yappoi

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:06:00 +0000

A few weekends ago, I was on a retreat with the exec board of one of the clubs at the Y that I run. The retreat was held at Kanata, and it was great to be back. Though it wasn't the summer, just being at camp brings back so many memories, because so much of my life has been lived there. It still felt like home. Which I expected.

What I didn't expect was that when I took my club into arts & crafts, and we sat down on the floor, late one night, that emotion would overtake me like it did. As I explained to my kids why I had brought them there--that I wanted them to see the names painted all over the walls, that made up this beautiful picture of why people come back to camp summer after summer--the tears started streaming down my face.

As we talked about our vision for our club and our year, and as we looked around at the names--names of my counselors, my name, my friends names, names of my campers who are now counselors--we talked about leaving a legacy. We talked about how we could run the best meetings, or have the best teen center, or the most fun social events, but how, without the people, no one would want to come back.

I look back on my many summers at camp, and I don't think about the facilities or the activities that I did. I think about the people and the relationships that changed my life, and how all those memories, concentrated in 150 acres, make camp what it is for me. The reason I feel at home when I turn on that gravel driveway are the memories of all of my life that was lived right there.

Everybody Wins... Or Do They?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 02:29:00 +0000

In the 8 or so years since I started working at summer camps and afterschool programs, I've heard the phrase "everybody wins" more times than I can count. Maybe the counselor forgot to keep score; maybe it wasn't quite clear who won, maybe they knew that they had a kid who would get really upset if they lost, or maybe they just said it because they'd heard it said so many times before. I'm sure I've said it a few times myself. But recently I've been hearing the phrase "everybody wins" a lot more than ever before, and every time I hear it, I cringe a little bit.

What are we teaching kids when we tell them that "everybody wins"? I'm not usually an incredibly competitive person--though I do have a competitive side that comes out every now and then--and I think that there is value in sometimes playing just to play, no keeping score. But when we start teaching kids that everyone wins, and therefore no one loses--will they know how to lose graciously later on in life? Nobody can win all of the time, and if we are teaching kids that they can, are we setting them up to fail?

I was in a meeting recently where someone was discussing a camp that had counselors at the archery range who would stand beside a kid who was struggling and shoot at the same time so that the kid would think they hit the target. I had a huge issue with this. Yes--it is a great feeling for a kid to hit the archery target. But if they didn't hit it on their own, it takes away the sense of accomplishment for all the kids who worked hard to hit the target on their own, and if the camper realizes the counselor did it for them, they lose confidence in themselves. Obviously we want to set kids up for success at camp, but there are great ways to set kids up for success without faking it.

One of the great things about camp is that it teaches kids so many life skills. Independence, friendships, responsibility, and a sense of community are all things that we tend to be intentional about teaching kids at camp. But what if we started being more intentional about teaching kids to lose graciously? What if we spent more time intentionally teaching campers that everything isn't always going to be easy, but that sometimes the things we work the hardest for are the things that end up meaning the most to us?

Summer Camps and Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 02:36:00 +0000

@CampLeadership and I co-wrote some written advice over at CampLeadership on summer camps using twitter--check it out here!

Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 01:46:00 +0000

Staff week at Camp Kanata started today. This is the first staff week since 2003 that I haven't been at, and while I'm enjoying staff training and all of the preparations for Finley Day Camp--which starts in one week!--I would be lying if I said that I didn't spend a lot of time today thinking about what's going on over at Kanata.

As we've been going through day camp training over the past few weeks, my mind has often drifted back to Kanata. As excited as I am for this summer at FDC, it is hard to believe I won't be spending this summer walking the familiar paths and singing the songs and cheers I know so well. At our association day camp rally this past weekend, the Kanata director led everyone in "Vista"--one of the songs sung in the dining hall every Friday night--and so many Friday nights in the Kanata dining hall flashed through my head--standing on the benches, singing til my voice hurt, a little relieved that I was going to get to do my laundry and sleep the next day, but also a little sad because another week of camp was over.

Around this time of year, I always start measuring time by what is going on at camp--it isn't 1:30, it's rest period. This year I have a new schedule, and a new camp, but I know every year as summer rolls around, a piece of my heart will go back to Kanata and the memories of Makeover Mondays, daisy cheers, Friday night campfires, late nights hanging out in camp store, hours spent by the lake, and the best summers of my life.

The Test of Time

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:28:00 +0000

Last weekend was the leadership staff retreat for the day camp that I am working at this summer. It was great to meet everyone that I'll be working with and to start to find out some of the details of what this summer will be like, but for me, the best part of the retreat was getting to learn a little bit of the history of the camp. To wrap up our retreat, we had the opportunity to have brunch with the original director, and two of the staff who were around at the beginning--25 years ago.

