Summer Camp Magazine | Camp Magazine | Summer Camps 2015 | CampNavigator Magazine by CampNavigator

Vol. 4, Issue 1 Vol. 4, Issue 1

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EDITOR’S LETTER

WELCOME! It’s hard to believe, but January has turned into February, and 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 winter or spring Camp? Have you already secured your child’s spot for Summer Camp? For those of you who have kids who enjoy winter camps and activities, there is still time. Many winter camps are still open for enrollment. You would be surprised at some of the great activities and weekly sessions still available and within your budget. For those of you who have kids that are interested in the 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 feature an amazing sleep away camp for girls in scenic Litchfield, CT. We showcase a wonderful coed overnight camp for kids that has been a summer home for generations of campers. We highlight an adventure camp that is an absolute BLAST! We feature an exciting coed summer camp that fosters the spirit of growth and exploration. We highlight a great day camp where children swim, play and create together in woods, meadows, fields and ponds. We showcase an outstanding sports camp that allows children the opportunity to learn, play and improve in the sport they love. We showcase a premier day camp that is perfect for the entire family. We feature a fantastic special needs camp that is designed to maximize a child’s potential and to locate and develop strengths and hidden abilities. We share some fantastic camp pictures and amazing camp videos, and provide much more information about camp. At CampNavigator, we give 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 2015 Summer Camp experience the best yet. We hope you enjoy this issue of CampNavigator Magazine!

Jeffery Nadeau

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CampNavigator

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Your rants and raves..

Jeffery Nadeau

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jaclyn Parks, Liz Schwartzer, Emmy Niinimaki, Ashleigh Streng, Claire Baker, Shawn Carraher, Leonid Tunik, Josh Schiering, Kenneth Etra MD, Wendy Frock, Marc White, Eduard Bogel, Ali Ocampo, David Katz, Scott Detwiler, Dylan Morgan, Erin Paxton, Lizzy Lean and Nicki Alpern, Alexandra Thomas, Felicia Van Stolk, Judy Crosby, Bob Mentzinger, Alex Mellor, BCBA

vTO CONTRIBUTE / ADVERTISE Jeffery Nadeau eMag@CampNavigator.com

BACK ISSUES & ENQUIRIES Jeffery Nadeau jeffn@CampNavigator.com

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Venosft Inc a. he entire contents of CampNavigator are copyright 2012 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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Contents Feb 2015

CAMP QUINEBARGE

CAMP SEWATARO

CAMPS AWOSTING & CHINQUEKA

CAMP WALTWITMAN

CELIAC CENTRAL

ADIRONDACK CAMP

EMPOW STUDIOS LINX CAMPS

THOMPSON ISLAND

CAMP PONTIAC

ROUNDTOP ADVENTURE CAMP

KSA CAMPS

LEARNING EFFICIENCY

PHOENIX SUNS

CAMP CHIPINAW /SILVER LAKE

NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER ON ADHD

AUDUBON CAMP

EVENTS CALENDAR

BANK STREET SUMMER CAMPS

OREGON COAST AQUARIUM

CAMP HUMANE

YMCA CAMP TOCKWOUGH

Come experience the Awosting & Chinqueka difference. Watersports, Extreme Activities, Team Sports, Performing Arts, & more! Call today to schedule a visit or check out the virtual tour on our web sites.

CAMPS EQUINUNK AND BLUE RIDGE

Great savings if you enroll today & get a friend to enroll too.

SJ RIDING CAMP

MARINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE

DAVINCI EXPERIENCE

COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC

CAMP HUNTINGTON

SUMMER CAMPS PODCAST INTERVIEWS

CAMP CATEGORIES

CAMP DIRECTORY

OSTI

For Boys 6 - 16

AWOSTING & CHINQUEKA

12 s Ever This Much Fun! No Summer Vacation Wa Traditional Sleepaway Camps In Litchfield, CT - only 90 miles from NYC. Family Operated for 60+ Years. 2, 4, 6 or 8 Week Sessions. Special “Rookie Week” for First Time Campers. On Separate Lakes, 5 Miles Apart.

CELIAC CENTRAL (800) 66-CAMPS

For Girls 6 - 16

LINX CAMPS

awosting.com

chinqueka.com38

ROUNDTOP ADVENTURE CAMP

KSA CAMPS

CAMP CHIPINAW /SILVER LAKE

BANK STREET SUMMER CAMPS

CAMPS EQUINUNK AND BLUE RIDGE

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These days, finding and choosing a spectacular sleepaway camp for your child can be harder than picking a college. The problem isn’t a dearth of great camps; there are thousands of excellent camps across the country, all of which provide great programs for kids each summer. Ask almost anyone in the camp industry, and they will tell you sincerely that their camp is the best one out there. For them, it probably is. That camp exists for your family too; the trick is finding it. Keep these five tips in mind, and you will be well on your way to finding the ultimate summer camp for you, and more importantly, for your child. Look for accreditations and

1 memberships in professional

organizations. The American Camp Association (ACA), its regional chapters, and state associations are great resources for finding camps, and screening them. When you come across an ACA Accredited camp, you can rest assured knowing that they have met over 200 standards, ranging from food safety to the number of lifeguards on duty for swimming lessons. These organizations set a baseline for quality, allowing you to focus on your camper’s specific needs and interest. Remember your goals and needs.

2 Is Johnny set on hiking Mount

Washington? Does Julia need a camp that offers gluten-free meals? In your research, look for camps where your child will be comfortable and his physical, mental, and emotional needs will be met. The fact that every kid on your block attends the same camp does not necessarily mean that it will work for your family. What is right for one child may not be right for another, and those differences can make or break a summer. In addition to your camper’s needs, think about yours. Over the years, I’ve found that more parents are anxious about the two weeks away from home than the campers are. Make sure that you are comfortable with the distance 6

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from home, visiting and communication policies, and staff before registering for the summer.

3 Balance your child’s interests with

a challenge. Most camps fall into two categories: traditional, which offer a variety of activities and trips historically associated with summer camps, and specialized, which typically focus on one area, such as sports, art, drama, computers, and usually have shorter sessions to prevent burnout. Find a camp that offers activities they will enjoy, while gently nudging them outside of their comfort zone, allowing them to grow.

4 Stick to the budget. Look at camps

that you can afford or that offer financial aid to campers; there are camps in all price ranges and for all budgets. Camps run by non-profits or national organizations tend to cost less than forprofit camps, and still have high-quality programs. If you’re operating on a tight budget, camp sessions sold through school or charity auctions are a great way to make camp happen for a low price. Just remember that both auctioned sessions and scholarships go quickly, so begin your search early in the year.

Talk to the director. I 5 cannot stress this one enough. Pick up the phone, call the camp office, and speak with a real person. Websites and social media are great; you can find program details, pricing, photos, and more online, but they lack the personal touch of a conversation or visit. Talking to the director, owner, another parent or even former campers gives you a much better sense of what to expect and whether the camp is a good fit for your family.

During the conversation, ask lots of questions: sleeping arrangements, letters home, laundry, and electronics policies are just the tip of the iceberg. There are no stupid questions; you are entrusting your most precious children to our care, and we want you to be comfortable. In most cases, your confidence in a camp will mean a more confident camper on move-in day.

Where Summer Memories & Lifelong Friends Are Made! Since 1936 Welcoming 100 campers from 7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 15 years old 2, 4, 6 & 8 week Sessions available 65 acres in New Hampshireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lakes & Mountain region Unplugged Nature & Sports Activities Rustic Cabin Living Caring counselors & supporting staff Nightly campfires, special events & fun-filled traditions!

For more information, call Liz Schwartzer, Camp Director at 603.253.6029 Visit us at campquinebarge.com

- by Liz Schwartzer

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Top Six Reasons Your Child Should Attend Camp This Summer

Positive Role Models

Children are naturally drawn to young adults and will emulate their behavior. Camp offers a place where your child can interact with intelligent, energetic, caring and responsible young people. Children learn by observation. They closely watch the adults surrounding them at camp. They monitor how their counselors react to different situations. The camp experience provides an opportunity that is rare in our society for children to connect in an up-close and personal way with people from different generations.

Social and Emotional Growth

Summer camp allows time for learning of life skills that is not possible in school, due to time constraints and pressures brought on by testing demands. At camp, we have the gift of time and skilled counselors, along with a camper to counselor ratio that allows for small groups, mixed in with a focus on the development of each child. During the school year, there frequently just isn’t time for a teacher to stop and help process the confrontations that take place on the playground, or model how to respond kindly to another child’s outburst of emotion. At camp, counselors are guiding campers as these moments surface throughout the day.

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At camp, we’re able to model and guide your children on how to: Make and keep friends. Process through conflicts and manage conflicting personalities. Work with others toward a common goal. Take on responsibility and be contributing members of a community on both a small group and large, camp-wide scale. Communicate with peers and adults – how to use verbal and nonverbal language to be successful and respectful. Lean on others for support when they need it, ask for help and use others as a resource.

Authentic Friendships

The development of meaningful relationships and friendships help us to live longer and richer lives. A true friendship takes time to develop. At camp, children have time to get to know one another; their interests, their goals, their strengths, their weaknesses. They observe one another at different activities and have opportunities for group and one-to-one discussions throughout the ebb and flow of the camp day. These are the underpinnings of lifelong friendships. There are no shortcuts. For todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youth, friendships are often counted in social media. Texting on the

phone and chatting via Facebook are not the stuff on which to build authentic friendships. In friendships, our children need quality, not quantity. Camp provides the face-toface time, the counselor support and the structure that allow for optimal friendship building. Because there is time for all of this social learning and experience, the friendships that campers come away with are deep, meaningful and long-lasting. For those of us who have been involved in camp, our best and longest lasting friendships were made at camp.

Sense of Belonging

In addition to the group unity your child will experience with his/her peers, your child will also be a member of the camp community; a part of a larger history and tradition. A sense of belonging is a basic human need. Being accepted and feeling part of a greater group is essential to our sense of happiness and well-being. The community that camp provides creates this sense of social belonging. This can affect motivation and continued persistence as children become adults. The strong bonds that form in a close-knit community yield powerful results for a positive future.

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Trying Something New - Building Self-Confidence

Self-confidence comes from a sense of competence. Children are smart; they know when they have genuinely accomplished something, as compared to a parent telling them they did a “good job”. Camp provides children with lots of opportunities to practice and master their skills, letting them make mistakes and encouraging them to keep trying. Campers get a sense of themselves as capable; they have concrete evidence of all the new activities they have tried, and perhaps failed at, and then slowly learned to master. Archery, climbing wall, arts and crafts, swimming...the list goes on and on. Camp gives children a chance to try things they wouldn’t necessarily have exposure to anywhere else; in an environment where it’s safe to take physical, intellectual and social risks.

Exposure to Nature and Development of a Sense of Wonder

In the past few years, a new and growing body of research has emerged, finding that direct exposure to nature is key for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children. Richard Louv, co-founder and chairman of the Children & Nature Network, has written about the need for children to maintain this contact with the outdoors. Research suggests that a connection to nature is

instinctive; as humans, we have an affinity for the natural world. Children miss out when they spend most of their time indoors. Problems associated with separation from nature include familiar disorders: depression, obesity, and attention deficit disorder. Kids who have direct access to nature are better learners. Exposure to nature has been shown to reduce stress and increase attention spans. Most importantly, camp provides the exposure to nature that leads to the development of a sense of wonder. Early experiences with the natural world have been positively linked with the development of imagination. The camp environment - being outdoors all day, walking through forest trails, identifying tree bark, following animal tracks, observing birds in the trees, growing vegetables in the garden - lends itself to the development of this sense of wonder.

- by Emmy Niinimaki 10

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Single Sex Camp vs. Co-ed Camp: Why Choose a Single Sex Camp?

