most important thing that comes into play here is how much you are prepared yourself as a parent and the 36

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ways you can prepare your child for their experience. You kid might not have been away from home for very long, however, even a single overnight or a weekend camp could make the child uncomfortable if not prepared well. The parents worry about homesickness that the kid could be suffering too. Being homesick is a part of the camp experience and it becomes the parent’s duty to keep them encouraged to fight this feeling beforehand. The parents who want to help their children out of homesickness must choose a camp with supportive and

warm staff such that the kids are not reminded of their home especially when they are looking for something. Bedtime routines or any other habit or routine must be shared with the staff of the camp organizers such that they could be of help to your child to follow the routine and comfort them.

Special Needs Summer Camps For Kids: Things You Must Know

6. Physical Fitness: Another aspect that comes

in the special needs summer camps is the kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emotional and physical state. The special kids cannot run around always like any other kid and hence they must have physical activities that interest them too. For instance camps

with wheelchair accessibility, could play sports like baseball and basketball and be taught to make their wheelchair their power. The kids must have positive support and experience to enjoy their camp. The kids must be taken for a walk and helped with other outdoor experiences too. They must not be felt isolated at any point in time. The reading becomes one of the easiest yet fun activity for such kids. Kids should be free enough for the staff to express any concerns.

for the kid to have a wonderful experience. They must be open to new opportunities and see new friends, else there is no point of camping if they are to sit inside the tents and do nothing much. Thus the special needs summer camps are a great option if taken care of the above points as you do not want to ruin the experience of your little one. Giving them comfort and care along with a blissful experience and joy of learning is the main motive of such beautiful camps.

The camp whether at day or overnight, the whole point is

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Top 5 reasons to ENROLL your SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD in an outdoor SUMMER CAMP Summer camps hold a special place in the hearts of those who attended. They create memories that last a lifetime and bring out a special side of a child who attended. Summer Camps can be specialized from sporting camps to art camps, from science camps to reading camps. Sometimes parents donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realize that if your child has a physical or a mental limitation that there are summer camps out there especially for them. In fact there are hundreds, probably many in your backyard! If you have a child with special needs, there are specialized camps in the nation that employ highly trained staff who work to make a camp experience for your child safe, interactive and most of all fun! Read below to find out some reasons to consider when considering whether or not a sleep away camp for your child with special needs is right.

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Grow Socially

Often at camp you are away from home for the first time, in a new environment and away from your family. That can be a scary experience for a child! Through the experience of putting your child in a new social environment, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find that through the camp experience, your child will have many opportunities to be independent with support from highly trained staff to meet new friends and grow their confidence in their socialization skills. They will interact with others through fun and games and find themselves gaining socials skills they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know they had!

2 Experience the outdoors unrestricted

For a child with physical limitations, nature sometimes can seem difficult or impossible to transverse.

When

attending a summer camp designed especially for a child with special needs, the camp takes special care to make every opportunity available to each child. Hikes are specially created to take care for a child in a wheelchair or for a child who cannot walk a long distance. Nature activities are designed for children of all skill levels to take part in to learn and have fun.

3 Educational experiences While at summer camp a child is exposed to many educational opportunities created just for their individual needs and interests. From learning about the fish that live in the river through reading and gaining literacy skills to then going on nature trips to see the same fish and working their physical skills, the skyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the limit! Through summer camp, learning opportunities are everywhere and a child can decide for themselves what they want to learn while being offered the opportunities and support to learn and try new activities and subjects.

Learn a new skill

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experiencing the great outdoors with hikes and nature walks and talks, to bringing out their creativity with arts and craft classes, along with exposure to animals and horseback riding to stretching their physical skills with sports and recreation summer camp has it all! Before camp even begins, each activity is carefully thought out for maximum inclusion and maximum fun.

To relax and play

Summer camp certainly teaches children invaluable life lessons and skills. A child will have the fortune to learn and have new experiences that help shape their intellect and lives. Sending you child to summer camp will also give them the freedom to play and interact with nature and their peers. During their time at camp they can take part in a new activity such as interacting with animals and horseback riding, learning to fly fish or taking a dance class. They will create and learn as they breath in nature and enjoy their week during summer around the campfire with their new camp friends.

