Mental Health, Camp and What We Are Doing to Help.

In April of 2019 I had the opportunity to be trained as a Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor. Mental health has always been something that I have paid attention to and wanted to educate myself more about. As the number of young people that are presenting with depression and anxiety have grown, it has also something that has effected our program and the young people we serve.
The week long course was full of ups and downs, emotions, hard learning and practice teaching an 8 hour course.

The concept of the class is simple: if you walk in to a grocery store and fall down and physically hurt yourself there are probably lots of people there that have been trained on what to do to help you. They took First Aid. They know how to respond until more help comes. And these aren't professionals, they are people just like you that have done a little extra training to help their community. Now picture yourself in that same grocery store and you have a panic attack. Fast breathing, vision gets blurry, world seems like it is closing in on you, maybe you are a bit disoriented. How many people around you know what to do? How many people offer assistance?

Youth MHFA is aimed at adults that work with youth aged 12-18 (so parents, teachers, camp directors and staff, police officers).

It is about:
Empathy and listening
Being an advocate
Finding resources for someone in need
Educating yourself on some common signs and symptoms
Love and kindness
Having conversations with loved ones and strangers about mental health

It is NOT about:
Being an expert or diagnosing illness
Knowing what to do in every situation
Learning every illness and how they all work

Because at Camp Foley one of our main Mission Statements is to Partner with Parents, we want to offer you the chance to attend a YMHFA course that I am teaching on March 20th at the Ridgedale Library in Minnetonka. 

If you have an interest, please email me (Alli) and I will pass along the details of the course. The course costs $45 but to show our dedication to this important topic we are splitting the cost with our camp parents, offering it to you for $25.

If you can't make that date, let me know....there are other classes around the country that you can take.

Looking forward to continuing my education and hope you will, too.

Alli Faricy, Director

How to Send Your Child Mail/Emails and other Helpful Hints!

The first day of camp is only a few weeks away, and as we start to think about Summer 2019 (YAY!), we think about everything we need to do to prepare. As parents, you're making sure your camper has triple checked the packing list and that you have all the necessities before they come to Foley for the next one, two, three or even four weeks! The topic we really want to hone in on today is mail.

Every camper loves to hear from home. Although calling is not an option, you can write them letters, postcards and emails! Campers will write home at least twice if they come for a two week session. They will have a mandatory postcard that is written in the first few days and a letter is written at the end of the first week. We say 'no news is good news' at Foley thinking your camper is just having too much fun to write home! (Please let us know if you haven't heard from your camper at all)

Here at Foley, we encourage the sending of snail mail! Sometimes a handwritten note is just what someone needs. You have the option of doing so, just make sure that you send them ahead of time, so they get here while your child is at camp!

Our Address: 9303 Father Foley Drive, Pine River, MN 56474

You also have the option of sending emails to your camper! Head over to your CampinTouch account (use your same log in that you used to register for camp), and follow these simple steps:

1. Go to this LINK and enter your EMAIL and PASSWORD to log in. (If you don’t remember your password, click the “retrieve/set password” option and follow the steps to retrieving your password.)
2. Once you are logged in, you will see your “Online Community” section.
3. One of the first options should be a yellow envelope icon titled, “Email”. Click on this icon!
4. You will be given CampStamps to send 5 emails per camper per week of camp. If you desire to send more, you can purchase additional CampStamps from your account.
5. Compose and send your emails to your camper! We then receive them, print them out and deliver them to your camper. 

Helpful Hint #1: It's recommended that you only write to your camper a few times a week. Don't feel too much pressure to write each day. Campers will sometimes feel the need to respond to each letter they receive, and we're pretty sure you'd rather have your campers enjoying all the aspects of camp while they're here!

Helpful Hint #2: Campers cannot receive packages! If we can, we'll return anything that comes in a box or over-sized padded envelopes. 

BUT if you realize you've forgotten something at home - contact the office and we can help you get it sorted out! The package will be opened in the office and then taken to the camper.

"What if my camper is celebrating their birthday at camp?" You can definitely send them a birthday package (nothing edible) - just label it as such so we know! You will also be able to call and chat with your camper for their birthday as well.

 - "What are all the other things I'm able to do with with my CampinTouch account," you ask?

• Email your campers
• Stay up-to-date with all things 'camp' including weekly blogs, news posts, pictures, and updates
• Load your camper's canteen account
• You can also see and monitor what your camper buys at canteen.