There are so many different kinds of camps out there for our kids to enjoy all summer long – traditional camps, sports camps, travel programs – and the list goes on. As a parent, you also have the choice of a single sex camp (all girls or all boys) or a co-ed camp. Why choose one over the other? What makes the experience of camp different at either type of camp? At a co-ed camp, your camper has the opportunity to mingle with both boys and girls in a fun environment. However, the pressures of society, in my opinion, follow your camper to this type of environment. Girls worry about how they look, is their hair done, is their makeup on, are my clothes the latest fashion, etc. Boys may worry about succeeding in any activity in front of the girls. Why subject a child to these pressures at camp when they must live with them everyday outside the camp setting? At a single-sex camp, kids can just be themselves. For example, I run an all girls camp in Connecticut. I love the fact that the girls come for part or all of their summer and just get to hang out with other girls. They don’t worry about clothing or makeup or being sweaty after a great game of soccer! They have the opportunity to be themselves in a place that won’t judge them on whether or not they are wearing the latest fashion. My son attends our brother camp, 6 miles away, where he can go fishing or sailing, ride go-karts or climb the tower, and not feel like he’s being pressured to achieve in front of the girls. 12

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Of course, it is up to you and your camper to make the right decision for them and their wants/needs, but please don’t dismiss single-sex camps just because they are all boys or all girls. These camps thrive on programming for these kids, making sure they have “traditional” programs for each sex, as well as some that one would never consider at an all boys or all girls camp. All boys camps can offer ceramics, arts & crafts, dance and music activities, where girls’ camps can offer up go-karts, mini-bikes, woodshop, and rugby. These activities can let the kids try what they want and excel where they can, perhaps inspiring them to carry on what they started at camp later in life. As an example, we had one camper at our girls camp who learned how to fence (with a foil) and took her newly acquired knowledge home, continuing her fencing, and made the junior Olympic team. Some campers may be afraid to try new activities because the other gender is watching them… don’t let this happen! No matter which you choose, of course, a great summer at a great camp is a gift for life! A single-sex camp gives the camper the chance to be free from today’s societal angst and just be who they are meant to be. No pressure. A sense of freedom from the world we live in where it is “succeed or fail, but make sure you succeed”. It can be a safe haven for them to start on their way to becoming our future inventors, athletes, teachers, mentors, and leaders.

- Article by

Kristin Ebner

Awosting Video Link

Chinqueka Virtual Tour

Video Link

Virtual Tour

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Summer Camp reinforces essential life skills As we evolve from childhood into adulthood, we struggle to define our answers to lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s big questions. What is the meaning of life? Are we alone in the universe? Is there life after death? What role should the government play in societal injustices? The answers to these questions often form the backbone of our adult identity even as they change and evolve over time. However, there is one major question to which our answers never seem to waiver as we become adults- will I or wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t I send my children to sleepaway camp? The population is split into two groups - those who have always known that they would one day send 14

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their own children to camp (these people often still have their camp trunks stored in their attic), and those who find the idea of sleepaway camp a complete anathema. Much like with politics and religion, trying to convince those of the opposite belief to change their opinion is unlikely. However, there is a tremendous amount of recently published literature empirically demonstrating what many have known for a long time- the skills children learn at camp have a positive impact on their school performance as well as their future success.

we utilize to teach our campers about teamwork, resiliency, overcoming obstacles, and creativity. There is no place better than camp and the associated immersion into cabin life, where a small group of children spend all day every day together, to develop the skills of collaboration, critical thinking, and communication. The impact of continual gains and improvements in these competencies doesn’t just serve campers well socially, but provides campers with long term benefits.

Throughout most of history, summer camp has been viewed as more a luxury than a necessity. The idea that camp is the place to send your children where they can ‘just be kids’ and make lifelong friendships, while still a large part of camp, is somewhat antiquated. In our fast paced, every-changing, technology driven world, the benefits of camp are no longer as much of a luxury, as they are a necessity for our 21st century kids. While our campers love their time at camp because they get to make great friends, try new things, and enjoy all that childhood was meant to be, this just scratches the surface of what they are getting out of the Camp Walt Whitman experience. The lessons that our campers learn at camp on the athletic fields, in the art studios, or in the great outdoors are about far more than the activity itself; these activities are simply a vehicle

These life skills, or what researchers refer to as “Noncognititive Skills” or “Social Emotional Learning” are crucial to academic performance. While many of our schools do an excellent job developing our children’s cognitive skills, children’s social and emotional development is not usually part of the curriculum. And yet, recent studies 1 show that there is a direct correlation between the skills mentioned above and academic performance. These same skills are essential to future success in the workforce2. At our core, developing and reinforcing these skills is what camp does; it is simply built into our DNA. The research world is now providing quantitative data to confirm what campers, staff, and camp parents have known for years- camp isn’t just fun; it is extremely beneficial as well. We can’t wait to spend Summer 2015 doing what camp has always done- making a lasting and meaningful difference in the lives of campers.

- by Ashleigh Streng

Virtual Tour

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Going to Camp? Hold the Gluten!

Claire Baker, Director of Communications and New Media, National Foundation for Celiac Awareness Imagine thinking that your son or daughter can no longer go to camp because they can’t eat the same food as everyone else. That’s what happened to Jenni Tierney. When her twin daughters, Jessica and Mackenzie, were 12, they were diagnosed with celiac disease, a serious genetic autoimmune disorder in which the small intestine is damaged when

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gluten, the protein in wheat, rye and barley, is ingested. This meant that the girls could no longer eat regular breads, pasta, pizza, hot dog and hamburger buns, not to mention that campfire favorite, s’mores. Did it also mean that the girls could no longer go to their favorite place, Camp Ogichi Daa Kwe?

Jenni was afraid it did. While not everyone with celiac disease has symptoms, there are more than 300 signs and conditions associated with it that can be triggered by even trace amounts of gluten, ranging from diarrhea, gas and bloating, to skin rashes, to neurological symptoms – certainly not the memories you want your child to take away from their summer camp experience! Jenni went into overdrive, learning everything she could about the glutenfree diet. While researching resources, she found the GREAT (Gluten-Free Resoulairerce Education Awareness Training) Camps program offered by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA). She reached out to Ogichi Camp Director Kathy Dix and found a willing partner in transforming the foodservice at the camp to safely accommodate the girls. “When I told Kathy about the girls’ diagnoses, she didn’t even blink,” Jenni recalled. “She didn’t know

exactly what gluten-free accommodations would look like for the girls, but she knew she could make it happen.” And make it happen she did. Kathy encourages other parents to follow in Jenni’s footsteps and to not be afraid to ask questions and request accommodations.

“I think the most important thing for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity to remember is that you don’t have to do this alone. There are organizations like NFCA and programs like GREAT Schools, Colleges and Camps that can help you navigate the new lifestyle. We can make a bigger impact if we work together.”

(Read Jenni’s full story here)

For parents of day campers and wilderness campers with celiac disease or other gluten-related disorders, here are some tips for preparation and packing food: Alert the camp nurse who should be aware of any medical condition, but they may be able help behind the scenes to make the time at camp run more smoothly. Also, if a reaction occurs, they need to know what action to take. Like a good scout, always be prepared. Pack portable lunches or snacks so that your camper will have a 100% guaranteed safe food option. Gluten-free snacks and breads for sandwiches are available in many grocery stores, including Walmart and Target. Fresh fruits and vegetable sticks are naturally gluten-free.

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Read labels on trail bars and other portable snacks. Some energy bars contain gluten, some don’t. Dried fruit and nuts make great on-the-go choices, but some packaged items may contain granola or other gluten-containing ingredients. Look for a certified gluten-free label on the package, and avoid anything that lists wheat, rye, barley, malt, and oats (which have often come in contact with gluten-containing grains). Check out this handy guide to reading labels for more tips for safe gluten-free shopping. Have your camper find a buddy or ally to help. If he or she doesn’t know any of the other campers, make sure to befriend a counselor or junior counselor to assist in keeping your camper safe. It’ll also help your child not feel isolated because of their special dietary needs. Last but not least, don’t forget to pack the gluten-free graham crackers! There are several brands out there, but depending on where you live, you might need to order them on-line. What’s camp without a real s’more after all?

About NFCA NFCA advances widespread understanding of celiac disease as a serious genetic autoimmune condition that can be easily diagnosed and effectively managed. We empower our community to live life to the fullest, and serve as a leading and trusted resource that inspires hope, accelerates innovation and forges pathways to a cure. Visit www.CeliacCentral.org for resources that help people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity restore health and reclaim their lives after diagnosis.

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Free Webinars GREAT Kitchens:

Gluten-free training for restaurants and dining services

Gluten-Free in College:

Personal stories and student toolkit

Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity:

FAQs

Clinical Trials and Drug Development: Insights and updates

Recipes, holiday tips and more! Through empowerment, education, advocacy and advancing research, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) drives diagnoses of celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders and improves the quality of life for those on a lifelong gluten-free diet. Your donation makes life better for thousands of people every day. www.CeliacCentral.org/donate

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In making the decision to go to sleepaway camp, parents often consider: does the camp provide a safe and nurturing environment, what is the staff to camper ratio (ours is 3:1), and does the camp know how to help my child grow and thrive. A camp’s size can also make a difference. Our relatively small size, roughly 190 campers, where seniors and juniors know and enjoy each other, affords a more personal, familial environment and experience. And yet it is large and diverse enough to offer over 30 activity choices as well as to be rich in spirit and unique in experience. For parents of first-time and younger campers, separation anxiety is often of concern, although returning campers and teenagers can sometimes feel homesick too. Hiring staff, including nurses, attuned not only to the physical needs of our campers but also to their emotional needs is critical. In addition, structured activity time where kids are learning new skills – whether how to do their roll in kayaking or how to climb the rock wall - keeps them busy and having fun. Downtime is important too because kids need time just to chill and unwind. Not surprisingly, one of the most difficult times where kids often experience homesickness is at bedtime. At Adirondack we try to have special activities around bedtime such as Blue White color war, camp dances, or Awiskini (where we play Indian games). Once a week we have cabin night where each cabin will have an opportunity to develop closer ties. For example, Jay cabin might go tubing while Panther may make brownies and watch a movie. There may be a cabin campfire where shared stories and s’mores are passed around the fire pit. At bedtime there is plenty of tucking in for the littlest campers and counsellors listen to their campers’ concerns. Also counselors may tell ghost stories or read to their cabin at night before bedtime. Even the oldest boys love this! 20

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Adirondack Camp Every child is at heart an adventurer

Most people think about separation anxiety as separation from their parents. But these days there is a new kind of separation that should also be discussed, separation from electronics. We live in a world where parents and their children are often attached to some form of electronic device– our computers, an I-pad, cell phones and the like. Many kids will spend time at night playing computer games rather than reading a good book or playing board games. At Adirondack we believe it is essential to completely disconnect to better enable meaningful connections with each other, our natural environment and, most importantly, with ourselves. Adirondack Camp remains a refuge from the increasing onslaught of electronics in our daily lives. Encouraging out of door activity and direct interpersonal relationships is better enabled by leaving our fancy gadgets at home. (We do however recognize the importance of music during quiet times or at night and devices that solely play music in the cabins are allowed.) Parents often remark how wonderful it is to see how their children spend time without ready access to video games or u-tube. Life is increasingly complicated and there are many pressures on our kids, it seems earlier and earlier. For this reason we strive to reflect a throwback to simpler times – with open air cabins, floating wooden docks, Old Town canoes, a live bugler who marks the day with Reveille and Taps, and only the moon to illuminate the night. Kids who have a chance simply to be and to breathe without the worries and pressures often put upon them are given the space for personal reflection, the confidence to try new things, and truly dare to be themselves. Article by Shawn

Carraher

map Link

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How to Choose the Best Tech Camp for Your Kids When you’re looking for a tech camp for your kids, you’ve got to consider a lot of factors. The search for the right fit can be a particularly daunting task if your child has multiple or vague interests. You ask yourself, how can you give your child new opportunities for exploration while still letting her spend time with her particular interest? Second, what kind of tech camp lets your child experiment with different technologies that he hasn’t yet experienced? One solution is to find a camp that emphasizes experiential, hands-on opportunities. Increasingly, technology has become a necessary tool for success, but even more importantly, has been used as a way to enhance children’s creativity. With this idea in mind, MIT professor Seymour Papert (b. 1928) developed the constructionist approach in the 1960’s. Papert argued that the best way for children to learn was by constructing something on their own. Specifically, he emphasized the role of computer software in teaching children and spurring their creativity. In his MIT learning lab, children designed their own graphics and toys — the learning community was amazed by what these kids could produce! Constructionist approach was the foundation for creating LEGO MINDSTORMS(™), also born in the same MIT lab. At its most basic, Papert’s constructionism suggests that children learn the most when they are inventing new things themselves, rather than being required to learn ideas or memorize facts like they typically do in school. Young children can use imaginative play and technology to plan, collaborate, tell stories and transform their ideas into projects.