Of course these five reasons are only the start as to why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beneficial for a child with special needs to attend a summer sleep away camp. Through camp a child learns valuable social skills along with stretching themselves out of their comfort level with various activities; all while being supported by highly trained staff and their peers. When a child leaves summer camp they not only leave with a lifetime of memories but with many new skills and great exposure to fun activities. If you want to send your child to camp, but find it to be unaffordable for your family budget, know that many camps offer partial or full scholarships which make sending your child to camp affordable. Make sure to check in with the camp for their options. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to remember as well that activities outside of school designed especially for children with special needs are not limited to just the summer. Many schools and respite programs offer activities after school and on the weekend may for little to no fee. Parents should take full advantage of the opportunities to expand their childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s horizons through new experiences. 40

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MIDWEST MARINE MAMMALS OUR FACILITY. Oceans of Fun is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is the only marine mammal camp in the Midwest. We pride ourselves on providing excellent animal care while educating the public about marine life, conservation, and the environment. None of this would be possible without the help of some fantastic flippered friends: our seals and sea lions. Our camps provide the unique opportunity for children ages 7-13 to place themselves in the shoes of our animal care team. Each day, participants explore various topics related to marine mammals such as the differences between seals and sea lions, what adaptations these animals possess that allow them to successfully live both in the water and on land, and training.

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All of these themes are paired with handson learning and daily poolside interactions which brings our campers up close and personal with our animals.

JUNIOR TRAINERS We often refer to our participants as “junior trainers” because they are able to share the responsibilities of our trainers. They learn about how we maintain our seals and sea lions’ habitat, how to prepare diets, and of course, how we train.

This is one of

our most frequently asked questions and every junior trainer that participates in our summer camps could answer this question. This is largely thanks to our ability to not only discuss training and our training tools but to allow our campers to apply their

training knowledge hands-on.

They get

to try their hand at using a target pole (a training tool used to guide our animals in little steps through a behavior) and a clicker which lets our animals know they have done a good job. Just like our expert animal care team, they are also able to fade away the target and communicate with our seals and sea lions using their hands and voices. Whether waving, saluting, or sticking out their tongues alongside our animals, our camps create fun and positive experiences for all participants â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including those with flippers! We love being able to connect our participants with our animals in hopes they fall as deeply in love with them as our staff has and inspire campers to care for these magnificent marine mammals in the future.

POOLSIDE WITH PINNIPEDS. Some of our camps cover one of the most important reasons why we train which is something called husbandry care or voluntary medical work. This means that our seals and sea lions participate in their own health care.

Presenting their eyes,

ears, nose, mouths, flippers, and even their tails is part of every animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daily routine. This is one of the interactions that we spend the whole week building up to because all of our work is based on building a trusting relationship. Every member of our animal care team has a very special bond with each of the twelve animals that call Oceans of Fun home. This plays a key role in our ability to do all of these husbandry behaviors completely restraint free and just

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as comfortable for our animals as it is for our animal care team and junior trainers. What makes this particularly special to our camp program is that our campers start building up a relationship with our animals so they are able to work poolside with our animals and assist in a husbandry session. They work collaboratively with staff and one of our animals to help with visual checks of their eyes, mouths, and body. Often times they are able to hold a flipper to feel the bones or even brush our animal’s teeth! Sometimes they can even use a stethoscope to listen to our seals’ or sea lions’ heart and lungs. This is definitely a camper favorite as it really gives them the opportunity to experience first-hand the role of a marine mammal veterinarian. They leave inspired by the importance of all these husbandry behaviors and their part in extending the lives of these animals in human care.

ANIMAL AMBASSADORS. In the wild, seals and sea lions are only living to be about 10-15 years old. The oldest sea lion at Oceans of Fun is currently a 30-yearold male named Slick. Our junior trainers come back year after year asking about him sporting their “Team Slick” t-shirts. They ask about Nalu, a three-year-old male rescue animal that stranded in 2013 and was deemed non-releasable and is now thriving with the rest of our population at Oceans of Fun. They ask about our seals, Scooter and Satara. Our campers fall so deeply in love with our animals that they know them by

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name and they try to see if they can tell them apart from the other animals. Interactive programs, like our summer camps, provide the best classroom because of all the handson work they get to do with our animals. By directly connecting our junior trainers to these animals, they start to care about these animalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; natural habitat and how they can help seals and sea lions in the wild. Due to the hands-on training and ability to work through husbandry sessions, our junior trainers become ambassadors for not only these animals but for the environment as a whole. In turn, the seals and sea lions that call Oceans of Fun act as ambassadors for their wild counterparts and inspire conservation leadership in every one of our campers to help better protect these animals for generations to come.