Hearing their memories and stories of camp definitely got me excited for the summer, and it was great to start to understand the culture and background of FDC. The thing that struck me the most, though, was how clearly camp was impressed on these three people who worked there before I was born. They still had such a clear understanding of their vision, their purpose, and the impact that camp has both on campers and staff. Talking to them, you'd think that they'd worked at camp last summer, not 25 years ago.

One thing that our conversation touched on several times was how well working at summer camp had prepared them for their future. Again and again, they came back to how the things they had learned as camp staff had affected the rest of their lives--whether a teacher, a minister, or a stay at home mom, the experience had impacted them long beyond the time they were spending their summers in the woods, cheering 'til they had no voice, and leading kids in all kinds of crazy activities.

One of the greatest things about summer camp (day or resident), for whoever participates (camper or staff), is what an impact it can have on your life. Camp touches some peoples lives more than others, but for those of us who really fall in love with it... our lives will never be the same!

Makeover Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 02:22:00 +0000

One of my FAVORITE things I did as a camp counselor was "Makeover Mondays". I was a counselor in the youngest girls cabin, and every Monday, cabin time was a huge hit with our campers.

What we would do:

1. Collect a bunch of makeup. Lots of nail polish, ridiculous eye shadow, outrageous lipstick colors, anything else we could find.

2. Spread it all out on the picnic table.

3. Give the campers free reign to give the counselors makeovers. Nails, hair, makeup--all fair game.

4. Go to lunch and show off our fabulous new looks. It usually looked a little something like this...

Campers often came back the next summer asking when we would get to do makeovers again, and they LOVED showing off their work to the rest of camp!

Saying Goodbye

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 22:43:00 +0000

In May, I'm starting a new job with the Y. Just 20 or so minutes down the road from where I am now--a great place, great people, a great job. I'm SO excited about it... it is a great opportunity for me, and I'm excited to get started. But starting a new job means leaving a place I love so much--and that is hard. I've been working at Kanata for about 1/3 of my life, and it is so much of who I am. I have learned so much from my time there, have met so many people that have changed my life, and have made so many memories that I will cherish forever. It will always be a part of me.

This weekend we had a mini-camp, and I was sitting down at the lake, watching campfire skits, as I have spent so many summer nights doing. Sitting there, surrounded by campers, watching the fire, singing familiar songs, and feeling so at home, I couldn't keep the tears from coming. I'm so excited about the future and about the new challenge of working at a great day camp this summer, but I know that every Friday night during the summer for years to come, my thoughts will drift over to the campfire that is going on down by the lake at a place that I love with all my heart.

There is no way that I can put into words all that Kanata has been for me and done for me, but it has shaped my life in so many ways, and it will always have a huge part of my heart... every year as the weather gets warmer and summer starts to roll around, I know I'll be going to Kanata in my mind.

Investing in People

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:37:00 +0000

This morning, I ran into my ALL TIME favorite camper. I know, I know, you aren't supposed to have favorites. But I do. This camper was in my cabin her first summer at camp, when she was 7 years old or so, and I had her several times after that, both in the summer and at mini-camps. We just clicked really well that first summer, and I've seen her enough throughout the years that we have maintained a great relationship. She is 12 now, and almost as tall as me, and seeing her this morning MADE MY DAY! Actually, probably my week!

We had so much fun reminiscing on past summers and camp memories, and I loved getting a chance to hear about how middle school is going for her and to catch up on life a little bit. As we were talking and laughing about different things, I remembered just how much I loved being a counselor! Getting to connect with kids, and as they come back year after year, having the chance to invest in them and watch them grow up is such an incredible experience, and really such a privilege.

As a 16 or 17 year old counselor, I don't think I had any idea that I would still be running into my campers after I had graduated from college, or that I'd have the chance to watch some of my campers grow up over 6 or 7 years... but I'm so glad that I've had that experience! It has really made me realize that so much of the power of camp comes from investing in people.

Investing in people--that is the thing about camp that changes lives. Whether you are investing in campers or camp staff, the things that they will remember in 5, 10, and 15 years aren't going to be the activities--it's going to be the people that took the time to invest in them. Not only that, taking the time to invest in others can (and will) change your life!

Camp + Facebook = Conversation

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:25:00 +0000

For the past year or so, we've been having the conversation of "what's the best way for us to utilize social media for camp?". We've been playing around with different things, and I think there are a lot of really great ways to use social media for camp, but the thing I've been most excited about recently is our facebook fan page. For a long time, we didn't do much with it, but with some of the facebook redesigns, it has become such a great tool! It is so easy to post pictures, videos, or comments--and it is so easy for campers, staff, and alumni to respond.