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Still, the constructionist approach isn’t just for so-called “techie” kids. Instead, instructors can tailor the constructionist methods to be particular for every type of child. The approach allows for adaptability for children with different interests and abilities, and can take into account their emotions, independence-levels, and focus in ways that traditional learning methodologies cannot. For example, tech camps that focus on teaching a single skill can bore or alienate children who are not already experts, while also failing to give children opportunities to explore all the possibilities they may not yet have considered. Instead of camps that teach a singleskill, you want to find one that teaches multiple technologies using constructionist approaches. One place using Papert’s constructionist theories is the Lifelong Kindergarten at MIT. There, children are building with wooden blocks, constructing their own musical instruments, and creating social networking software. Another place that students can practice this approach is at Empow Camp, which offers weeklong sessions based on this playful approach around the Boston area. At Empow, kids can explore their technology interests—from animation and 3D-modeling to music production and architecture—with plenty of time for hands-on projects, the outdoors, innovation, collaboration and design.

Summer is a time for play, exploration, new likes, and new friends. Give your kids a chance to find a new passion for coding, building, or designing.

Leonid Tunik, Founder Empow Studios

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Eradicating Bullying: How to create an environment in which bullying would never dare exist! By Josh Schiering, Vice President and Executive Director of LINX and LINX Camps

Two negatives make a positive, right?... Not when it comes to bullying! A single negative comment or act can have a lifelong and irreversible impact on a person. Whether in camps, schools, families, playgrounds and even playgroups, bullying is a natural part of our culture. But, it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. As individuals, we are empowered to make decisions about our actions. How we react to what we see and hear is up to each person. When it comes to bullying, I always challenge my staff and children to be counter-cultural in their decision-making.

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IS IT BULLYING? Some say the term “bullying” is overused and doesn’t apply to all cases of meanness. I say, “Listen to the victim!” Who gets to decide if an action is “bullying?” The answer is simple: the victim alone decides if he/she is being bullied. When it comes to feelings, no one gets to tell someone else what they are feeling.

TAKE IT SERIOUSLY! As educators and role models, we must take every reported and observed act of meanness seriously. While as adults we may have thicker skin and our life experiences help us handle the intimidating actions of a bully, the issue a child is facing might be the “biggest deal” in his/her life. We must let children know that as adults, we hear and take them seriously. They must know we will help, provide justice, make them whole again, provide accountability, and help in the future.

TRAINING

How to see bullying: Have appropriate staffing ratios. Give your team a chance to see and hear everything. Build relationships based on trust, making the victim more inclined to come to you in cases where you don’t see everything. Promise and follow through on anonymity. Remember “silence is approval”. If you see it or it has been reported to you you must act!

When it comes to bullying, I encourage all institutions to take a stand and declare their initiative to eradicate bullying. We are not in the business of “dealing” with bullying, we are in the business of not allowing it to exist in our environment. So how do we eradicate it? We must train parents, staff and children on how to handle bullying when it happens, and create an environment so rich in “positives,” that bullying would never have a chance to even enter the environment. All too often, institutions have a great method for handling bullying, but they forget to FOLLOW THROUGH. Children should feel welcomed and encouraged to return by having been provided with feedback that addresses present and future concerns and problems. www.CampNavigator.com Vol. 4, Issue 1

How to address it and remove bullying: Handle each situation with “kid gloves”. Take what a child shares seriously. Remove the child who was victimized; listen with compassion and concern.

Remember that perception is reality. Listen carefully and find the right balance to help both parties. Communicate with home!

Remove the aggressor and have a oneon-one.

CREATING Create an environment rich in positives. If we take these steps, we are ahead of the game because bullying will not dare exist. Bullying is part of human nature and we are trying to be counter-cultural to create a different, more positive cultural habit and habitat. It takes time and patience, but you must succeed! Establish expectations and rules. Have a meeting within the first 15 minutes of a group gathering for the first time. When a new member enters the group, sit and review the rules collectively. The outcome must include words with powerful meanings, explanations and examples such as respect, kindness, inclusion, fairness, taking turns, cooperation, good listening, good sportsmanship and spirit! Make a sign, poster, creed or bill of rights, and then get

everyone to agree to honor it. Hang it up or carry it with you. Put positive reinforcements in place. Be sure to recognize and celebrate accomplishments! Evaluate and check up on your plan - do this on your own as the administrator and with your group. What you’ve been reading comes down to this: you do not tolerate negative behavior and you maintain a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for any acts of meanness. Set the expectation for perfection and then give the people the tools needed to succeed. Properly motivate them to exceed your expectations and watch the magic. This is the LINX model and we are proud of staff for upholding this initiative.

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CA M

Over 30 Premier Camps. Perfect for Your Family.

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Transportation Available from 17 Towns

Visit website for more details. Secure your placement today!

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Creating Confidence Thompson Island Outward Bound Summer Expeditions help girls build confidence and develop a powerful sense of accomplishment in the great outdoors

Jaclyn Parks

Communications Manager

Shy and timid 13 year-old Maxime had just completed a trying school year where she often felt left out. She hoped attending a Thompson Island Outward Bound Summer Expeditions course would improve her belief in her own abilities. Each summer, Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center offers Summer Expeditions wilderness courses for youth ages 12-17 years old. Young adults from around the world participate in these single gender and coed seven to 14-day long exhilarating adventures. Set in the Boston 28

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Harbor Islands National Park area, these sailing, sea kayaking, and island expeditions employ physical and emotional challenges to build character, develop leadership, and instill confidence. Maxime specifically chose a Connecting with Courage sailing and climbing expedition. An open sailboat became her home as she set sail on a course designed for young girls looking to face their fears, find their voice, gain new friendships, and learn supreme wilderness skills.

In unfamiliar physical and social environments the young girls were challenged in ways they never before experienced. They had to learn to become a team in order to effectively conquer each test the sea presented them. Throughout the first few days on course, Maximeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s insecurity was making it hard for her to connect with the other girls. It was after a long day rowing, without any wind, that Maxime gained the confidence she had been seeking. Maxime reflected on her accomplishments and soon after Thompson Island Outward Bound instructor Aimee witnessed a change in Maxime.

She courageously spoke to the group about her sense of exclusion and was candid with the other students about her struggles and desires to feel like an active group member.

During the day, Maxime and her fellow crewmates explored the harbor islands and Massachusetts Bay coastline. At night they transformed the 30-foot sailboat into a camp and slept out under the stars. Over the 12-day course, the girls spent their time learning about water and shoreline ecology while gaining seamanship skills. By the end of the expedition, each girl knew how to navigate the open waters, row proficiently, identify the tide and winds, and tie knots.

In this outdoor classroom, pushed outside of her comfort zone, Maxime found the bravery to share her feelings, and in doing so, bonded with her new teammates.

Being on this course was life changing for me. It has helped me become more open and willing to share my feelings with others. I have made friends who have also opened up to me in a way only people who spend 12 days on a 30 foot sailboat can.

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The course ended with a final expedition, where the girls put their newly acquired skills into practice. Depending on each particular crew’s ability levels, instructors step back during this section and allow the team to take over decision making responsibilities for navigation, time schedules, communication, and general leadership. This part of the expedition only reinforced the powerful sense of accomplishment each young lady felt going home. Back on dry land, the girls were reunited with their parents during a graduation ceremony. Each girl shared a bit about what they learned, what they liked best and what they’ll never take for granted again.

Maxime’s inspiring graduation speech proved she accomplished what she set out to achieve. “My group all shared new parts of ourselves as we challenged the weather, the sleeping conditions and conflicts with each other. We had the courage to try new things we probably wouldn’t have done at home; compassion towards those who weren’t having a good day; emotional freedom as we cried and laughed openly; and self-reliance as we worked out problems on our own. We might not have gotten along all the time, but it was always resolved by the end of the day because we learned to trust each other.” This course was extremely difficult, but I learned something about myself and left with new friends.”

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Established in 1988, Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center is an independent Massachusetts not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide adventurous and challenging experiential learning programs that inspire character development, compassion, community service, environmental responsibility, and academic achievement. We serve over 6,500 early adolescents annually from all economic and social communities of greater metropolitan Boston, and the institutions and adults who support them. In partnership with Boston Public Schools and the National Park Service, our programs utilize the natural resources of Thompson Island to ignite a love of learning, inspire curiosity, and build teamwork in students of all ages. From hands-on field experiences for urban youth to summer wilderness expeditions and

professional team building programs, we change lives through challenge and discovery. And while our private events and custom programs deliver the magic of Thompson Island, they also make a positive impact with all proceeds going to support our youth programming initiatives. Thompson Island is one of the largest, most accessible and ecologically diverse islands in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park area. With 204 acres of undeveloped property, the island has mature forests, meadows, freshwater and marine wetlands, salt marshes, and a variety of important geological features. Amenities include a formal school campus complete with dormitories, dining hall, classrooms, lab space, auditoriums, gymnasium, outdoor challenge courses, and climbing towers.

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SAFETY FACTORS IN CAMPING Safety factors must form the cornerstone in the camping industry. The 99% rule states that 99% of the time, with adequate preparation, an untoward event can be dealt with satisfactorily. Overwhelmingly, camps with competent directors and oversight agencies ensure the 99% rule. It is the final 1%, the unexpected and unusual emergencies that require â&#x20AC;&#x153;out of the boxâ&#x20AC;? preparation and response. By being both proactive and reactive through heightened safety measures the potential and negative impact of these emergencies will hopefully be minimized.

STAFF VETTING All staff must be interviewed. Three verifiable references must be furnished. Proper state and federal criminal background check should be obtained annually on all staff members. Extensive pre-camp orientation must be conducted with all staff encompassing child care, staff responsibilities, Department of Health camp rules and regulations, camp activities and social life with ongoing in service reinforcement to be carried out through the summer. An extensive review regarding all types of abuse must be conducted and with the slightest suspicion it occurs, it must be dealt with by immediate investigation and proper action.