For more information about our camps and other interactive programs please visit our website: www.oceansoffun.org/ programs

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YMCA CAMP FRANK A DAY

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A The Future

Diabetes Camp

Showed Me

By: Elizabeth Leavens 48

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Summer camp has always been, in my mind, a staple of childhood. Spend a week away from mom and dad, make friends, play pranks, and find a first love.

As a diabetic, it never seemed like an option, until my parents learned there was a place staffed by doctors and diabetics for kids just like me. If you want to know what your child might learn at diabetes camp, you should first know your child might relearn to be a kid. Every action in our lives is calculated. Wake up at specific times to test a number and adjust accordingly. Google or estimate every gram of carbohydrate that enters our bodies. I was using simple algebraic formulas and long division by the age of five, and I didn’t even realize it. Then we dose, whether through a fresh needle or pump site. It’s a lot of pressure on anyone, but especially a child, resulting in guilt and anxiety when a meter might read an out of range number. Even though our endocrinologists may not try to use scare tactics, the threat of complications looms overhead from the day of diagnosis. But at camp, it all becomes so normal.

Suddenly, instead of peers who might ask why you take a shot because Grandma only takes a pill for her “diabeetus”, there are kids who are drawing from their own vials. Summer camp tends to lead to enduring friendships, but these are different. The people your child will meet and grow up with will become a second family. None of them are going to try to convince anyone cinnamon pills or witch doctors can cure them. There’s not a lot more calming than talking to a camp friend when I can’t get my number down at three in the morning after trying all the regular troubleshoots. These are the people that know. They know in the way your doctor doesn’t. They know how running high for a day or week makes you feel on an emotional level, not just by physical measures. They know better than parents, who might see every forgotten bolus and low as complications and risk.

While you might be familiar with “normal” camps, we’re involved in all of the same things. Camp wide games of manhunt, pool time, rock walls, dances, crushes and adventures are all part of our days. While most kids learn how to canoe a boat at camp, yours can simultaneously learn how to change his own pump site or calculate her correction without an insulin pump’s programming. After they learn how to calculate their own insulin, they sit down and learn how and why it works.

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Eighteen years after diagnosis, thirteen years after coming to camp, I hope to be a counselor who can inspire the next generation of campers to come back year after year because we are all type one until type none. I want to stress the takeaway here: proof is the most important thing your child will see at camp. I had parents who fought to get me an incredible team of doctors who told me I could do anything I wanted, eat anything I wanted, and be whoever I dreamt to be as long as I remembered to bolus. I thought I believed them, until I came to camp. There was something really life changing, at the age of ten, to be surrounded not only by diabetic peers, but diabetic leaders. Healthy, pretty, funny, unendingly kind diabetic young women enrolled in college, studying for careers, in relationships, and leading a cabin full of ten year olds around in ninety degree heat. I could touch my own future. Even then I knew to some degree how much impact my counselors had on me. Immediately, I wanted to be a “CIT” (counselor 50

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in training) the moment I was old enough. Once I entered the program, I was always asked to raise the bar on my own behavior, analyze myself, and learn from my mistakes. I don’t believe I would be half the person I am now without the leadership exemplified and coached by the amazing people there. I have witnessed many of my old campers grow into CITs and then responsible counselors themselves. It makes me feel like a part-time parent. Eighteen years after diagnosis, thirteen years after coming to camp, I hope to be a counselor who can inspire the next generation of campers to come back year after year because we are all type one until type none.

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Interview

Camp Horizons

Interview With

Chris Smith Camp Director for Camp Horizons Ph: (540) 896-7600 mail: Camp@HorizonsVA.com

Q. How long has your camp been operational? A: Camp Horizons has been in operation since

1983, and has been accredited by the American Camp Association since our first year. We are

a private, co-Ed sleep away camp for children ages 6-16. 52

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Q. Where are you located?