Follow these easy steps to access your CampInTouch account and stay updated with Camp.

1. Go to this LINK and enter your EMAIL and PASSWORD to log in. 
2. Once you are logged in, you will see your “Online Community” section.
3. Under the “Online Community” section you will be able to email campers, read the latest news, and update your credit card information for purchasing CampStamps & photos.
4. If you keep scrolling down, under “Your Family” you can view your campers canteen account and what transactions have been made or if you need to add funds.
5. Explore the rest of your account and stay tuned for updates!

Helpful Hint #3: Your CampinTouch account is going to help you stay connected not only with your camper but with camp as a whole!

Hopefully these tips are helpful for communicating with your camper. Be sure to check out our Parent Guide on our website for more information about communication and all things you need to know before your camper gets to Foley!

Who Loves Podcasts?!

Podcasts are increasing in popularity, as you can listen to them while still having the mobility of your hands and take a break from looking at your screen. The speakers are able to keep you informed of newsworthy topics and even provide some humor in the midst of you learning valuable information. We're taking today to give you some suggestions for podcasts you can incorporate in your lives!

If you check out this page on Camp Foley's site, you'll be directed to a part of our website devoted to some environmentally conscious links. There are four kid-friendly podcasts displayed here that are informative for kids (and adults, too)!

For the Family

Brains On is produced by a non-profit organization called American Public Media, and it works to answer questions about the world. Their goal is to encourage natural curiosity - they boast that it can be enjoyed by any age! Here is a list of their 5 most popular podcasts they've done so far.

 The next one we're featuring is The Naked Scientists Podcast which is usually suited for kids (parents may want to pre-listen), and its mission is to deliver scientific reporting and entertainment of the highest caliber. It was started in 2001, and it is currently one of the world's most popular science shows!

The Show About Science is hosted by Nate Butkus, a second grader, who has guests on his show to help investigate and explore scientific topics about the world.  This one is sure to spark some curiosity!

Peace Out is a relaxation podcast that focuses on mindfulness and stories for kids (adults, you'll enjoy this one too!) to practice breathing and visualization exercises. These exercises are great as a before-bed wind-down to help find a smooth transition into quiet mindfulness - or any time of the day.

These 10 TedTalks are specifically meant for the family to enjoy together or individually no matter your age. Though this suggestion is not a podcast, it can be listened to with the entire family!

For Parents

Additionally, this list of 17 Parenting TedTalks, may be something of interest! Topics include Teach Girls Bravery, Not Perfection, How to Raise Successful Kids - Without Over-Parenting, and Love, No Matter What.

Zen Parenting is a podcast run by a husband and wife team whose mission is to use experience, research, pop culture and humor to explore various topics.

*Keep in mind: these are suggestions, and we understand that each of our Foley Families have different values and some of these podcasts may work for you and some may not!

That being said, check them out - see what you like! We hope you enjoy these suggestions and find some valuable information and humor for both kids and adults.

What Camp Foley Means to Mae

This Thanksgiving, as with every Thanksgiving dating back to 1924, we are thankful for our campers. This year we will put the spotlight on one of our Hall of Fame inductees, as we are incredibly blessed to have alumni just like Mae in our Foley Family. Mae wrote her Bridge Crossing essay during her 5th summer as a camper (2012) and had the opportunity to read it aloud to all of camp while she entered the Hall of Fame in 2017. As a 16 year old,  Mae found her 11 year old writing to be quite comical as she took frequent laugh breaks while sharing what camp means to her with her camp peers.   

What Camp Foley Means To Me

Mae M. 

2012

I love Camp Foley so much! It is awesome and it is the main thing I look forward to doing the summer. It is like fourteen days in paradise.

Camp Foley means friends! Everyone always has so many friends at Camp Foley. I love going back to camp to see so many of my friends that I have not seen in a year. It makes me so excited to go  back to Camp Foley! Also, all of the people and counselors are very, very nice and awesome. They are always smiling and giving great advice to everyone.

Camp Foley means super fun activities! All the activities are so awesome. But my very favorite two of all the many activities are windsurfing and soccer. I was so excited when they added soccer. I like playing with a TON of people. I also love facing my brother and sister in soccer. Windsurfing is also super cool. I get so excited while I am windsurfing.