FIRE PREVENTION All outlets should be checked All circuit boxes should be checked Wires should be encased in metal conduit Check all ground wires on cabins Amperage load testing should be done Electric company should check all outside lines

No smoking or matches permitted No electric fans, flat irons, curling irons, extension cords, strips, octopuses or clothing irons No toaster ovens, hot plates or microwaves

FIRE RESPONSE Fire hydrants on grounds Multiple egress doors in each building at opposite ends Fire drills conducted Multiple smoke detectors including electric and battery back-up

Sprinkler systems Check safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, hydrants, etc. prior to the opening of camp

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SAFETY FACTORS IN CAMPING Send letters to local fire department, EMS and Police department to let them know the opening and closing dates of your camp. These agencies should familiarize themselves with camp grounds. During staff orientation review all safety plans

10. A detailed fire safety plan regarding emergency announcements and camper and staff protocol should be in place and practiced throughout the summer

LIGHTNING A lightning detection system should be in place to detect impending lightning well prior to its arrival

Within the first 24-48 hours of camp conduct fire drills

PA SYSTEM

A system should be in place to alert all members of the camp community to seek immediate shelter and conduct count offs

A communication system via walkie-talkie and phone should exist between key staff, gate, medical facility, headquarters, camp office, waterfront and other high risk activity areas

TRANSPORTATION Every driver must be tested for competence Drivers must have license background check and approval by insurance company Drivers must go through orientation Always check tires, gas and seat belts All vehicles should be checked and maintained for safety

MEDICAL Well trained medical staff must be under the supervision of a Medical Director Camps must have a physician on premises at all times A large number of staff should be trained and certified in CPR, EpiPen usage, and defibrillator

If there is an accident or a breakdown, pull off the road, set flashers, take campers immediately off the road with a buddy and staff member, call 911, call camp, attend to any injuries, and one staff member remains with campers while the other seeks help if cell phones are not working

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That physician should be a pediatrician, E.R. or family practice doctor. They should be well trained in all aspects of medical care applicable to the camp setting. They should be able to deal with serious emergencies including trauma, cardiac or respiratory arrest, severe asthma, diabetes, seizures, severe allergies, neurological problems, as well as routine problems that are seen at camp

Immediate defibrillator access should be available If camp is truly and completely nut free, it must have an extensive protocol to ensure that there are no nut products or potential cross contamination with all food products that enter camp Easy and ready access to EMS should be available Relationships with local specialists and hospital ERs should be well established A medical emergency protocol should be in place and all staff should be well versed in this protocol

All equipment must be checked to ensure that it is updated and working properly Protocols for various medical conditions such as Lyme and impetigo must be in place Place emphasis on the use of sun screen and hydration protocols Bee sting protocol should be put into place for observation after a bite EpiPen stations and emergency medical kits should be situated throughout the camp grounds and staff should know where they all are located

AQUATICS Conduct proper lifeguard training with ongoing drills

Conduct proper non waterfront staff training for rescues and dock duty

Conduct buddy checks – one in the first 5 minutes then every ten minutes – all doubles

Put into place proper lifeguard supervision ratios

All must wear PFDs when boating – buddy system- lifeguard patrol with each specific group of boaters

Swim tests must be done for every camper and staff member No one in the water alone – even a lifeguard

Spine board and emergency equipment available – walkie talkie or phone

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE Conduct proper training and certification

Area must always be supervised

Ensure use of helmets, proper belay and shoes

EMERGENCY EVACUATION A protocol should be in place in case it is necessary to evacuate the grounds. It should include warning system announcements to evacuate with specific egress areas and staff responsibilities A drill should be conducted and local authorities should be contacted

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SAFETY FACTORS IN CAMPING 11

CAMPUS LOCK DOWN

In the event of an emergency that requires a campus lock down a predetermined secure structure should be assigned and properly equipped.

LOST CAMPER

Specific protocols should be set up for: Lost camper

Lost swimmer

CAMPUS SECURITY Gate with guard Visitor check-in and name badge Access to Police

Off- site trips

Campus security Unauthorized protocol

visitor

emergency

TREE SAFETY

Each spring tree arborists should come to inspect all trees. Any deemed to be unsafe should be removed before camp opens. If a tree is damaged during the summer it should be removed if necessary.

-by Kenneth

Etra MD

(Camp Pontiac Owner/Director)

Videos

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Website

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Why Choose an Adventure Camp for Your Child? Adventure! The word itself grabs your attention and gets the heart pumping. It’s exciting; it conjures up images of overcoming the unknown, pushing through fears, or facing danger and conquering it. It’s human nature to crave the feelings associated with adventure. Looking back over a lifetime, adventure is the stuff that memories are made of. Our parents’ generation shares stories of their growing-up years that include tales of running the neighborhoods all summer long, not having to return home till dark. They rode bikes, on the roads, without helmets! Swam in creeks without adult supervision. Climbed trees to the uppermost branches without even thinking about it. Adventure was part of everyday life. It was common practice to learn from experiences---and unfortunately sometimes from mistakes. Most of us would agree that these times are behind us, in some cases for very good reasons. Over the years we’ve had to increasingly limit these types of activities for our children in the name of safety. We know that to keep our kids out of harm’s way, we need to safeguard them more and more by not allowing such dangerous behaviors. But does that mean the desire or even the need for adventure doesn’t exist anymore? Of course, not! Although safety and protection is important to all of us, kids still need to learn and grow from experiences that get their adrenaline pumping! Our children’s generation needs adventure today more than ever. This is why Adventure Camps exists. Adventure Camps offer activities that are generally enjoyed outdoors, teach skills that can be built upon, and push the boundaries 38

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of our comfort zones. Adventure-based curriculums teach skills that can be enjoyed at any age, encouraging active and healthy lifestyles into adulthood. But the real, lifelong benefits come from the lessons taught during these activities. A good adventure camp program will incorporate life lessons into every aspect of the daily agenda, lessons like bettering oneself, taking pride in accomplishments, and living cooperatively. Combining adventure with deeper learning has a powerful impact on the youth of today. They get to experience the rush of doing something new and different while learning about independence, responsibility and their influence on the people around them. The types of activities will vary among camps, but adventure camps will offer activities that generally carry some elements of danger or instill a bit of fear. But since they are done in a camp setting, you can be sure that safety is the number one priority. High Rope elements, Ziplines, Archery, Boating, Wilderness Survival, and Land Navigation are just a few of the activities shared at most adventure camps. Skills are taught and practiced under close supervision within a controlled atmosphere, satisfying the concerns for safety and the desire for adventure. It doesn’t get better than that! So as a parent planning for your child’s entertainment this summer, why not make an investment in their future by embracing the principles of adventure camp. Give your kids a little piece of our parent’s generation, along with some new-found knowledge and confidence that they’ll carry with them for a lifetime. Article by - Wendy Frock, Adventure Camp Director Roundtop Mountain Resort, Lewisberry Pennsylvania

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Traditional or Specialty Camp - why not choose both? So many families have camping in their blood. The parents went to camp as children and have lifelong memories and lifelong friends from those years. They want to pass on the same experience to their children. So many families also have sports in their daily lives. The parents played during their formative years and now want the same positive and healthy experience for their children as they join youth and school teams. For families with a strong tie to traditional camping but also with a need for professional sports instruction there is a dilemma, and there comes a time when a choice has to be made. Do they continue to send their aspiring athlete to a traditional camp where some campers want to participate, some don’t, and the only real activity is rolling out the balls and playing? Or do they choose more of specialty camp situation, where the camper loses certain traditional camp activities along with the spirit and camaraderie associated with them, but

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instead gets quality instruction and is able to play with enthusiastic, likeminded campers? Well, how about both? While most traditional camps label themselves “sports camps” because they play sports, there also some multi-week camps that truly offer professional instruction in all sports, and they do so in a warm, lakefront traditional camp environment. Jack, a 12 year old camper who plays soccer, basketball and baseball, spent three years at a traditional camp from the ages of 7 to 9. He loved every bit of it, but in his last year he found that he was eager to play and wanting to get better in all three sports. His fellow campers were not as enthusiastic. He also found that the program wasn’t built on proper instruction, but more geared for recreational play. He went on to attend three different one-week specialty camps for two summers, enjoying the instruction and improving all the time, but missing the camaraderie and “feel” of his old camp.

In 2014 Jack attended a sports academy for 6 weeks. His parents wanted him to continue to get good instruction but also wanted Jack to feel the spirit of his old traditional camp. Jack was amazed that he could find everything he wanted and needed in one place, getting outstanding instruction in all three sports while playing league games every day, and also enjoying the lake, the canteen at night, and all the special activities that he missed from his old camp. So in making the choice between “traditional” or “specialty”, why not choose both? There are these types of camps out there to be found with a little bit of research. They offer the full array of play and instruction and do so in that good ol’ traditional camp atmosphere.

Article by Marc White

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Top 10 Reasons Summer is the Best Time for Brain Training Your child may be losing significant educational capabilities over the summer. Don’t let that happen! When looking for summer camps for your kids, you should search for opportunities for them to enjoy themselves while fostering their interest in learning through project based programs that combine education with something interesting. Summer is not only the perfect time for children who may be struggling with content at school to catch up, but is also provides the perfect opportunity to help address underlying cognitive and organizational challenges that may be holding back their ability to be successful at school. All kids can greatly benefit from using the summer for Brain Training activities and to learn organizational skills that will help improve their mental efficiency and productivity for the next school year and their whole life moving forward. 1. Time for Intense Programs – Many programs that benefit students with cognitive challenges require intensity, frequency, and consistency - making the summer the best time to improve! Use your child’s open availability in the summer to help them get ahead. 2. Build Confidence Over the Summer – Many times students aren’t confident in their ability to be successful at school due to inefficiencies in their cognitive abilities. Brain Training and Executive Functioning programs can help them feel more in control of their lives and schoolwork for success in the upcoming school year. 3. Practice in the Morning and Be Sharp All Day – Brain Training activities work best in the morning when your child is most rested. After working hard in the morning, they will feel energized and motivated for the rest of the day. 4. Fewer Distractions and Competing Obligations – With sports, clubs, and demanding schoolwork, the school year is quickly filled with obligations that tax a child’s time and cognitive energy. Without these other demands over the summer, kids have the time and energy to rewire their brains for success. 5. See How Much Kids Can Grow – During the school year kids are focused on schoolwork structured to help them pass tests and meet state standards. Spending the summer working on Brain Training and organizational skills helps them to identify new standards to measure their abilities. 6. Help Them Take Control – Many children struggle with managing the many competing priorities they face in everyday life and rely on the adults around them for extensive help. Spending time over the summer to develop these crucial organizational skills can set them up for success both in and out of school. 7. Notice a Difference Sooner – After just a short time in these programs, you will see a noticeable impact in your kids as they can feel their skills develop. Many of our parents report that their children feel better about themselves and their ability to succeed after completing the program. 8. Prepare for School Without Doing Schoolwork – While it’s important for kids to get a break from schoolwork, they shouldn’t turn their brain off all summer. Cognitive Brain Training activities are a fun alternative to schoolwork that can help them develop important skills, such as working memory, sustained attention and focus, visual and auditory processing, phonemic awareness, and processing speed. 9. Make Good Impressions for the New School Year – Teachers always appreciate when kids come to class organized and prepared for a new school year. Executive Functioning and organizational skills give your child the chance to impress teachers by being as prepared as possible on the first day of school. 10. Build Skills that Last a Lifetime – Children with learning challenges often put in much more effort than others for the same results. As many of the Brain Training skills they learn help to improve neural organization, spending one summer to optimize their brains can unlock their potential and set them up for a lifetime of success!

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Optimize your brain for Learning Success! At Learning Efficiency, we know that dealing with learning challenges can feel like an uphill battle. We don’t just deal with the SYMPTOMS you may see, we address the underlying CAUSES. Learning Efficiency programs are designed to help students with ADHD/ADD, Dyslexia, Cognitive Processing Issues, Organization, Time Management, and other Executive Functioning Challenges.

What Makes Learning Efficiency Different

Our Diagnostic

•Our Learning Efficiency diagnostic helps us identify underlying causes of Attention, Memory, and Processing Challenges.

1-on-1 Instruction

•We customize instruction around your specific needs. Our experienced faculty work 1-on-1 with your child to get the best results possible!

ADHD/ADD Cognitive Processing

•Our programs work to enhance Sustained Attention and Focus by addressing the visual and auditory systems as well as developing your child’s cognitive abilities. •Brain Training activities target your child’s ability to process information quickly, by strengthening Working Memory, Auditory Processing, and Processing Speed.

Executive Functioning

•We help your child work smarter, not harder, by building Organizational Skills. They will learn to avoid procrastination, stay organized, and maintain the quality of their work.

Academic Support

•Our math and reading programs are tailored to accelerate each child’s progress in math and/or reading based on their specific learning profile and learning style preference.