I've been going through old pictures trying to find fun things to put on there, which has been really fun in itself--I love seeing what camp looked like back in the 60's and 70's, and it's been making me think about many of my own memories from camp. But I think my favorite part has been trying to guess a question that will resonate with our "fans". Some I think more alumni will respond to, others current campers and staff--it's fun to see which I'm right about, and which posts end up being popular, and which don't.

So far, this picture of the waterfront in 1968 has gotten the most responses--and it has been great to hear everyone's memories related to the waterfront! I laughed out loud reading some of them, and I hope that our camp community is having just as much fun seeing what we post on facebook as I am having deciding what to post and reading the responses!

Camp in the Snow!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 23:10:00 +0000

The entrance to camp

One of the fields

The leap of faith

The canoe docks

Thoughts on Customer Service & Critical Thinking

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:06:00 +0000

The other day, I was talking with my cousins, and we got on the subject of cell phones. More specifically, customer service with cell phone companies. Both of my cousins had horror stories of the awful customer service they had gotten with AT&T. One of my cousins has a good friend who owns 40-something Verizon stores, and she was telling us how at his stores, customer service is the big push. On the bottom of every single one of the receipts at any one of his stores, his personal cell phone number is printed. If an employee fails to provide good service, they are no longer employed. Customer service is their main focus. At those 40 something stores, customers are the top priority.

A little bit later I was reading Seth Godin's book "Tribes". I came across a quote that said

"Many organizations go out of their way to hire people who color inside the
lines, who demonstrate consistency and compliance. And then these
organizations give these people jobs where they are managed via fear."
(Pg 97)

This helps explain a lot of the bad customer service at places like cell phone stores and some of the crazy TSA airport security incidents--in following orders, people don't have the freedom to make judgements and decisions on a case by case basis. Everything is done strictly by the book, and in being scared to stray away from the pre-written rules, customers are alienated, because the rules don't always work for every situation.

So... as I do with most things, I started thinking about all of this through the lens of camp. How does it apply to us?

Camp is a great place to learn to deliver customer service. We deal with so many unique situations, that sticking strictly to the rules taught during staff training doesn't always work. Of course, there are important rules to learn before the summer starts but there is no way to come up with a rule to cover every single possible situation. And so camp staff are taught to think on their feet, to refer to the rules but then to improvise to make sure we are dealing with the situation at hand--not some pre-fabricated situation with a ready-made set of rules.

I think that one of the greatest benefits that camp can give to their staff members--and their campers--is teaching them how to make choices and decisions by using critical thinking skills.

I remember Sunday night after Sunday night during the summer, sitting in the dining hall with a new batch of campers, while our director would go over the rules for camp. They were quite simple--in fact, most know them as the YMCA Character Traits of honesty, respect, responsibility, and caring. Every Sunday he would tell us that those character traits summed up the rules for camp--and they do. If you take the time to run your decisions past those filters, you usually come up with the right answers.

If you are working anywhere that deals with people--most likely you will encounter situations that can't quite fit into the boxes we have set out, neatly organized by rules. But with a little bit of critical thinking, and the right filters to run your decisions by--you'll probably be just fine.

Rules can change and be hard to keep track of. Kids are going to school in an era that is more and more focused on teaching to the test, and less and less focused on letting them think for themselves. The less kids learn about critical thinking in school, the more valuable the camp experience becomes.

Benefits of Being a Camp Counselor

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:35:00 +0000

Recently, I've been seeing some conversation on twitter about the benefits of being a camp counselor--why should college students choose to work at summer camp instead of doing an internship and getting "real world" experience? I can only speak from the camp side of things, as I did my internship in college at summer camp, and since graduating from college, have continued to work at a summer camp. However, I know that the things I learned while working at camp have helped me in various areas of my life, and will continue to benefit me throughout the rest of my life, regardless of where I may be working or what I may be doing.

The 5 most important things that working at camp have taught me are:

1. Communication. Knowing how to communicate is essential for success at camp. As a counselor, I had to be able to communicate with campers, their parents, co-counselors, and figures of authority. I had to learn how to communicate to different audiences. I had to be able to communicate in serious situations, and how to communicate to campers when I wanted them to be silly. I learned that my age didn't determine the validity of what I had to say. I learned how to communicate with a group, and how to communicate with individuals. I learned how to communicate with people who were upset, or angry, or sad. I learned how to communicate when I was experiencing various emotions. Working at camp definitely enhanced my communication skills far beyond anything else I have experienced.