Camp Foley means overnights! Every year I have slept in the tree houses. It is awesome because we have hot dogs and a treat. We also play a fun game called Mafia and a whole bunch of other games. Along with the tree houses I am also excited about my first year being able to go on a canoe trip. It reminds me of going to the Boundary Waters with my family, except at Camp I will be going with all my friends instead. I think it will be even more fun going with my friends. I am excited to be able to cook our own food and sleep in a tent.

2017

Camp Foley means amazing food! Camp's food is so yummy! Sometimes we even get special treats like ice cream and soda bread. I think canteen was one of the greatest inventions ever. You can eat ice cream, candy, and pop. So Good! It makes my tummy rumble just thinking about it. I love Baker's Square Night. It is pie night. All of the older girls dress up. I love camps pie.

Camp Foley means history. All of the cabins are names after American Indian people or tribes. It is so exciting to figure out which cabin I will be in every year. Camp Foley has been around since 1924. Both my parents were counselors at Camp Foley and my mom started there when she was eight years old. So if it weren't for Camp Foley I would not be here.

Camp Foley means super fun extra crazy things. I love how camp always does funny skits and lip syncs. The opening campfire is always my favorite of all three campfires. The staff is so funny! I also love the banquets. The food is so yummy and it is so fun to dress up in crazy costumes.

Camp Foley means activities, food, overnights, dances, lip syncs, and campfires. But it mostly means friends, and having a very fun time at Camp Foley.

Thank you for letting us share your essay, Mae! If you would like to be featured on the Rattlin' Blog please shoot an email to Jordan. Or if you know someone who would love all of the yummy food just as much as Mae does, Register Today! 

Mother Knows Best: A Parent's Take on Camp Foley

At Camp Foley, we know that parents want the best camp experience for their children. They want to see a camp that is as safe as it is fun, a staff that cares deeply, an an environment where their children can truly thrive. Parents, you have every right to be choosy, and who better to get summer camp advice from than a Foley parent? We spoke recently to Beth Foster, a mother who has seen the benefits of Camp Foley's passion for grit and independence with her own eyes.

Beth grew up going to Camp Foley.

"I'm a little biased," she admitted, speaking about how the choice to send her children to camp was a relatively easy one.

For Beth, as both a parent and a former camper, the culture of Foley was always challenging and immersive. She loves seeing her children "light up" when talking about camp, and she knows that the effects of Camp Foley on a determined camper are deeper than just learning how to water ski. In the Foster household, even the little things like seeing her kids loading the dishwasher and showing personal independence are huge.

Okay, okay, so camp teaches kids how to be resourceful, independent, and tough. But parents need to know that their kids are safe and sound while learning all of these new skills. Beth's perspective?

"For me, there was never a question about safety," she said. Her experiences with the administrative staff (namely Alli and Marie) have been that everything they do is with the campers in mind. From intentional class sizes that allow for individualized attention for each camper to fun and innovative changes that make camp exciting every year, the Camp Foley staff is sensitive to the wants and needs of campers and their families.This, naturally, means that safety is the top priority, and Beth has never doubted that.

When asked about why she continues to choose Camp Foley over other camps, Beth's answer was simple: Camp Foley is invested in your children.

"Foley is small enough that the staff knows who every kid is," Beth said. "As a parent, you know that these counselors have a personal interest in your children and really want to get to know them."

Camp Foley is a place that truly fosters growth, and the process of creating that environment is a vigorous one which the staff takes very seriously. At the end of the day, it's our Foley parents who have a lot to say for how camp has shaped them and their children.

"People choose camp for a lot of different reasons," Beth concluded, "and it really shaped who I became.

Register for Camp Foley and see how a great camp experience can be life-changing for you and your child!

Hey kid! Why do YOU love camp?

“Mom, I don’t just love camp for the incredibly exciting activities. It is MUCH more than that.”

What are the benefits of summer camp? This is one of the most frequently asked questions heard by camp directors when talking to parents who they, themselves, never attended summer camp. It is a foreign concept that something that is meant to be "fun" or "a way for my kid to get out of the house for the summer" could, in fact, be a defining experience in their lives.

According to the American Camp Association, parents believe these are the three most important benefits provided to their children by summer camp:

1.) My child is provided with a safe environment.

2.) My child builds self-confidence and boosts self-esteem

3.) My child is in an environment fit for developing his/her social skills. 

We decided to check in with a few campers to see if they had a similar view on what the benefits of spending a summer at camp could be. I posed three campers with this straightforward question, “what are the benefits of camp?”