Call us at 1-800-565-5817 or email us at Info@LearningEfficiency.com to set up a diagnostic or consultation. Start your child on the path to success TODAY! Visit us at www.LearningEfficiency.com for more information.

Boston • New York • Silicon Valley

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Feel the Fire of Suns Basketball Camps Hustle, hard work, leadership, and selfconfidence are only a few of things that campers will learn while attending the Suns summer camp. For over a decade thousands of boys and girls from ages 6-17 have attended summer camp with the Phoenix Suns & Phoenix Mercury. The Suns summer basketball camp offers two sessions each year. The first session is a weeklong day camp at local Thunderbird High School, and the second is an overnight camp at Pine Summit Camp in Prescott, AZ. Both camps are led by former ASU Men’s basketball coach, Bill Frieder and his team of former high school, collegiate, and professional players & coaches. The overnight camp consists of bunking with other campers, skill building activities during the day, listening to guest speakers, films for the attendees to learn from, tickets to a Suns game, and an opportunity to meet a current member of the Suns Basketball team. With seven outdoor courts at Pine Summit Camp, the campers are sure to get plenty of court time to improve their skills. The day campers get all the same benefits as the overnight camp, just without the bunking. Both sessions are great experiences for the campers and are certain to build life long memories. Director of Youth Basketball Programs, Mark Gretter loves seeing the developmental process of kids. “My favorite part is seeing a kid realize how his skills are improving and watch him get excited about that. If you see a kid that struggles with a certain drill on the first few days of camp and then see that kid keep trying and putting in the effort, his reaction to success is always great,” he said. Suns summer camp is more than just basketball though. The Suns summer campers

develop a greater sense of character, stronger social skills, and teamwork. “One of the other important lessons we teach at camp is how to use basketball lessons to become a better, more well-rounded person. The reality is that a very small portion of kids playing basketball will ever play professionally. But all of them will grow up to be adults. Some of the lessons they first get exposed to at a summer basketball camp like hard work, being a good teammate, listening to your coach, and working together to achieve one goal will stick with them when they apply for jobs, develop relationships, and build their own next generation of families,” Gretter said. Many of the campers come into Suns camps without knowing the other campers, yet they learn to work together as a team to achieve a common goal. This allows campers to step out of their comfort zone and get to know others who can help in their development. They learn about the value of teamwork and being a coachable teammate. Some of the campers come from all over the state of Arizona and have been attending camps since they were six years old. For the newest campers, it is an opportunity for them to develop new friendships while learning the value of teamwork. The campers are put into teams where they compete in real game scenarios to learn about teamwork and grow their personal skills. These competitions teach the campers about winning and losing with dignity. Most importantly, these camps – like many others – also focus on teaching campers general life lessons. There are awards at the end of each camp for outstanding effort and skill, but the emphasis at camp is around development as an athlete, teammate and person throughout their everyday life.

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MAKING

BASKETBALL A FAMILY AFFAIR

February 6

Suns vs Jazz Enjoy a post-game concert by KUTLESS

September 2 Educational Activities

JR. SUNS & JR. MERCURY BASKETBALL Learn what it takes to win on and off the court!

For group tickets contact Mark Ruby at

602.379.7802

To sign up visit

www.jrsuns.com

Mercury Game In-Game Entertainment

For group tickets contact Mark Ruby at

602.379.7802

See our article included in this edition of CampNavigator for more on the Jr. Suns & Jr. Mercury Summer Camp!

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The Hidden Value of a Summer at Camp Each year, parents send children off to summer camp with the hopes that that they’ll have fun and make friends. They hope that they’ll learn more skills in soccer and baseball and try out the many crafts activities, too. They hope they’ll become stronger swimmers and get across the zip line. The way they know whether their kids had a great summer is how enthusiastically their children write and talk about their new friends, new accomplishments, and newfound skills. But there’s an even greater value to summer camp that campers say very little about, in large part because they do not realize it’s happening. At camp, the long-term immeasurable learning of soft skills is an essential part of the program. The United States Department of Labor identified the skills of communication, networking, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking, and professionalism as the important competencies to the development of a successful young worker. Unlike schools, camps are intentional about helping young people develop these skills. At camp, without the intervention of their parents, youngsters must learn to communicate their needs to their counselors. Young adult counselors do not have (and should not have) the intuitive sense of individual needs that parents have. This requires that children take initiative to reach out and communicate. This may make them uncomfortable at first, but the ability to express needs and desires clearly is an essential life skill. Campers also live in small spaces with many others and must learn to communicate with their peers about shared needs. They have to learn to be good listeners as well as good speakers and learn to compromise for the benefit of everyone in the cabin. 46

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Living in camp provides great opportunities to develop the capacity for networking. There are many people with whom to interact, and the more campers learn to talk with others about their skills and talents, the more they will grow comfortable with networking, which is an essential personal and business skill. Children who are shy in school very often become more outgoing at camp because performance pressure is reduced and young adult counselors have more opportunities in informal settings to help children break out of their shells than teachers do in the more controlled, formal settings of classrooms. Camp is all about enthusiasm! Through cheering on Color War teams and getting excited about the winning team in a basketball league, campers are encouraged to be enthusiastic and to develop positive attitudes. At camp, counselors are the ultimate role models for positive attitude and enthusiasm - these are the primary attributes camps look for in their hiring practices. Dealing with life’s inevitable disappointments with a positive mental attitude has been shown to be a predictor of personal success. Because so many of the experiences at camp are new and different, campers often do not succeed at the first try. Building a capacity for a positive attitude allows campers to continue to make attempts at success. And, without these attempts, there is no way to achieve something new and great. Of course, camps are the perfect place to learn and develop teamwork skills. Campers work together to take care of their living space, to participate on competitive teams, to put on a performance of the annual camp show, to help one another at the ropes course, and to learn songs for the

campâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s singing competitions. Everyone benefits from working with a team. To be a good team member, campers need to learn communication skills as well. They need to be introspective, too, and develop a greater understanding of what they bring to the team in terms of skills, ability, personality, and attitude.

the ways in which they are intentional about teaching these important life skills to youngsters. Long-term success at camp and at life is built around learning to communicate, networking, being positive, working with a team, solving problems and learning the values of professionalism. Ask your camp director about it.

The opportunity to live away from home provides campers with the chance to build problem solving and critical thinking skills. At home, parents are always available to help children solve their problems, but at sleepaway camps, children need to think on their feet and develop solutions to problems on their own, with help from their peers, and with help from their counselors and camp staff. Practice at problem solving is an essential aspect of living away from home in a camp environment. Professionalism is a combination of all of the soft-skills that campers learn, and also includes integrity, honesty, and responsibility. These are values that camps instill in campers. Most camps have programs that celebrate these character traits and values. Many parents choose a summer camp for their children based on the facilities and list of varied activities that they can read about in the brochure and see on the website. It is our belief that parents should ask camp directors about

Article by David Katz Program Director of Chipinaw and Silver Lake www.CampNavigator.com Vol. 4, Issue 1

It’s time to approach the school about academic help for your child with ADHD where to start It’s time to approach the school about academic help for your child with ADHD and you don’t know where to start. You’ve heard the phrases “Individualized Education Plan or IEP” and “504 plan,” but what those plans are isn’t exactly clear to you and you’re not sure how they can help your child. “It’s a topic that parents have a lot of questions about,” says special education attorney Robert Tudisco during an Ask the Expert Webcast [http://www.help4adhd. org/ate_sched.cfm] with the National Resource Center on ADHD. He is a former member of the board of directors for Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). The Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act, or IDEA, and Section 504 are federal laws providing support to students with disabilities in public schools and charter schools. An IEP comes from IDEA. When a child has special needs, including ADHD, parents can request an academic evaluation by the school to figure out which approach, an IEP or a 504 Plan, can best help their child. Parents start with a written request to the child’s classroom teacher and school principal. This gets the ball rolling when it comes to classroom assistance. “ADHD or any other disability doesn’t automatically guarantee a child services under either of these laws,” Tudisco says. “Parents need to know that they still have

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to show, and the standard for both of these statutes is that the disability substantially impacts a major life activity. That’s really important.” IDEA requires all children receive a free, appropriate public education and was written to provide special educational services and procedural safeguards for children with disabilities, including ADHD. Children who meet the eligibility criteria and require special education services because of the disability can qualify for services under IDEA. “IEPs are extremely structured,” says Tudisco. Under the law, the school and parents must meet certain requirements in crafting the IEP. Changes may be made to the curriculum for the child in addition to services provided by the school. While still a formal accommodations program, 504 plans stem from the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a civil rights law. “504 plans are much less structured and more flexible,” Tudisco explains. “Educators and parents can be more creative in a 504 plan in getting accommodations under the law.” To qualify under Section 504 for accommodations, a student must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities, have a record of impairment, or be regarded as having an impairment.

Some examples of accommodations could be: Reducing the homework load without reducing the level or content of what is being taught. Providing clear and simple directions for homework and in-class assignments. Giving tests in a quiet place and/or providing extra time. “The big question becomes, ‘Which one is better?’ A lot of parents ask this question. The answer really is, ‘What does this child need?’” Tudisco says. “If you believe your child just needs some simple accommodations and a 504 plans works just fine, that is perfectly appropriate.” Likewise, he adds, some children will need the greater structure of an IEP and parents should request that if it will best meet their child’s needs. Parents are part of the team when designing the educational plan for their child. They should request and receive a copy of the academic evaluation report before the education team meets at the school. If the parents have questions, they can ask the educator who conducted the evaluation or the school principal before the meeting.

Likewise, parents should be vocal during the education team meetings and clearly state what they want for their child and which accommodations they believe will best meet their child’s needs. School district concerns, such as the number of children receiving special education or district budgets, should not be taken into consideration when determining a plan-the law requires the school to provide services that are needed, regardless any other district concerns. Parents don’t need to approve or signoff on a plan they don’t agree with, either. “Parents shouldn’t feel that they’re being forced one way or another by considerations that don’t involve the needs of the student,” says Tudisco.

Where can you find more information? The National Resource Center on ADHD:

A Program of CHADD provides additional information at www.help4adhd.org/en/ education. Or visit your state’s National Parent Technical Assistance Center at www. parentcenterhub.org/ptacs for valuable information about educational and legal advocacy.

Byline: Karen Sampson Hoffman

is the coordinator of the Ask the Expert Webcast Series, produced by the National Resource Center on ADHD: A Program of CHADD. [www. help4adhd.org]

The National Resource Center on ADHD: A Program of CHADD (NRC) is supported by Cooperative Agreement Number 1U84DD001049-01 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of CDC. www.CampNavigator.com Vol. 4, Issue 1

CHADD’s National Resource Center on ADHD Science, Information, Resources, Support

The National Resource Center on ADHD (NRC) serves parents and adults with ADHD, health professionals, educators, and policymakers by providing information on the most relevant topics about ADHD and related disorders: ■

Diagnosis ■

Treatment options ■

Educational rights ■

School and workplace challenges Tips on parenting, time management, legal issues, social skills, coaching, and more

■

All information in English and Spanish

■

ACCESS THE NRC ■

CALL toll-free at 800-233-4050

■

CONTACT specialists online at www.help4adhd.org (Se Habla Español)

■

SEARCH the Web’s only library dedicated to ADHD Health Information Specialists are available to answer your questions and help you find the help you need!

The National Resource Center on ADHD is supported by Cooperative Agreement Number 1U84DD001049-01 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CHADD is solely responsible for its contents, which do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC.