2. Flexibility. Sometimes you have things all planned out perfectly... and then a giant thunderstorm means you have a cabin full of crying, terrified kids instead of a cabin full of tired campers ready for bed. So, instead of tucking them in and having a few moments to yourself as planned, you have to turn on your Sound of Music CD and lead a sing-a-long to "My Favorite Things". Or maybe the fire alarm in a cabin won't turn off, no matter what anyone does (and regardless of the fact that there is no fire)... so you have to rearrange the dining hall so the campers can sleep on the floor. Pink eye puts your co-counselor out of commission for a day or two, and you have to adjust to having the cabin to yourself. You never know what's going to happen, and you have to be ready to embrace whatever does, with a smile on your face.

3. Creativity. I'm a planner. I absolutely love to plan. But working at camp taught me to think on my feet, and be creative about it. An activity isn't going as well as you had hoped? Throw a twist in it and see if that helps. Campers are bored of the "normal" arts and crafts? Let's have "paint your counselor day" instead. Getting ready to lead a game or tell a story and all of a sudden you forget how it goes? Make up a new one! Being a counselor taught me a lot about being able to let go of a plan that wasn't quite working and figure out something that did work on the spot.

4. Leading and Following. Working at camp taught me a lot about being leader. Not only did I lead campers, I also held positions where I was responsible for leading the staff--some of whom were older than me. Camp gave me the confidence to do that, as well as teaching me some valuable lessons about leading. It's always easier to lead those you have a relationship with. You need to be confident in your decisions if you want people to confidently follow you. An important part of leading is being present and aware of what's going on. At the same time, I learned a lot about following. Know who you are following and why you are following them. Don't blindly follow anyone--ask questions, and make sure you know why you are following this leader. Just because most people are following a particular person, doesn't mean they are right. Sometimes you have to be able to switch from being a leader to being a follower, or from a follower to a leader--it is important to be able to do both.

5. The best way to learn is to do. I was very fortunate that the director of my camp loved to delegate. As I moved up the ranks into leadership positions, I was given amazing opportunities to learn how to handle situations by actually handling them. While I always knew that I had the support of my director if I needed it, he allowed me to learn through experience. I was allowed to have difficult talks with parents, campers, and staff, and I was allowed to deal with situations he knew I could handle. Having that freedom to take on responsibility gave me a lot more confidence, because I knew my director had confidence in me, and it gave me the chance to get valuable hands-on experience. As a 19 year old, I was able to learn how to evaluate staff--by evaluating them. I learned what it was like to have to let someone go--by being a part of that process. I learned how to put together a staff training--by putting one together. The things I learned by having the freedom to try them have quite possibly taught me more than anything else.

The summers I spent at camp taught me so many valuable things that I will use throughout my life. I can't think of anything else I could have done during the summer that would have given me such well-rounded, hands-on experience in so many areas. The list of things I know how to do from camp ranges from belaying on a ropes course to running an industrial dishwasher to navigating the emergency room to teaching a child how to swim--and the list could probably run a mile or two long. Camp has given me an education that rivals the 17 years I spent in a classroom--and I had a lot more fun learning in the woods than I did in the classroom!

December

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:32:00 +0000

I took a few pictures walking around camp today...

Because of Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:11:00 +0000

I was recently watching the "Because of Camp" PSA that the American Camp Association made...

So I started thinking about my "because of camp"...

Because of camp... I've gained self-confidence. I've developed my leadership skills. I've learned to think on my feet and solve problems creatively. I've met amazing campers, staff members, and friends--and my life has been changed by knowing them. I've had the opportunity to work with people from various countries. I've learned time management skills and group management skills. I've had the opportunity to try things outside of my comfort zone and expand my skill set.

The first summer I worked at camp, I was a very shy, very easily intimidated, 16 year old. Outside of my cabin, I barely talked. Fast forward a few summers, and I was supervising the girls side of camp. I led campers and counselors in cheers and songs, planned staff training, dealt with issues ranging from homesickness to discipline to counselors not getting along to parent complaints, evaluated staff, and made decisions with confidence. Without camp and the experiences I've had there, I would be much more shy and much less confident today. Because of camp, I was able to get hands-on leadership experience that served me really well throughout college, and has prepared me for the future.

Because of camp, I've been able to spend amazing summer after amazing summer playing outside, building relationships with peers and campers, learning about myself and others. I've been exposed to people and ideas I otherwise wouldn't have encountered. I have developed an interest and passion in the way nature affects development in children, and our quality of life.