Mac, one of our youngest campers (just shy of 8 years old) said, “I get to learn new stuff there like archery and riflery, and I meet a lot of friends there.” A thirteen-year-old, Patrick, who has been a camper for five years, replied “Camp in one word: Quality. I make quality new friends, am provided with quality opportunities, and make quality discoveries about myself and what makes me, me.” And finally, a seventeen-year-old who just completed her eighth and final summer as a camper, Annie said “Lifetime friends, and hugely improved self-confidence.”

History has shown that campers tend to focus more on activities in their first summer or two, but as they continue through their summers the focus changes to developing oneself and further building strong friendships - the parents goal. All three campers commented on making friends in some context, thus satisfying benefit number three, developing his/her social skills. Summer camps are full of social interaction, whether it be with your cabinmates, counselors, at activities, or during free time.  

Each camper also touched on benefit number two as well, Learning new skills or trying new things is an integral part of building self confidence. Many young adults have told us that the transition to college or starting a new job was made easier by the fact that they had spent time at camp.  The opportunities for self-growth are endless and presented daily in a camp setting.

Does camp have risk? Yes. Kids are participating in many highly skilled activities in an outdoor setting. And do bumps and bruises happen? Of course. However the Camp Foley staff are supervised by directors with over 80 years of combined experience, have background checks and are trained for 11 days prior to the start of the summer. Many summer programs for kids have a revolving door of leadership with the staff that have direct contact with kids getting less than 24 hours of on site training prior to the start of the program.  We welcome a conversation about our training, safety record and supervision regulations. 

When Mac, Patrick and Annie talk about Camp Foley they are confident in their answers and talk with pride about the place they call a second home. They already are aware of the benefits they are gaining from their time at Camp Foley...think of what they will come up with when they are 20? or 30? or 60?

Can we turn failure in to motivation?

In the January edition of Southwest The Magazine (from Southwest Airlines), Heidi Stevens In Criticism of Praise.” The article discusses the effect of too much or insincere praise on a child’s emotional and physical well-being. Do we as parents, educators, and youth developers use praise so much that it can actually cause kids to fear failure and hesitate to go outside their comfort zone? We wanted to take a look at how praise is used at camp and what we can do to encourage kids in healthy, meaningful ways.

writes an article called “
When your child comes to Camp Foley we strive to bring out their best. Sometimes that means gently pushing them to try new things. Or perhaps encouraging them to meet a new friend. And often it means supporting them when they have a bad day by not saying “you did great” (even when they didn’t) but by coaching them in how to succeed next time instead. By giving honest (yet gentle) feedback to kids,  we are able to allow growth that is unique to each camper. Likewise, it means we must constantly be evaluating our program  to ensure our campers get the most out of camp.
In the article, Stevens tells us, “As with most pursuits among modern children, their performance is immaterial. How they feel about their performance, however, is paramount.” In order to increase positive results, we, as youth developers, must first make sure that the child feels safe. At Foley, this is always our primary concern. Performance is not just athleticism, but intellectual, artistic ability, social performance, etc. So what happens when a kid feels like they are no good? Can we turn failure into motivation?
Failures or setbacks are just stepping stones to greatness. Instead of praising children with words like “ You did an awesome job, you’ll get it next time,” we encourage our campers to recognize maybe something they are missing or let them know that it’s OK to make mistakes. Mistakes are a great way to learn. Unnecessary praise can cause a child to protect what they they are good at. This could cause them to possibly stay away from challenging activities that would create a ripple on their reputation. If they stop taking these risks and challenges it could eventually cause their intellectual and emotional growth to slow.

When you think of failure as an invitation it seems less scary. It is an invitation to learn from and overcome defeat. To accomplish something eventually even if it isn't right away.  According to child psychologist Kristen Race, “Calibrating the frequency and style of our praise is one of the most important shifts parents and youth developers can make.” Now, we are not saying we never praise our campers. In fact, Foley directors and counselors love to give all kinds of praise and recognition. We love to praise our campers when they work hard, play hard, achieve success and overcome failures.
 Foley does a week and half of intense training with our counselors to ensure they are prepared to help partner with you, as a parent, to help your child achieve success while at Foley and likewise to take those skills away from camp and use them for the rest of their lives.  They learn through reading, tutorials, workshops, professional experience, as well as their own experience and knowledge. This allows your child to get the right kind of praise they need and deserve to help them grow.
So, as we look to another summer, we vow to continue to remember that kids will fail, they will stumble, and their pride may be hurt. But the opportunity to help them stand back up, try again and feel pride when they do succeed is what motivates us to create the very best program we can for your kids.

