Tag: camp weequahic

Participating versus Competing

June 8th, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-04-13 at 11.42.31 AMMy son Austin lives and breathes soccer. He is captain of his school team, plays with the neighborhood kids on the weekends and plays in recreational leagues. He watches soccer on TV, researches player stats online and is even part of a soccer club. To say he is competitive is an understatement. His sister, Emma, will kick a ball around when it is required during PE, but other than that she has no interest in being the best soccer player, or even being a soccer player at all. He’s competitive; she doesn’t have a completive bone in her body. Both spent the summer at America’s Finest Summer Camps and both had the time of their lives. Emma was urged to participate in activities that she knew she was strong in (art, music, dance) but was also encouraged to try sports that required a more competitive edge. She quickly learned that practicing, setting goals and meeting them was a major confidence booster. Being competitive didn’t mean knocking people to the ground or acting in a rude or aggressive behavior. She slowly began to get excited for games and matches at camp, excited to test her skills and track her improvement. She learned a few things about herself as she was encouraged to compete against others.

Screen Shot 2015-03-02 at 9.43.08 AMShe told us on when she got home that a lot of the reason she didn’t feel comfortable truly putting herself out there and challenging others was because she felt scared to fail. At camp, she found the courage to try new things, compete against others, and in turn it helped her grow. She didn’t feel like she had to be great at soccer, but just go out and have fun with her friends. I remember her saying “Dad, I know everyone says this, but at camp I really didn’t care if I won or lost, I liked what I was playing and learned a lot in the process.” But then, to be honest, she added that winning was a lot better than losing.

Austin learned some valuable lessons too. He learned nobody likes a ball hog or a know-it- all, and team sports are a lot more fun when you utilize the strengths of the entire team. He also had the opportunity to teach younger and more inexperienced campers, which helped in his patience and teaching skills. He was in an environment where he wasn’t the best or the fastest, and it was a humbling experience for him. He also stepped out of his comfort zone and tried robotics (which he hated) cooking, (which he tolerated) and sailing (which surprisingly, he loved!) Participating in these new activities helped him learn new skills, meet new people, and helped him realize the importance of making a team sport or activity fun for everyone, and not always worrying about winning.

I’m thankful that Camp Weequahic offers a chance for kids to compete and participate. My kids learned a lot about themselves, and about the world around them, by learning about the importance of competing and participating.

Lacrosse At Camp

June 1st, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 9.49.57 AMCalling all athletes. If sports where you walk off the field sweaty, sore and completely exhausted are your thing, lacrosse should be at the top of your “Sports To Try” list. Lacrosse is a very physical, fast paced game that involves a lot of running, hand eye coordination and agility. It is a team sport, in which players equipped with long sticks with mesh nets at the end compete to throw, catch and pass a little rubber ball to their teammates, with the ultimate goal being to launch it into the opposing teams goal.

Camp Weequahic offers campers the opportunity to suit up and give lacrosse a try. This sport, just like all of the sports at camp, are organized, taught and supervised by trained coaches and professionals of the sport. Safety is always the number one concern, and campers are required to wear all necessary safety equipment including a helmet, mouthpiece and gloves. Players are educated on the rules and techniques associated with the game, and are watched carefully to ensure everyone has fun and injuries are avoided.
Lacrosse games are played on one of many athletic fields across camp, and provide beautiful scenery for players and spectators alike. One of the cool things about playing lacrosse at camp is that you will be able to compete with other teams from other camps. This is exciting for those athletes who are naturally competitive and get excited about some friendly competition. Lacrosse is not just for campers who consider themselves all around athletes. It is a great sport for beginners too, and there is no safer place to try something new than America’s Finest Summer Camps. Lacrosse involves a lot of running and cardio work, which is great for weight loss and keeping your heart and lungs healthy. It also builds muscle and stamina.

Sports at Camp Weequahic are designed for every camper, whether a trained athlete or a rookie. Camp Weeequahic keeps sports fun, and encourages friendly competition while keeping the old saying in mind, “it’s all about having fun.”

For campers going back to a middle or high school with a lacrosse team, they can use this summer to perfect their skills, learn the game, and fall in love with the sport before school tryouts.

Lacrosse is an action packed game and is a great way to meet new friends, stay healthy and add to your quickly growing list of  “new things I want to try at camp.”

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.

Screen Shot 2015-05-21 at 10.25.32 AMCampers 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.

Screen Shot 2015-05-21 at 10.17.20 AMCampers 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.