Because of camp, I have become the person I am today.

Staff Training, Parent Training...

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:25:00 +0000

I was recently chatting with a parent who was dropping her child off for a mini-camp, and she asked if we ever did trainings open to parents. I'm used to getting all kinds of questions from parents, but this was the first time I'd ever gotten that one, so I asked her to elaborate a little.

She told me that she has been so impressed by our camp staff--they are not only professional and friendly, but are also full of ideas for entertaining and engaging children, and best of all, when they return her kids to her--they are more confident, responsible, and respectful. The reason she decided to send her kids to camp didn't really have much to do with any of that: she was just looking for something to keep the kids busy for a while, but was thrilled to find that camp was so much more. "I had no idea that camp would teach my kids to be more confident... they are great kids, but weren't that confident in themselves.. but after camp, there was a huge change in them" was one of the things she mentioned.

It is always wonderful to hear parents say positive things about their kids experience at camp, but I thought this mom gave us an incredible compliment. Not only did her kids have a great time at camp, she was so impressed by their experience and what they learned, she wants us to share what we know with her!

Embracing the Freedom of Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:09:00 +0000

I was on a bus with some of our staff trainees the other day, and something one of the girls said caught my attention. They were talking about camp, and how they don't have time to think about putting on makeup or what outfit to wear, and one of the girls said "but you know, it's actually really great to not have to worry about any of that stuff at camp."

Now, I'm somewhat of a girly-girl. My favorite color is pink, and while I don't wear makeup very often, you are much more likely to see me in a skirt or dress than jeans. I love to shop, and thoroughly enjoy a reason to get dressed up. But I am a huge fan of the fact that camp is a place where girls don't have to worry about what they are wearing or whether or not to wear makeup. In fact, when I was a counselor, every Monday we would let our campers (the youngest girls) do what we called "Makeover Monday." It isn't your typical makeover--the campers have free rein with giving the counselors makeovers, and it usually resulted in me looking something like this:

Then we let the girls show off our makeovers at lunch. I even occasionally had to make a trip to Target with lipstick on my cheeks, eyeliner on my forehead, and eyeshadow in various colors covering my entire face. I have plenty of pictures tagged on Facebook with me either covered in ridiculous makeup, wearing a ridiculous outfit (the '80s outfits are my personal favorites), or covered in some concoction from messy games--chocolate syrup, sprinkles, who knows what else. I am definitely a huge fan of the fact that camp is a place where girls can have fun, be ridiculous and silly, and not worry about what they look like--and despite my usual girliness, I fully embrace that aspect of camp!

Normally once girls get to camp, they also embrace that aspect--whether they are staff, trainees or campers. But I thought it was really cool to hear a 15 or 16 year old girl reflecting on that in the middle of winter. Right in the middle of school, when what you wear and how you look is a really big deal. Right at that age when what everyone else thinks of you can make or break your day. Sitting there with her makeup on and her straightened hair, talking about how she likes that camp gives her the freedom to be herself and not worry about any of that stuff.

I'm not against the wearing of makeup. But I'm for the idea that camp is a place of freedom where "cool" can be redefined, and society's standards aren't the end all and be all. Wear eyeliner on your nose. Or don't wear it at all. Wear old clothes. Wear crazy outfits. Rock out the one piece bathing suit and crazy tan lines. Figure out who you are, and have the freedom to embrace it!

Camp and Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:08:00 +0000

The other day, @CampLeadership started a discussion on twitter about whether or not summer camps should allow campers to use cell phones to text and tweet from camp. My immediate reaction was "absolutely not", but I try not to dismiss new ideas before thinking them all the way through. It's been on my mind ever since, and yesterday I read a blog post that he had written (http://campleadership.wordpress.com/2009/12/12/texting-is-good-for-camp/) about the same subject. After I read the post, I was driving to meet some friends, and just couldn't get this whole camp-technology thing out of my head.

There are plenty of reasons I was immediately against it--the logistics of it, the potential for parents to get overly involved in camp, the fact that camp promotes re-connecting with nature and that can be easier to do with limited technology, the fact that phones can get lost or broken... the list could go on and on. There are a lot of really good reasons to leave your phone at home when you head to camp. But then it struck me--THE reason I am so adamantly against camps letting their campers bring cell phones/tweet/etc.

In my opinion, THE reason to keep campers separated from their technology for a camp session is the culture of camp. Part of what makes camp what it is, is that camp is literally "its own little world". Camp has its own traditions, its own slang, its own culture, a different pace of life, and I think that is appealing. When you are at camp you are only with those people. You have limited distractions to keep you from fully enjoying the moment. There is a magic to camp, that is in part its separation from the rest of the world.