What's in a Letter?

Parents! You drop your child off at camp, say your goodbyes and then you leave that child in the care of these certain amazing individuals we call, camp counselors.  Those counselors are going to be the ones on the front lines giving your child the best growing experience of their young lives. You are entrusting your child to us. That’s a big responsibility, but guess what; we are highly trained, compassionate individuals who want nothing more than the safe well-being of your child.

But how do you know this is what your child is getting? 

This is when those fancy parent letters come into play. Personalized letters seem like a thing of the past. People seem to turn to social media "stalking" to get information or communicate with other people.  The camper letter however, is a personal and sentimental account of what your child has accomplished over their time at camp. It shows that the counselors are paying attention not to just what your child is doing in activities but how they are growing as a person while at camp.

Although campers send home letters to their parents throughout their camp experience, most of the time they leave out certain details or don’t say much at all (generally a sign they are having too much fun while at camp).  The counselor letter adds on to those amazing experiences your child is having. It adds the friendships that have bonded, the struggles they have overcome, and the mountains they have climbed and then jumped off into new experiences.  This certain letter helps bring about a certain piece of mind, and tranquility that might help the parent through the separation.  The parents can realize the impact camp has on their children. The impact it has on their physical, mental, and social capabilities. These soothing letters provide that sense of worth that you hope your child is getting while at camp. 

The counselors take a great deal of time writing, re-writing, correcting mistakes and then possibly throwing it away and starting over again on these letters. They want you to feel the pride they feel when these events happen to your child. They want you to know that you might the correct decision sending your child to camp. They want you to know that even though your child might not realize it, they are growing is the most of positive of ways in their youth.  These letters do just that. They are not just part of the job description. They are an intricate part of camp and keeping your relationship with camp to the highest standards. 

So when you as a parent, receive a letter from a counselor, think of it as an outreach of further trust between yourself and the entire camp and what it holds dear to every counselors heart. That the true meaning of these amazing, and time developed letters are to insure that you know your child is receiving an amazing experience at camp and these counselors and directors are proud to help partner with you in helping your child grow in every aspect of their lives.

Wes Long, Assistant Director

Free Range Kids

When a news story started circulating in the Washington Post last week entitled "Parents investigated for neglect after letting kids walk home alone", it made me (Marie) think about my parenting style. Would I have done the same thing?  Who is responsible for making those independence choices for my kids?

I started to do some Google searches and found the Free Range Kids website.  There were some thought provoking articles with unique prospective. Here is quote from Lenore Skenazy, who wrote Free-Range Kids - How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry: 

Any risk is seen as too much risk. But if you try to prevent every possible danger or difficulty in your child's everyday life, that child never gets a chance to grow up. We parents have to realize that the greatest risk of all just might be trying to raise a child who never encounters choice or independence.”

If you are not a “helicopter parent” are you a “free range parent”?  Or do you fall somewhere in between?  We believe that camp is all about giving children choice and independence in a safe environment. Maybe we can be part of their "free range".  Thank you for allowing your children to grow each summer with us.

My kid is 8. She doesn't need to think about getting a job right now. Or does she?

Picture this:  you walk in to the living room and your 8 year old child is grasping an iPad or video game controller or remote control. You cautiously approach and try to suggest some other activities. The debate heats up and your child wins. Not because they are right to want more time with their gadgets but because you want to avoid a full scale blowout fight.  You sigh and head off to another room to work on one of the hundreds of things that parents must do to keep their house in order, deciding to rage your war against technology on another day...

This scenario occurs often in American households today and children are being stimulated more and more without face-to-face interactions that are a vital part of growing up.

In a study done by The Partnership for 21stCentury Skills, they found that companies are no longer focusing on “the 3 R’s” (reading, writing and arithmetic), but instead turned to “the 3 C’s"...

1. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 

2. Creativity and Innovation

3. Communication and Collaboration

Companies are looking for graduates with initiative, leadership, flexibility, social and cross-cultural skills, productivity, and accountability.  These skills, together with “the 3 C’s”, comprise what is known as the 21^st Century Skills.

Sadly, many of today’s typical educational programs are aimed at passing standardized written tests and don’t have the time or resources to focus in on the 21^st Century Skills.  

Luckily, there is a solution—you guessed it—summer camps! 

