Tag: America’s finest summer camps

Finding Your Voice at Camp

May 25th, 2015

Although most campers leave camp an excited, talkative and outgoing ball of energy, not all of them come to camp that way. Camp has a magical way of taking a quiet and introverted child and encouraging them to find their voice and speak up for themselves. Children who came to camp as followers can emerge as outspoken leaders. Every camper is different and comes with their own unique personality, but each camper will spend the summer learning to communicate with other adults and their peers, a vital skill that children need to learn as they navigate through their formative years.

Campers are always encouraged to work through their issues and problems in a healthy and productive manner, and learn various conflict management techniques. They are taught how to speak up for themselves and make sure their opinions and ideas are heard. They learn how to feel confident asking for help, and learn to be their own advocate.

Learning to find their voice is one of the best things a young person can do for their confidence and self esteem. Learning to say no without feeling guilty and feeling confident about contributing to a conversation are valuable life skills. Learning these skills could mean the difference between a student caving into peer pressure and one who can speak their mind. In a world where kids face challenges every single day regarding whether they will be a leader or a follower, a student who spent the summer at Camp Weequahic will have the experience necessary to speak up for what is right, even if they’re the only one speaking.

Campers who learn to speak up for themselves also learn to speak up for others. In a society where bullying is so prominent, the world needs more young people who are able to say what they think, stand up for what is right, and know how to do so in a way that is healthy and productive. A camper who spent the summer finding their voice may use it to help another friend, student or sibling who hasn’t found theirs yet.

Instilling confidence in the youth of country is something that will change the world, and when campers truly find their voice and learn how to express their ideas in a constructive way, they feel confident enough to truly make a difference.

A Few Spots Left at Camp Weequahic

May 12th, 2015

Sometimes it is good to procrastinate. Sometimes, slow and steady wins the race. But when there are just a few spots left at some of the best summer camps in the country, procrastination is not your friend. If you’ve been on the fence about this summer being the summer where you do something new, big and exciting for your child, here are a few reasons why you should ACT NOW:

Camp Weequahic reaches maximum capacity every single year. The remaining spots will be filled, so why not let your child be the one who fills them? If you continue to put it off, once you finally decide to make the move to get your excited camper signed up, you may have to explain to them that they have to wait until next summer, and help them unpack their tidy little suitcase.
The kids need time to get pumped up! By getting them signed up now, they will have plenty of time to get used to the idea that they are about to have the best summer of their lives. It also gives them time to ask all the questions they have about camp, and gives you time to find all of the answers to ease their anxieties. Knowing ahead of time what the summer plans are will help them feel secure in the decision instead of trying to process everything last minute.
By getting your kids registered for camp early, they have the opportunity to get to know the staff that will be taking care of them all summer. Kids (and parents) receive phone calls from parent liaisons, camp directors and division heads prior to the first day of camp. This allows kids and parents to become familiar with some of the staff they will see when they arrive.
More importantly, kids can connect with other kids who will be attending camp too. Knowing a few friendly faces when your child arrives at camp can ease their nerves, and can be the foundation of life long friendships.
On a less exciting note, there’s a lot of paperwork and preparation to do! Waiting until the last second will only cause stress on your part. Give yourself plenty of time to read the family handbook, fill out the paperwork, get all of the health forms together and of course, pack!

Leave the procrastination to writing thank you cards, going to the dentist and cleaning out your closet, but not for enrolling your child in Camp Weequahic. There are still spots left, what are you waiting for?

Camp Leaders at Camp Weequahic

May 4th, 2015

Confident leaders aren’t born, they’re made. And great leaders come from spending time at America’s Finest Summer Camps. Campers and counselors alike leave camp with a better understanding of how to serve others and act as positive role models for those around them.

From the first day they arrive, campers are thrown in a group setting that, for most of them, is very different from what they are used to. They eat with their peers, spend the entire day doing activities with their peers, and share their mornings and nights side by side with them as well. This is the perfect situation for campers to build upon their leadership skills, as it encourages them to quickly determine whether they’re going to follow the crowd or stand out on their own. Campers have countless opportunities on a daily basis to make good decisions to positively affect their stay, as well as the experiences of those around them.

Their involvement in sports helps to foster strong leadership traits, such as being a team player, being fair and winning (and losing) with grace. Team sports like soccer lacrosse, and baseball encourage campers to step up and be leaders of their team, and to be a positive example for their teammates. Campers who participate in other activities like archery, gymnastics and dance have the chance to be leaders when they choose to make responsible choices regarding their involvement and commitment to the activity that they chose. Arriving on time, respecting their competition and their counselors, and doing their best every day are all great ways campers can act as leaders at camp.

A good leader is someone who can serve others well. Campers have plenty of opportunities each and every day to be helpful and kind to their peers. They are encouraged to stand up for each other, support each other, communicate with each other and be an honest and loyal friend. Even if they aren’t aware of it, the building of these characteristics is also building a leader in every camper.

Campers aren’t the only ones who leave camp as stronger and more confident leaders. Camp counselors who spend the summer at Camp Weequahic also learn valuable leadership skills in a much more obvious and intentional way. They are trained thoroughly on what it means to be a leader and positive role model for the younger campers. They are very aware that there are always young and impressionable eyes watching everything they say and do. Counselors learn very quickly that being a counselor doesn’t just mean making sure all of the kids follow the rules. They become teachers, big brothers/sisters, role models and friends. Camp counselors also get an opportunity to improve their time management, problem solving, and multitasking skills. The training and education required to be a camp counselor prepares them for managing groups of children in a confident, patient and trusted way.

Whether they come to camp as a camper or a counselor, everyone leaves camp as a more confident leader. This confidence transfers over to their attitudes towards their siblings, friends, coworkers and teammates in the real world. The world is a better place with leaders like the ones developed at Camp Weequahic in it.

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