Some campers are experiencing their first time away from their parents--the first time they get to make their own choices. How empowering for them to know that they can choose what activity to go to, and can be responsible to get themselves there. For that camper who is SO homesick at the beginning of the week, but their counselor works through it with them, and at the closing campfire, they are sobbing because they don't want to go home--give them their cell phone, and they are going to be working through it with mom or dad instead of their counselor, and they'll miss out on the triumph of knowing they made it on their own for the first time. Separation from parents for a week, two or three, can give campers the chance to discover more about who they are, and what they are interested in, without pressure to try mom's favorite activity or be the best at dad's favorite sport.

Now--I definitely think camps should embrace social media and technology. Post some pictures for parents to see what is going on, use twitter, facebook and blogs to share what might be happening at camp. Do whatever works for your camp as far as social media--but keep that separation for the campers. Let your full-time staff handle the communication and help parents feel comfortable with the fact that they aren't able to just send their kids a text. Camps have to change with the times just like everyone else, but for 150 years summer camp has been about reconnecting with nature and disconnecting with the outside world. Should we change one of the core aspects of camp just for the sake of convenience?

If you are running a good camp, your campers are already marketing for you through social media. The minute they get home, they are posting their camp pictures on facebook, setting their status as "I miss camp", joining groups and fan pages about your camp, and if you are doing a really good job, whatever social media tools they use will reflect their love of camp all year long. I think the fact that they are talking about camp six months after the fact is more valuable than in the moment. There is a "I can't even really describe it to you, its something that you have to experience for yourself" feel to the stories and pictures they share throughout the year, and that is powerful.

Technology is great, and I love social media, but in the case of camp, part of its allure for campers is the separation from the rest of the world during those summer sessions. Give them their cell phones, and I think you are decreasing the value of the camping experience.

*This article from the Boston Globe gives an insight to what campers are saying about the lack of technology at camp http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/family/articles/2009/08/01/unplugged_at_summer_camp/?page=2

Best Christmas present ever?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:32:00 +0000

Earlier this week, a mom called the office asking for some camp DVDs to be sent to her--she wanted to wrap them up and give them to her kids for Christmas, so they could see what she was really getting them: a week at camp. The more I thought about that, the more I decided it very well might be one of the best Christmas presents ever. I don't remember a whole lot of specific Christmas gifts from my childhood, but I do clearly remember and cherish my camp experiences growing up.

It's easy for Christmas to turn into another giant spending occasion. Kids love getting toys and presents. But toys break, they grow out of clothes, and things go out of style. While through the years, there are memorable gifts here and there, I love the idea of giving an experience for Christmas.

Giving a session of camp gives the recipient something to look forward to beyond Christmas. Watching the camp DVD, looking at the website and brochures gives them something tangible to plan for and anticipate. It gives the opportunity to try new things, make new friends, build their character, and spend time learning and growing. It's more than just something to add to your collection of stuff--it is a memory to be made!

It's the little things

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:33:00 +0000

We've been re-doing our office at camp, and as new walls have been going up and bathrooms are being reconstructed, we've been coming up with all kinds of little things to make the office look even better. New pictures on the walls, clipboards with our logo, reorganizing the space--lots of little details that are quickly adding up to make it look like a whole new office!

Every time someone comes up with another idea for a detail we can tweak to make it just that much better, I get so excited to see how everything is coming together. So I've been thinking a lot about the details. It's great--and important--to have the big picture in place. You have to know what you are about, and why you are doing what you do. But it is the details that separate an average experience from a great experience.

When I was a kid, I went to three other camps before ending up where I am now. I had fun at all of them, but when I got to Kanata, there was no doubt in my mind that this was the place for me. From the outside, all of the camps appeared relatively similar: all co-ed, around the same size, facilities pretty comparable, the same general activities were offered. But at Kanata, the counselors had an energy that the other camps didn't have. The staff appeared to be a lot closer. When you got to camp, there was a poster on the outside of your cabin with your name on it. You didn't have to buy a camp t-shirt at the store--you were given one as soon as you got there. The counselors made a point of going around to each bed and saying "goodnight" to each camper individually. Cheering in the dining hall was a lot more fun because everyone was so excited about it. There was a song that we all sang together before going to campfire (that's where the name of my blog came from!). On Saturday when you left, you were sent home with a picture of your cabin.

At the time, I had no idea that all of these details were what added up to make my camp experience at Kanata so much more memorable than at other camps, but more and more I realize that it's the little things that can make a really big difference.