A: We are located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley

just outside of Harrisonburg, Virginia. We are less than 2 hours from Washington DC and Richmond Va.

A. We are a traditional camp who provides

Q. How much staff do you have and how do you select your staff?

meet new people, and have a fantastic camp

our directors, leadership team, and counselors.

the world.

US as well as through international camp staff

Q. What is your campâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s philosophy?

opportunities for children to try new things,

A. We have approximately 50 staff including

experience with other children from around

We recruit at colleges/universities around the

Q. What does your camp specialize in?

A. We specialize in building close-knit communities at camp!

Q. What activities do you offer?

A. We offer more than 40 activities in the

areas of sports, creative arts, aquatics, outdoors, and equestrian.

Q. What are the typical session lengths and approximate pricing for your camp? A. Sessions are 1 and 2 weeks, with pricing

starting at $1100 for a 1-week session and $1950 for a 2-week session. Additional options are available.

recruitment agencies around the world.

Q. Why should parents send their kids to your camp?

A. We have a fantastic tradition of safe, wholesome camp experiences!

Q. When does your camp enrollment start and finish? A. Enrollment is ALWAYS open!

Q. Is there anything else that would be helpful for parents to know about your camp? A. Our normal office hours are 830-500 ET

Monday thru Friday, though our website and registration system is always available.

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CAMP CAT

SUMMER CAMPS

SUMMER CAMPS PROVIDE ENRICHING PROGRAMS, CARE, AND ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.

ADVENTURE CAMPS

ADVENTURE CAMPS PROVIDE KIDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE OUTDOORS AND BE INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES LIKE CAMPING, CANOEING, HIKING,& BACKPACKING.

ARTS CAMPS

ART CAMPS HELP CHILDREN SHOWCASE AND GROW THEIR HIDDEN TALENTS IN DANCE, FILMMAKING, PHOTOGRAPHY, PERFORMING ARTS, ETC.

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ACADEMIC CAMPS

ACADEMIC CAMPS HELP CHILDREN BROADEN THEIR HORIZONS IN THEIR CHOICE OF STUDIES.

AFTER SCHOOL CAMPS

AFTER SCHOOL CAMPS ARE GENERALLY HELD FOR ELEMENTARY & JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS. THESE CAMPS PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS LOTS OF FUN.

FANTASY CAMPS

SPORTS FANTASY CAMPS ARE A CROSS BETWEEN VACATION AND TRAINING CAMP. YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE PAYING FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEND A FEW DAYS HANGING OUT WITH YOUR IDOLS .

TEGORIES

RELIGIOUS CAMPS

RELIGIOUS CAMPS DEVELOP SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE, PHILANTHROPIC QUALITIES, AND A SENSE OF DEVOTION.

SPORTS CAMPS

SPORTS CAMPS NURTURE THE ATHLETIC TALENTS IN CHILDREN AND BUILD CONFIDENCE AND SELF ESTEEM THROUGH TEAMWORK AND FRIENDLY COMPETITION.

TRADITIONAL CAMPS

SPECIAL NEEDS CAMPS

SPECIAL NEEDS CAMPS PROVIDE AN EMPHASIS ON HUMAN VALUES, A SENSE OF BELONGING AND COMMUNITY, AND HELP CHILDREN DEVELOP SELF CONFIDENCE AND SELF ESTEEM.

STUDY ABROAD CAMPS

STUDY ABROAD CAMPS PROMOTE THE RICHNESS AND DIVERSITY OF LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AT UNIVERSITIES & PLACES OF HIGHER LEARNING ACROSS THE WORLD.

TEEN PROGRAM CAMPS

TRADITIONAL CAMP ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SWIMMING, CANOEING, THESE CAMPS TYPICALLY INCLUDE STUDY ABROAD, ACADEMIC & ARCHERY, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, COOKOUTS, ARTS AND COLLEGE PREP, TOURS AND TRAVELS, OUTDOOR & ADVENTURE, CRAFTS AND MORE. AND VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY, ETC.

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SUMMER CAMPS