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I was never a summer camper I must confess that I was never a summer camper myself as a child. My first experience with summer camp was as a staff member at a residential camp while in college. That first summer was for me like going to camp for the first time, even though I was years older than the campers there. It got into my blood. Since then I have led or supervised over two decades of summer day-camps and residential camps. I know from my own experiences, and those of the many campers I have met, that summer camp is a life experience for anyone who attends. Summer camp is simply unlike any other opportunity childhood offers. It is an immersion, and not just in the camp swimming pool. It is a full mind-, body- and interpersonal-experience. After a school-

year of regimented classes, sports practices and video game sessions, even a single day at camp is a valuable break from routine. Routine can be difficult to overcome; being dropped off at camp for the day or the week has a way of opening the mind! In our increasingly test-driven educational culture, camp is a chance to try things for which there is little time in school. The breadth of offerings is impressive these days. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just about swimming classes or painted-rock crafts anymore. Build a model rocket, ride a horse, program a robot, play fifty different kinds of tag, catch a butterfly, climb a ropes course, throw a clay pot--you name it, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s out there. These are things that are not on any standardized test but will supply a lifetime of memory and inspiration. www.CampNavigator.com Vol. 4, Issue 1

Lifelong friends wait at summer camp, too. The camp will be full of new faces who will share their life experiences from different places and walks of life. Those same people who might never cross paths otherwise will create new experiences together. Camp gives those who are friends outside of camp a place to explore the friendship in the context of new activities, too. However, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just about making friends, but also learning to get along with others in general. Sports may certainly be part of some camps, but other types of cooperative games and challenges are a common feature at most camps. Camp is also full of role models. Camp isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just about meeting other campers. Speaking as a long-time summer staff member and supervisor, I recall fondly the fascinating personalities of the counselors and program leaders I have known. Some of the most funny, caring, creative and inspiring people I have met in my life were those who worked alongside me on camp staff. They come from all personality types: outgoing, athletic, introspective, intellectualâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;each connects with a different sort of camper. Above all,

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the camp staffer brings an enthusiasm that is contagious. They work hard to include everyone, to give each camper every opportunity to enjoy the activities, try new things, and have a fun, safe time. Camp is also a place for a fresh start for those who need it. Children who may struggle in school or at home may come to camp and succeed at things they never expected. Of course, special needs are addressed and should be brought the attention of the camp staff. But in this new place, surrounded by new friends and attentive staff, campers are given the chance to set aside old struggles. If those struggles should surface, the new opportunities at camp give them the chance to try new ways of working out those struggles. The melding of people and experience is unique to camp. I have seen it change lives. When I experienced it for the first time even as an adult, camp changed mine.

by Scott Detwiler

Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania

Events Calendar

Akron Rotary Camp Open House

Usdan Center Open House

Nature Place Day Camp Open House

WEDNESDAY

BRANDYWINE Zoo Camp Open House

11 Spring Lake Day Camp Open House

16 SATURDAY

WEDNESDAY

1:00pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4:00pm

SUNDAY

PNC CampAchievement Sweeney Center For Education & Interpretation Open House Science Camps

MONDAY

Open House

SATURDAY

SATURDAY TUESDAY

Open House

LINX Camps

SUNDAY

Mill Basin Day Camp

SUNDAY

SATURDAY

Feb 2015 Events

New York Film Academy Open House

Camp Recky Open House

SATURDAY

22 Green Chimneys Summer Camp Open House

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Giving Kids Time to Know Themselves:

Bank Street Summer Camp’s Approach to Day Camp Kids are busier than they ever have been. Overstimulated and overloaded, many families struggle to find time to balance their children’s lives with recreational play and focused exploration. As a progressive school, Bank Street is focused on the development of children, with regard to academics, as well as social and emotional growth. The Bank Street Summer Camp provides time and structure for campers to develop as learners through love of play, creativity and collaboration, all outside of an academic environment. Traditionally, summer camps consist of cabins, rope courses and, arts and crafts. But what is camp really? What does camp provide kids with that school and other educational programs do not? For decades camp has been a place where kids can experiment, explore new interests, and learn how to maneuver through an ever-changing social atmosphere.

The American Camp Association conducted national research with over 5,000 families between 2001 and 2004, each from 80 accredited camps, specifically about immeasurable skills that campers receive and practice during the summer camp experience. Parents, campers and camp staff reported significant growth in the following non-academic concentrations; environmental awareness, decision making, adventure and exploration, independence, self-esteem, interpersonal skills, peer relationships and leadership. No differences were found in a particular type of camp, be it day camp, sleep away camp or travel camp. Bank Street Summer Camp has gone beyond the role of the traditional summer camp and focused on these themes, by supporting campers and families with educational professionals as counselors and training young camp staff to become educators.

The Bank Street Summer Camp’s mission, as well as the mission for their KidsCollege vacation programs, states: “The mission of the Bank Street Summer Camp is to foster emotional, physical and ethical growth within campers and kids, by using educational professionals to help them develop their own personalities and individual voices through love of play, creativity and collaboration. Through experiential education, we seek to strengthen not only individuals, but the community as well, and the larger society, in which adults and children, in all their diversity, interact and learn. We see in Camp, and our vacation programs, an opportunity to educate and build a better society.” 54

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Part of campers getting to know themselves is offering accessible programs that attract families of all backgrounds, including ethnicity, family structure, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and learning styles. This environment recognizes and celebrates the differences between campers, staff and families, while teaching children to respect one anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s people cultures, life choices and way of life. Learning how to swim helps campers challenge themselves and feel a measure of success, while learning a life skill. Unfortunately, most schools do not teach swimming but, fortunately, most camps do. At Bank Street Summer Camp, campers are assessed and put in a swim group that fits their comfort level and skill level. Counselors assist and help supervise with aquatic staff in the water to help facilitate maximum success and safety. Summer time offers an opportunity for parents to add balance to childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives and the time is right for schools and camps to teach the whole child, beyond academia and scholastics. Children need time, practice and a safe environment to connect with themselves and each other. Bank Street College has spent almost one hundred years making these goals a reality and the Bank Street Summer Camp has continued this tradition in a recreational summer setting.

Article by Dylan Morgan

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Photo courtesy of Oregon Coast Aquarium

Dive into Something Fishy this Summer! The world’s oceans cover over 70 percent of the planet, but humans have only explored about five to seven percent of the ocean floor, and roughly one-half of one percent of the vast expanses of the water column itself.

The marine environment holds countless opportunities for discovery, and is home to charismatic creatures that capture the minds of kids of all ages. Paleolithic art and many oral traditions tell us that the ocean’s legacy in human culture precedes recorded history. This watery dimension of our planet provided generations past and present food, transportation and a tremendous source of inspiration. Science education based in the environment gets kids outdoors and promotes a sense of altruistic responsibility, a characteristic of many successful adults. The ocean faces many challenges as it responds to the growing impact people have on our planet. It produces half of the oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere and compounds that can cure cancer, but its basic chemistry is changing and scientists are still learning what that means. Ocean acidification is dissolving coral reefs and the shells of many animals. Young people that learn about these issues will be informed about cutting-edge science and be empowered to make a difference. Marine sciences are largely absent from classrooms, meaning summer programs 56

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focused on this subject provide kids learning opportunities like they have never experienced before. Many Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited organizations offer a diverse array of programs for kids of all ages to fill this gap. These programs are offered in hopes of inspiring young people to become stewards of the environment as they mature into adults. Day and overnight camps are a popular educational offering at many of these facilities, especially during summer when school is out of session. Sleepover programs, offered at many of these facilities for families and Girl and Boy Scout groups, provide an immersive weekend of aquarium science education any time of the year. Teenagers can build their resumes and dive into new experiences through many of these organizations’ youth volunteer programs. They might interpret an exhibit to visitors, design a campaign to promote environmental action among their peers or clean up a water way to prevent marine debris. These experiences do more than show kids

the ocean, as a documentary would; they teach about science and the environment through action. Depending on the program, campers might collect a plankton sample, peering through a microscope and recording observations for beach water quality testing. This trains job-applicable skills and provides in-depth lessons on commonly discussed ocean issues. Learning by doing is an integral part of most marine science programs. Photo courtesy of Oregon Coast Aquarium

Technology savvy kids and teenagers can continue their learning, without the structure of camp, with free online resources like the Oceanscape Network, which was specially developed as an outdoor exploration guide for Oregon. Education aside, many of these learning experiences include unforgettable adventures. Whale watching, interacting with a giant Pacific octopus or seeing how some tidepool invertebrates move with tubefeet make the mysterious blue realm that covers most of our planet come to life.

by Erin Paxton Photo courtesy of Oregon Coast Aquarium

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SAHS CAMP HUMANE

The camp that teaches kids all about pets! Camp Humane at the SAHS is geared toward equipping children of all ages with the knowledge they need to be responsible pet owners and animal advocates. They learn about domestic, wild, and exotic animals and this is achieved through exciting, hands-on presentations from organizations such as SeaWorld and Over the Top Agility, in addition to Humane Educational lessons on animal care, and responsibility from the SAHS Humane Educator and Chief Veterinarian. Kids also participate in fun activities, crafts, service projects to benefit our shelter pets, and games, such as painting pictures of shelter dogs or running the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Feed Your Pet!â&#x20AC;? Relay Race. To accommodate children and teens, 5-16 years of age, our week long Camp Humane sessions occur throughout Spring Break and the summer months and focus on age appropriate lessons and activities. For instance, those 5-7 years of age can attend Itsy Bitsy Camp Humane and those 1216 years of age can participate in Service Camp Humane where they will focus more on service projects. Additionally, several of the Camp Humane sessions provide optional extended care if desired by the parent/guardian.

During a typical day, our dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer camp counselors will assist our Humane Educator and interact with campers while they receive humane education, workshops from a veterinarian or animal expert, and several animal classes designed to foster a special appreciation for animals. Camp Humane has been a proven success over the years and we are always excited to see familiar faces, as many campers attend multiple sessions. And it is great to see siblings and friends share their camp experience together!

Top 5 Reasons to Send Your Child to Camp Humane at the SAHS: 5. Three words: dog agility demonstrations! 4. Hands-on experiences with domestic AND exotic animals! 3. Fun and educational animal-based crafts and games! 2. Exciting dog training lessons with our on-staff trainer! 1. A priceless education in humane living and animal welfare! 58

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It is our goal for all campers to leave with a deeper understanding of animal issues both locally and around the world. So, if you have an animal-loving child/teen, send them to Camp Humaneâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the camp that teaches all about animals! Visit SAhumane.org/education for more information!

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Gain independence, learn something new, and have fun at the same time??? In today’s age, we expect more and more out of the youth of America. From summer school programming, intense athletic requirements, family vacation time and other enrichment opportunities, an average kid’s summer schedule is more chock-full than ever before. What ever happened to playing outside and getting a little dirt under the fingernails? For most parents, think back and remember how you spent most summer vacations outside surrounded by nature. Today, this seems like a rare commodity. Resident camping is one of the most formative experiences in a child’s life. Camp Tockwogh incorporates outdoor fun and adventure into an experience that allows children to enhance values, build character, develop as leaders and learn lifelong skills. Unplugging from the modern tech filled world, trying something new, and just having plain old fashioned fun is an awesome way to complete that perfect, unforgettable summer experience. 60

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You may ask yourself, “Why summer camp? What can it do for my child?” An average school year fills student calendars with many high stress situations and kids are increasingly pushed to achieve and succeed at a must higher rate than in years past. Summer camp offers a way for a child to just simply not worry about outside stressors and learn more about themselves in a safe environment. Camp Tockwogh, a branch of the YMCA of Delaware, is a spectacular rural camp on the Eastern shore of Maryland overlooking 309 wellpreserved acres spanning two miles of Chesapeake Bay shoreline. We are

an all-inclusive overnight summer camp guided by the principles of the YMCA serving youth from kindergarten through grade eleven. Our facility provides the prime location for youth to unwind, have fun being kids while gaining valuable skills along the way. Summer camp provides so much more than just fun and games. YMCA Camp Tockwogh provides its summer campers with outstanding experiential learning opportunities, a safe environment to forge new friendships, build upon their character and gain independence. Believe it or not, children do need time away from their parents. Building Independence comes from the ability to make decisions by oneself. Allowing a child to choose their own path, within a safe structure, makes learning a new skill or subject more personal and even more fulfilling.