Personality of a Cabin

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:59:00 +0000

I've been working on getting together an alumni newsletter to send out to our staff alumni--this is the first one that has been done in years, so I've been trying to figure out what to include, how it should look, and all of that. I've been thinking about what camp news is of interest to alumni; while I'm sure that some will be interested to hear what is happening around camp these days, it seems like what will be of most interest is what their friends from camp are up to.

So, I've been emailing a few alumni recently to see which of them and their friends from camp have had big life events recently they want to share with other alumni. One sent me a picture from his wedding and in identifying the people in the picture, he also told me which cabin they had been a counselor in.

It's been about 10 years since they were on staff, and yet, it was so easy for him to remember what cabin they were all in. It made me think about how each cabin or unit takes on its own personality.

I was always a Cabin 7 counselor (a daisy cabin)--the youngest campers, with counselors that were typically pretty girly and preppy, decorating the cabin with pink and ribbons and daisies.

Cabin 7 was perfect for me--it matched my personality well, and I loved every second of it. Over the years, its been fun to see other Cabin 7 counselors, and the similarities between us that make Cabin 7 that perfect fit. And the same goes for each cabin--there is a certain personality to each cabin, and finding the staff to both fit the cabin and complement each other can be tricky. But when you make that match--that cabin really can become an identifying characteristic for someone. Hearing that someone was a counselor in a particular cabin gives me a pretty good idea of what their personality might be like--another element of that language specific to camp!

Perspectives

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:44:00 +0000

Today, I received a facebook message from one of the international staff that I worked at camp with 6 or 7 summers ago. The last line of the message said "I might have only been in Kanata for a summer but the camp has changed my perspective in many things and the camp has a special position in my heart."

I often hear people talk about the life-changing aspect of camp, but I rarely think about the way that camp has changed my perspective on things. Because camp has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, I tend to think about the specific experiences I have had, the things I have learned, or the ways I have grown. I often forget about the fact that, had I not spent my summers at camp, there are many things I would not have been exposed to that do have an impact on the way I view the world and my perspective on things.

Having the opportunity to spend a summer working with international staff, or as a camper, have international counselors, gave me an opportunity to get a glimpse into cultures I most likely never would have experienced otherwise. Through camp I've known staff from England, Russia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, France, Israel... and probably a few other places I've forgotten at the moment.

I've worked with people that I have absolutely nothing in common with--except for our love of camp. There is little chance I ever would have interacted with them outside of camp, but I am so thankful that camp has given me the opportunity to find friendships in unexpected places.

I have learned quite a bit about celiac disease, between having a co-counselor with it, and the gluten-free week we've hosted at camp for the past several years. A camper with cystic fibrosis compelled me to learn more about that. Panic attacks, eating disorders, and diabetes--all things I am a little more familiar with because of camp.

My perspective on the importance of kids experiencing nature, on our educational systems, and on leadership have all been heavily influenced by my camp experiences. My views on so many topics have been either been expanded or developed because of camp. The variety of people I have interacted with through camp--whether staff, campers, or parents--has forced me to give serious thought to topics and issues I probably would have never given a second thought to, if not for camp.

Camp has given me a broader filter to run my life experiences through, and for that I am grateful.

Culture

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:42:00 +0000

The other day, a few friends and I were sitting around, trying to decide where to go to dinner. Once we had made a decision, we continued to sit; being hungry, I decided to start moving towards the car. So I stood up, and said "LDT". My friends looked at me like I was speaking another language, and I realized that I was using camp slang from almost 5 years ago. In the summer of 2005, "LDT" was a frequently used abbreviation for "Let's do this", said before doing almost anything. That summer there was almost another language being spoken at camp... someone who didn't know our staff at all would have been very puzzled trying to decipher the "birthday cakes", "LDTs", and many other words and abbreviations that took the place of anything resembling a typical sentence.

Around camp, however, the typical conversation involved a whole lot of nonsensical sentences that made perfect sense to all of us. As I was thinking about how easy it was for camp slang from years ago to still make an appearance, I started thinking about the culture of camp.

Every camp has its own unique culture. There are things that tend to be similar, of course, from camp to camp, but each camp has its own trends, slang, and social norms. While what is going on in the "real world" has an effect on the culture of a camp, because you are mostly disconnected from anything outside of camp, obscure things become trends. What is "cool" at camp isn't necessarily what is going to be cool outside of camp, and I think this is part of the appeal of camp.

While ultimately the culture of a camp is set by the director and leadership staff, the staff and the campers at a camp have far more ability to influence culture and trends than they do at school, or other places outside of camp. In the "outside world", culture is going to be heavily influenced by TV, celebrities, and what is #1 on the charts. Camp is different, and sometimes that change is just what you need.