In his recent article, "Camp: The Ultimate 21st Century Skills Learning Environment", author Andy Pritikin gives examples of how summer camps adhere to these skills and how camps continue to layer the "depth of knowledge".  One of the survey statistics he mentions is that 81% of parents reported seeing an increase in their children's teamwork skills at home after a term spent at camp.

At Camp Foley we have different words for those same skills - Grow Grit. Investigate Independence.

Think of the advantage your kid would have for a lifetime with a great traditional education in the winter and a extraordinary experience at camp in the summer....

Motherlode

Foley parents are the best and we are so grateful that you entrust your children to us.  As Directors, we are continuously educating ourselves on the many trends of youth development and of raising children.

While googling a keynote speaker, I came upon a blog, Motherlode; Living the Family Dynamic  and became immersed in many of the posted blogs.  Lead writer and editor, KJ Dell’Antonia, refers to the blog “as a source you can count on for information about family life, news coverage of family-related issues and research, and a smart, informed discussion of all of the above.”

As a parent of four myself, I found some great information about how to relate to my kids and a fresh look at some of the things they may be going through. Likewise, I was able to take many snippets away for use with the campers at Camp Foley.

After reaching my limit of 10 free articles per month without having a subscription I was booted out – until next month...

~Marie Schmid, Executive Director  

What Parent Should Know Before Summer Camp

It's that time of year again when parents begin the very important camp search. For families that haven't found their children's "summer home" this can be a very daunting task. While parents that know which camp their children will attend can breathe a sigh of relief (until of course it comes to picking a session and registering... eight months before summer even begins).

Luckily, there are a host of wonderful resources out there to help choose the perfect camp. The American Camp Association's search tool, Find a Camp, is a great source, as is, Lantern Camps if you're looking for accredited overnight camps.

Only once a parent has found the "perfect camp" does the worry set in. What on earth have I signed my child up to do? On the bright side, there are so many resources online that are designed to help parents feel more comfortable about sending their children away to camp.

Today contributor, Alesandra Dubin, wrote a handy article for Today Parents called, "7 things I wish I knew before sending my kids to sleepaway camp."

To be honest, we can't fully get behind tip number three (ziplock bags to the rescue) because we think it takes some of the independence and responsibility out of the camp experience, but the other six tips are truly great.

One of the best pieces of advice from Dubin: "Understand they [kids] need time to adjust. If your kid skips off happily into camp the very first minute - terrific. But don't count on it. Even a rocky start can lead to a beautiful experience."

Read the whole article here. 

Growing Grit at Camp Foley

We've been throwing around the word GRIT for a few years now at Camp Foley. The definition, according to Google, is: courage and resolve; strength of character and is synonymous with courage, tenacity and perseverance. Foley-GRIT is defined as: courage to take risks without fear of failure; unshakable spirit; resolve. 

At Foley campers learn to take risks, try their best, and if they fail, to try again!

In the May/June edition of the American Camp Association's Camping Magazine there was an article for camp directors about how camps can work on developing grit in their campers. The article, "Eleven Tips to Building Resilience with Campers," is a good one for camp directors AND camp parents. 

11 Tips to Building Resilience with Campers

1. The Benefits of Failure

From the article: "True competence and self-esteem develop when we face difficult challenges and realize we can find a way to get through them."

2. Encourage Effort and Improvement

3. Do All Kids Deserve Trophies?

From the article: "Campers need 'realistic' pictures of their strengths and weaknesses so they can develop truer pictures of themselves based on fact."

4. Instant Gratification Does Not Build Frustration Tolerance or Equal Accomplishment

5. True Self Esteem and Confidence

From the article: "Where does confidence come from? I bet it comes from facing difficulty and finding a way to succeed." 

6. Is Every Camper a "Superstar"?

From the article: "All children can be their own superstars if we help them find ways to feel good about themselves. We need to encourage our campers to evaluate success for themselves - not based on our ideas of what is good for them or their parents' ideas of what is good for them." 

7. Points of Contact

8. Teaching Inclusive and Not Exclusive Behavior

From the article: "Children will feel good when they stand up to do what is right and make a contribution to include others' they will feel rewarded for reaching out to be inclusive."

9. Boredom, Frustration, Disappointment, and Patience

10. Are You Ethical and Fair?

11. Encourage Positive Thinking and Optimism

From the article: "Having resilience means you are able to find a sliver of something positive even when going through the roughest times."

We strongly encourage reading the entire article online to learn how campers benefit from summer camp by growing grit and building resiliency.