As said before, summer Camp allows children to learn new skills and try new things. Camp Tockwogh offers a multitude of great activities and challenges because we think a good camp should have something for every kid. For campers who want to ski and play sports all day, we have the right mix for them. For campers who enjoy outdoor education and sailing, we have just the right mix. For campers who love horses and swimming, well we have the right mix for that too! Summer camp has it all! Residential summer camping is one of the best opportunities offered to youth over the summer. Learning new skills, forging new lifelong friendships, and learning how to have a blast independently prepares children for their busy futures. At YMCA Camp Tockwogh, we believe that summer camp gives children access to understanding healthy living and social responsibility through the development of independence, confidence, lifelong learning and character.

Article by Alex Flaxenburg

WATCH VIDEO ON YOUTUBE VISIT OUR WEBSITE

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A guide to choosing the ultimate Residential Camp for your daughter Residential girls summer camps are much more than making friendship bracelets, toasting marshmallows for the perfect s’mores or learning camp cheers. It’s about building independence, navigating through a parent-free environment, and trading in electronics for conversation. It involves community building and becoming an active member of a new sisterhood. Finding the best summer camp experience for your daughter can be a challenge. After all, you are not just selecting a camp for one summer but a summer home that will be a part of their lives forever. As co-assistant directors of an all girls overnight camp in Northeast Pennsylvania, we have grown accustomed to partnering with parents in helping them find the perfect fit for their child. Here are the very basics of items to consider when making this important decision: You researched the camp locations, prices, and schedules, and now it becomes important to dive into the philosophy of the camp and see if they are compatible with your family’s core values. Camp philosophy translates to day-to-day life and speaks to

the childcare, the individuals who will be working and living with your children and the directors who will be ensuring their success all summer long. Many camps have mission statements to give you a clear idea of what they practice and teach. This will give you not only the “what” but the “how.” What are the camp values and how will this camp teach your child friendship building skills, leadership, self -confidence, and independence. The camp philosophy should reflect upon the directors and show how they lead and support the camp. Health, wellness and safety are the most important factors when considering a camp for your daughter. Begin your search for camps by making sure that the health and wellness staff are well trained and in constant communication with camp families. When touring camps, stop by the Health Center and speak with the staff to ensure that they are well-trained, knowledgeable and able to provide the best possible care. The hope of course as parents is that your child never visits the health center – but if they do, the peace of mind that they are in great care cannot be undervalued. www.CampNavigator.com Vol. 4, Issue 1

Once deciding that you would like to consider resident camps you can dig deeper into the overnight camp program and scheduling. First, consider session lengths (ranging from 2-7 weeks). Then take a look at basic make-up of the program; from electives and options to a more structured program there is truly a camp for everyone! It is imperative to choose a camp that has a program that fits well with your child’s interests and personality and one that will continue to grow with your child. Building a relationship with the director is an essential component when selecting a residential camp. How can this be accomplished? We suggest visiting the camp during the summer or scheduling a home visit. It’s important to create a partnership in parenting with the director and the leadership team. In addition to numerous conversations throughout the winter with the director, the camp should provide new families with support and confidence so they will understand your child’s personality traits to better care for her over the summer. This relationship building prior to the summer will also be essential for bunk placement and general information to make your

daughter feel the most comfortable in her new summer home. This article should serve as a jump -start for you as caring parents to find the most appropriate program for your daughter. The camp’s philosophy should be one that includes a sense of wholesomeness, inclusiveness, and one that provides a nurturing and caring environment. Health, safety, and wellness needs to be of upmost importance to the camp as they take care of not just your daughter’s physical needs, but her emotional and psychological health as well. Programming, scheduling, and duration of camp needs to be considered for your daughter based on her general interests. Does she want to star in the camp play and focus her attention at a drama camp, or find a more versatile program that includes not just drama, but sports, arts, and fitness? Finally, the prospective parent should feel engaged and part of the camp community as they build a comfortable relationship with the director(s) as you inquire about the camp. These tips will serve you with reminders of what to look for in regards to the best quality program for your daughter as they begin this new unforgettable journey in their lives.

Article by Lizzy Lean &

Nicki Alpern

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With A Rookie Day or Tour VISIT CECBR.COM/ROOKIES OR CALL 631.329.3239 TO SPEAK TO A DIRECTOR

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SJ Riding Camp WHY CHOOSE AN EQUESTRIAN CAMP? The benefits of summer camp are well-known. Children who attend summer camp come away with a new sense of self, with life skills, more self confidence, new friends, and wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Children who enjoy horseback riding learn responsibility, time management, and sportsmanship, and practice decision making. They learn to juggle a sport that requires yearround practices, sometimes competitions, and often daily care of their horse with family, friends, other sports, and school. Imagine being at a summer camp where horseback riding is the major activity. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best of both worlds! Campers new to a camp arrive anxious about making new friends and are particularly nervous about fitting in with the children who are returning to their favorite camp. Campers arriving at an equestrian camp are speaking the same language as those who return year after year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a love of horses. No matter from where they come from around the world they already share a passion that makes it easier to fit in, to belong. The ice is broken as they gather to visit with the horses and participate together in their lessons and on trail rides. They have brought photos of horses to hang on their cabin wall, they help each other with their riding apparel, and are eager to share horse stories and to compare opinions on breeds and tack.

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Equestrian camp combines group living with a favorite sport, usually along with traditional camp activities. One might say that all sports camps do the same thing but the difference here is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the love of the animals first, then maybe competition, but not always, that makes equestrian camp particularly enriching for the campers, and the staff. Campers at equestrian camp learn to give and receive encouragement, criticism, and praise because they all are engaged in the same sport. Camp counselors at all camps are trained to provide emotional and physical support to their campers so the whole feel of camp is nurturing. At equestrian camp this feeling is magnified because riding counselors also

share their love of horses with their campers. There is nothing more powerful than caring for an animal when feeling a bit homesick. Riding daily, sometimes multiple times a day, and helping to care for the horses 24 hours a day enhances learning and provides natural examples of responsibility and mutual respect. Campers at equestrian camps develop a cando attitude. The horses depend on them for their food, water, health, and exercise every day and the campers find a way, with guidance from their counselors, to get it all done. One of the best parts of summer camp is making new friends and at equestrian camp they also make horse friends. When riders are asked to name their favorite horse they often name their camp horse, not their horse at the barn back home.

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SJ Riding Camp

The worst day with a horse is better than.... Wait, there is no bad day with a horse!Imagine the benefits of combining all the learning and fun of summer camp with all that is loved in equestrian sports!

 1-3 week overnight

sessions  Hunter Jumper  Eventing  Lessons 2X per day  Other horse activities  Arts & Crafts, Swimming, Archery  acivities

By Alexandra Thomas

Ellington CT 860 872-4742 www.sjridingcamp.com

Lauren Woznica on Acadia at SJ Riding Camp Photo courtesy of CountingHoofBeats Photography

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A Sea of Choices Marine science camp is a wonderful way for children to excite their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning about, and caring for, the environment. Whether they are getting introduced to marine science, or are diving into a subject that they are already passionate about, campers are inspired by interactions with live animals and taking part in science in action. Finding just the right marine science camp with the perfect blend of activities to suit your budding biologist involves some careful planning and consideration.

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The ultimate marine science camp. This can be so many things. The first ocean literacy principle states that the Earth has one big ocean with many features. There is so much to learn! What is the most important to you and to your child? If you live near a coast or body of water, your child’s connection to the world ocean may begin in their own backyard. No need to travel—marine science can start with the waterways that connect us all to the sea. What better way to realize that they are part of nature than to see these connections in places familiar to a person? Or is your camper more of a tinkerer and experimenter? Hands-on learning can be empowering—using industry-standard equipment and methods, as well as readily available tools, makes science accessible. We can all be scientists!

Summer camps of all kinds are a time of tremendous growth and development. New challenges and new skills are honed through fun and friendship. Different camps will offer different opportunities: some may include swimming and boating, getting comfortable in the water; others may challenge campers to come face-to-face with live animals, and to use scientific tools and methods to view their world in a new way. What kind of journey is your camper ready for? While considering what adventures your camper will experience, it is also important to trust in their guides. At many camps, including the Marine Science Institute’s camp in Redwood City, CA, the instructors are full-time educators and marine biologists. These leaders will be your camper’s companions and role models. They will facilitate your camper’s growth and learning, and are ready to be challenged themselves by your camper’s questions and interests.

Marine Science Camp: Things to Consider LOCATION: Is it easy to get to? Does it provide access to interesting sites? ACTIVITIES: Swimming, boating, field trips. What skills are you looking to improve? THEMES: Animal interactions, experiments, stewardship. What does your camper want to focus on? ACADEMICS: How rigorous of a program are you looking for? QUALIFICATIONS: Do you trust the organization, its mission, and the staff?

by Felicia Van Stolk

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Top 10 Reasons to Choose a Specialty Art or Science Camp for your Child Science and Art Camps promote creative thinking and doing. Campers build skills in scientific practices. Campers learn new techniques using varied art media. Develop scientific literacy and understand the role of science in society. Learning outdoors provides a richer experience than a school classroom. Camp provides a hands-on environment whether it is art projects or science experiments. Many school budgets are making cuts in the arts and science. Scientists, artists and specialized instructors are positive role models and mentors for children. Making new friends who share your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interests Fun! Experienced educators strive to inspire wonder and curiosity about the world through fun hands-on science and art activities.

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Imaginations soar as children design, build or construct science investigations or create art work using new materials. Children learn what it would be like to work as a scientist or artist. They also are inspired by other children’s ideas and enthusiasm as they connect with children who have similar passions. It is fun to make a new friend who loves dinosaurs or painting as much as you do. Observation skills are important in both art and science. Drawing is a way of recording observations for younger children and is stepping stone to making lab reports in science classes. Integrating art and science helps science oriented students appreciate the beauty of our world and artistically inclined students get a better understanding of science when approached through the lens of art. Learning to use the tools of science and art can be very satisfying and esteem building for young people. Camp instructors are chosen for their expertise in science and/or art and their passion for sharing it with children. These professionals are powerful role models for your children. Find a camp that fits your child’s and family’s needs. There are both day and residential (overnight) specialty camps. Consider whether your child would be more comfortable in a co-ed or single gender camp. Sessions vary from short workshops, half-day sessions to full day week long or multi-week sessions. Not every camp is for every child, but I believe there is a camp for every child. Happy exploring!

• Brunswick • Cape Elizabeth • Falmouth • Freeport • Westbrook • Yarmouth

by Judy Crosby Camp director for over 20 years Certified science teacher Experienced art educator

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Experiential learning for all ages

COA’s Family Nature Camp, Summer Field Studies offer unique educational summer camp experiences Families play together, stay together on seaside campus with customized adventures BAR HARBOR, MAINE

COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC

Families can stay together and play together while enjoying unique outdoor educational opportunities on the Maine coast.

a four-year college with 350 undergraduates on its seaside campus nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Acadia National Park, the East Coast’s only national park offers two enchanting summer options for families and children.

Such experiential learning programs include COA’s Summer Field Studies and its Family Nature Camp.

COA’s staff of qualified environmental educators lead small groups of 10 to 12 campers, fostering an atmosphere of community and cooperation to create a safe, fun, caring, and rich learning atmosphere. While making new friends and having summer fun, SFS participants get more than a T-shirt and trinkets from their summer trip: They also gain an understanding of and a sensitivity toward the natural world around them.