Indian Princesses

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:07:00 +0000

It's that time of year again, when every weekend at camp involves dads and their kids coming out to Kanata for their Fall Outing with the Y-Guides and Princesses program. As we were discussing some of the details of these weekends in the office today, I started thinking back to when I was in Indian Princesses (the name has been changed from Indian Princesses to Y-Princesses since I was a kid).

I have a picture of my tribe (the Sunshine tribe) in all of our vests, headbands, and necklaces standing in front of the office at camp--the girls and our dads. I must have been 6 or 7 in the picture, and sometimes I look at it, and think about how crazy it is that 15 or so years later, my full time job is in that very office. I didn't come to Kanata as a camper until 5 or 6 years after my first experiences here with Indian Princesses, but I have so many great memories of my time here with my dad and the rest of our tribe. Of course getting to do all the camp activities--shooting a gun, bows and arrows, arts and crafts were all high on my priority list as a child, but when I think back to those weekends now, I think the campfires were my favorite times.

Walking down to the lake through a line of torches, sitting at the campfire and hearing stories, participating in all the traditions--it really was a magical experience, and one that has stayed with me for many years. Even now, when I meet campers in the summer who say they've come to camp with Y-Princesses, I love to exchange a "How How" and find out their Indian name. (My Indian name was Butterfly, my dad Red Cloud).

My very first camping experiences came through the Indian Princesses program, and I could not be more grateful. I'm so glad that as a little girl, I got the opportunity to participate in that program with my dad, and to start a life of loving camp!

Legends

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:29:00 +0000

As I sit here, staring out the window at the gray sky and the rain falling around camp, I've been thinking about the legends of camp and the rite of passage storytelling can be. Earlier today, several of us were sitting around talking about various aspects of camp, as we so often do, and we started thinking about our legends and stories, and the way they are passed down. Often camp lore changes a bit from summer to summer, as someone different tells the stories and adds a little bit of their personality to each story or legend. But regardless of the small changes that happen over time, camp legends remain an important part of the culture of camp. We have one particular story, "Old Man Tyson" that is more a rite of passage for our older campers than just another legend. The details of the story aren't what is important... it is the experience of going to Tyson's chimney, hearing the story with your fellow campers, and knowing you have gone through that rite of passage. I think that in some ways, the entire camp experience is very similar to that. It doesn't necessarily matter what the details of your activites are or which cabin you are in; it is about getting that camp experience, alongside your fellow campers, and feeling like you belong here. From summer to summer, the details might change, and different people might add a bit of a different personality, but it all adds up to be a part of that life-changing camp experience.

Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:14:00 +0000

I've been working on writing a letter to everyone I was on staff with in 2003--my first summer as a counselor. In a month and a half or so, we have a 5k coming up at camp, and the 5k is done through a foundation set up by the parents of a counselor that was killed in a car wreck during the summer of 2003, which is why I've been working on a letter to that summer's staff. As I've been thinking about what to say in this letter, I've been thinking about that first summer I was on staff.

In some respects, it seems so long ago. When I think back to that time in my life, nothing else stands out with the clarity of that summer. High school is kind of a distant blur of a lot of similar memories--classes, football games, off-campus lunch, and the thrill of finally being able to drive, but the clarity of my memories from that summer of camp still surprises me.

That morning, the staff being instructed to send the campers on to breakfast, while we stayed at chapel. Hearing that there had been an accident. Nights sitting around wondering what would happen. The weekend the hospital was packed with camp staff. The staff meeting where we learned that he was gone. Old counselors and other YMCA staff coming to watch our campers for an afternoon so we could go to the funeral. Riding to the funeral on a YMCA bus in our staff uniforms. The campers who kept asking where he'd gone. Spreading his ashes into the lake.

It was a tough end to summer, and it was tough to keep being a cheerful camp counselor when you've suddenly lost one of your fellow staff members. But when I think back to that summer, I can't think of a place I'd rather be in a tough situation like that. Because we all went through it together, and we all supported each other. We dealt with it in different ways, but I think it was an incredible example of the community that camp is.

A few months later, a similar situation happened at my school. In this case, I didn't really know the guy, but my best friend did, and watching her go through the process of dealing with it, I realized what a blessing that camp community was. Being in a tight-knit community where we were all dealing with the same thing made such a difference. Knowing that we were all hurting, understanding what everyone else was going through, and being able to see each other in those most vulnerable first stages of grief tightened that community and inspired us to do our best at our jobs, because one of us no longer could.