Summer Field Studies is a field-based day camp for young people entering first through ninth grades. Participants explore, play, and learn through a variety of hands-on, mindson activities to increase their awareness and appreciation of the natural environment. 72

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The younger campers, first and secondgraders explore tide pools and discover local ecology in four- and five-day sessions on College of the Atlantic’s beautiful shorefront campus. Third- through ninth-graders travel to a variety of field sites on and around Mount Desert Island, which includes paddling and kayaking, hiking and biking. With Family Nature Camp — whole families engage in a week of fun and adventure together, joining professional naturalists on guided field trips, bird-watching, hiking in Acadia National Park, exploring ponds and trails, and combing the cobblestone beaches of beautiful Mount Desert Island. “Families who come to Mount Desert Island in the summer can find a place to stay, research their recreational opportunities and dine out at one of the many tourist restaurants,” said Laura Johnson, director of summer programs for the Bar Harborbased college. “But the beauty of our Family Nature Camp is that families settle on campus and we offer all those services, plus add educational opportunities led by trained, knowledgeable naturalists. And the location is perfect.” For many families, it’s proven an irresistible attraction. “We’ve been to Family Nature Camp 19 times. We do not tire of the program,” said Mike Gumpert of Douglassville, Pa. The Gumperts — who first came to camp when their daughter, Emily, was 8 — are preparing for their 20th annual stay. Emily is now a 1st-grade school teacher and a COA family camp coordinator.

“Each year, there is something different to experience,” Gumpert said. “Many lasting friendships have been developed at COA. Our trip to Maine is a highlight of each year.” Programs have included an orientation and geological introduction to Acadia National Park, a geological marvel with cliffs, granitetopped mountains and fascinating ecological history; fun, informative presentations about mysterious creatures such as owls and bats; Diver Ed’s Dive-In Theater cruise; Acadian Boat Tour nature or fishing cruises; arts and crafts seminars for the artist in your family; sunset visits to the top of Cadillac Mountain; visits to COA’s Dorr Museum of Natural History featuring dioramas, aquaria and other exhibits created by COA students; and more. Family campers reside together in the Blair/ Tyson student residences in suites consisting of three bedrooms and a co-ed bathroom, a shared common area and kitchen. Bedrooms have either one or two single beds, mattress pads, pillows and blankets. Rollaway beds will be made available for larger families. Room assignments are customized according to the number of people in your family, ages of children, and composition of groups traveling together. No one has to worry about cooking, making reservations or finding the one restaurant everyone likes: All meals are served in the Blair Dining Hall, three meals a day from Sunday evening through Friday evening. Menus include “kid-friendly” foods and an optional lobster dinner one evening. Food is made from scratch, and the COA kitchen — highly regarded in numerous reviews of U.S. colleges and universities — emphasizes local and organic ingredients.

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All of the field trips, presentations, and boat cruises are included in the cost of registration. The camp day runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Extended care is available on campus, with supervised care that gives children a chance to warm up to the day and quietly wind down after an action-packed day of camp. Fees range from $235 for four days of fun and learning to $480 for two-week session. Some activities — such as whale watches or boat tours — may require an additional fee. COA’s Family Nature Camp was named in the May/June 2011 National Geographic Traveler as one the best outdoor family vacations in the U.S., and has been ranked one of the top five family camps by Disney’s Family Fun Magazine.

College of the Atlantic was founded in 1969 on the premise that

education should go beyond understanding the world as it is, to enabling students to actively shape its future. A leader in experiential education and environmental stewardship, COA has pioneered a distinctive interdisciplinary approach to learning—human ecology—that develops the kinds of creative thinkers and doers needed by all sectors of society in addressing the compelling and growing needs of our world. For more, visit http://www.coa.edu.

Article by Bob Mentzinger

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Camp is an invaluable resource for individuals with developmental disabilities

Sleep-away summer camp is a rite of passage. Camp is a place where children gain independence and learn to live with others without parental supervision. Many children learn more about themselves at camp than in nine months in a classroom. All one need do is Google the benefits of summer camp and endless lists will appear. What about the benefits of summer camp for not-so-typical children? Camp Huntington has been providing a summer camp experience for individuals with developmental disabilities since 1961. From the outside Camp Huntington appears to be just like any other summer camp, but with our unique philosophy and our mission, the benefits a summer camp offers is as unique as our campers. Camp Huntington campers spend their summer engaged in fun activities like arts and crafts, sports, drama, music and swimming, just like any other sleepaway camp. However, each individual

camper has specific goals from home and/or school worked on daily without the camper being aware or resisting. Every staff member is trained to work specifically with our unique population. We emphasize increasing independence and skill development while decreasing undesirable behaviors in a setting that differs from home and school. This makes camp a powerful setting in which to work on generalization of skills and maintenance. Independence is important, but to individuals with developmental disabilities the skills that foster independence can be difficult to learn and more difficult to maintain over time and in different environments. At Camp Huntington, we have a 1:3 staff to camper minimum ratio. Our campers are learning to be more independent without realizing it and our staff modify camp activities to encourage campers to ask questions and work on specific skills.

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Picture schedules are used where needed and repetition encourages skill development. Living in a group setting naturally fosters an increase in independence by natural modeling. Staff live in the bunk with campers and model activities of daily living. Campers are often working on these goals at school or in their work programs. Coming to camp and practicing these skills in a different environment is vital for ensuring their independence across multiple settings. There is a movement within the field of developmental disabilities to create employment opportunities for people with special needs. In order for our campers to obtain meaningful employment upon leaving school, learning vocational skills necessary is vital. The Team Leadership Program (TLP) offered by Camp Huntington is a program aimed to increase independence and vocational skills. The campers fill out job application forms, have an adapted “interview”, and decide which jobs they would like to be responsible for around camp. Other activities include a “big brother/big sister” program, helping program staff run our program areas, management of the staff canteen and staff hostel, fulfilling supply requests around camp and delivering those supply orders to the bunks. Campers are expected to behave responsibly and to attend their jobs on time. While at work, the campers are expected to be on-task and to act professionally.

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This is another example of natural modeling for our campers who are still working on more basic vocational skills. Campers who are still developing these

employment skills are provided with ample opportunities to practice and master these skills through activities like delivering camp laundry, setting and cleaning the tables at mealtimes, delivering snacks to various bunks or delivering the mail to each bunk. Just like typically developing children feel accomplished when responsible for a task, our campers too are proud of mastering a new skill and achieving a set goal. Camp parents love that their children are having fun while also learning valuable life skills. Camp is an invaluable resource for individuals with developmental disabilities and also for their families. Knowing that one’s child is safe while having fun at camp can provide a much needed respite for parents while also allowing them extra

one-on-one time with their other children, something that is often compromised in families with a special needs child. It is well known that a camp experience is beneficial for all children but the benefits that Camp Huntington provides for our special campers, the opportunity to learn new skills in new ways and apply them and interacting with others and their environment, can be life changing. Everyone leaves a piece of their heart at camp each summer but leaves camp with new skills, confidence and, as in our camp song refrain, with “That Huntington Spirit up in my head, down in my knees and deep in my heart.” Article by Alex

Mellor, BCBA Program Director Camp Huntington

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Interview With

Kerri Quigley Camp Director for Teen Summer Fashion Camp Ph: (646) 329-6663 mail: kerri@thefashionclass.com

Q. How long has your camp been operational? A. We began our summer camp in 2010 as a sewing program for ages 5 through 18. It’s been three years and our program has grown into a full day camp that covers fashion design, illustration, sewing and accessory design for children and a separate “how to start your own clothing line” program for teenagers.

draping, and designing their first collection. Q. What are the typical session lengths and approximate pricing for your camp? A. Our sessions run for two weeks throughout the summer from 9AM-5PM. Each sessions costs $1700.00

Q. How much staff do you have and how do you Q. Where are you located? select your staff? A. We are located in Manhattan’s Garment Center, the A. Our professional staff actually teaches with perfect place to study fashion. The Fashion Class year round. Each instructor is a professional in their field meaning they actually work Q. What is your camp’s philosophy? in the fashion industry too. We always have one A. The Fashion Class aims to provide a fun and friendly teacher and one assistant teacher per group of ten environment for children interested in fashion design students. where they can see their artistic vision become a reality. Q. Why should parents send their kids to your camp? A. The Fashion Class Camp is the fashion experience Q. What does your camp specialize in? of a lifetime for any fashionista or young designer. A. The Fashion Class specializes in all things Fashion Our students return year after year, some even stay Design. Being in the garment center our program with us year round. has the unique ability to introduce students to the real world of fashion. We regularly visit designer Q. When does your camp enrollment start and finish? showrooms, meet models, and shop at fabric stores. A. Camp enrollment is ongoing from Fall through Early Summer. Q. What activities do you offer? A. Our camp classes cover fashion design, branding, Q. Is there anything else that would be helpful for illustration, sewing and accessory design for children. parents to know about your camp? Our teen program, from Concept to Creation, is all A. Our camp classes are small and allow for about how to actually start a clothing line. Student individualized attention, each class has up to ten learn the business of fashion as well as sewing, children. 78

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Interview With

Scott Domino Camp Director for Boy Scouts of AmericaCrystal Lake Scout Reservation Ph: (715) 365-3111 mail: scott@samoset.org

Q. How long has your camp been operational? A. Our programs began in 1935 with a small Summer Camp program. Since its beginning, our camps have grown to offer year-round programs serving 10,000 campers a year. The CLSR offers premier camping programs year-round including: Cub Scout summer opportunities at Akela’s World, Boy Scout & Venturing summer camp opportunities at Tesomas Scout Camp, week long high adventure treks through Hanna Venture Base and winter camp programs for all ages.

Windsurf, Sail, Snorkel, Fish , Archery Rifle, Blackpowder, Shotgun Fifty-plus merit badges - Some of the badges are difficult to earn anywhere but at camp. Others you wouldn’t expect to find at camp. And some are just plain fun. Campfire Programs | Order of the Arrow Programs | First Year Camper Area | COPE & Climbing | Scuba Adventures | Sea Kayaking Adventures | Exciting Dining Hall Experience | Adult Leader Activities | Family Camp Options | Provisional Camping.

Q. Where are you located? A. Nestled in the pristine Northwoods of Wisconsin just outside of Rhinleander, the Crystal Lake Scout Reservation is the perfect place for outdoor adventures. From simple overnight camping opportunities to week-long summer camps to kayaking in the Apostle Islands, the CLSR offers a wide variety of programs to fit the needs of our campers.

Q. How much staff do you have and how do you select your staff? A. We hire about 100 Summer Camp staff members and 25 winter camp staff members. We recruit through our website, mailing lists, during the summer at our camps and also through job fairs around Wisconsin.

Q. What is your camp’s philosophy? A. Our staff aims to share the “Tesomas Experience” with all who venture into our woodland haven. We will strive at any cost to make camping fun for those with whom we share our home and hearts, here “Where Camping Is King!” Q. What activities do you offer? A. Our camps offers numerous opportunities for fun in the outdoors . . .

Q. Why should parents send their kids to your camp? A. While the association of Boy Scouts and the fun of outdoor adventure is a natural one, it is perhaps more important to understand that camping experiences provide more than just fun. Summer Camp offers Scouts the opportunity to participate in physically and intellectually challenging activities, introduces them to new and rewarding experiences, and provides them with supportive and caring relationships. Summer Camp delivers campers experiences in critical areas of healthy youth development.

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CAMP CATEGORIES

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. YOU’RE PAYING FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEND A FEW DAYS HANGING OUT WITH YOUR IDOLS .

RELIGIOUS CAMPS

SPECIAL NEEDS CAMPS

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

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

SPORTS CAMPS

STUDY ABROAD CAMPS

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

WINTER CAMPS THESE CAMPS PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY SUITED TO THIS TIME OF SEASON INCLUDING SNOWBOARDING, SKIING, ETC.

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

TEEN PROGRAM CAMPS THESE CAMPS TYPICALLY INCLUDE STUDY ABROAD, ACADEMIC & COLLEGE PREP, TOURS AND TRAVELS, OUTDOOR & ADVENTURE, AND VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY, ETC.

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SUMMER CAMPS