Using Camp Spirit to Get in the Holiday Spirit

Last updated by

Laurel South

 

Using Camp Spirit to Get in the Holiday Spirit

 

With Thanksgiving behind us, the holiday season is fast approaching. With that, comes cold weather, festive decorations, and of course, presents. While camp may be 6+ months away, it’s never too early to start getting ready. Here are the top 5 Camp Items on our Holiday Wish List this year:

 

  1. Fathead Stickers/Decorations (DISNEY; NFL ) – One of the best aspects of sleeping in a cabin is decorating your personal space. Individual expression at camp is incredibly important, and what better way to express yourself than with a fun poster or decoration?!
  1. Ping-Pong Paddle (AMAZON; DICKS) – Ping-pong is a very popular activity at camp. While we do provide paddles for all campers, many like to bring their own. Spin, power, finesse…there’s a paddle for every type of player.

 

  1. Bracelet Making Kit (STRING; RAINBOW LOOMS) – Many rest hours at camp are spent scattered around the lawn with friends, making bracelets. Whether you’re looking to learn a new weave, or just want some assistance, a bracelet making kit will come in handy!

 

  1. Mini Basketball Hoop (SKLZ; NERF) – A cabin at camp isn’t complete without a miniature basketball hoop hanging from one of the rafters. HORSE, three-point shootout, 21 – the games you can play are endless!

 

  1. Autograph Pillow (AMAZON) – Want a lifelong memento of your fun-filled times with cabinmates? Get an autograph pillow!

 

Access all of our blog archives here

We Are What We Eat!

Last updated by

Brant Lake Sports Academy

 

 

We Are What We Eat!

It’s hard to believe the holidays are right around the corner. Besides opening presents and hanging with family, some of the most prevalent holiday staples are delicious cookies and tasty treats. As athletes, we focus in practice and work hard in the weight room, but we also need to properly fuel our bodies.

 

At BLSA, campers learn the foods that will help them perform at their peak. What are the best foods to eat pre-and-post practice? Should I eat right before a game or do I give my body time to process what I just ate? Brant Lake Sports Academy has professionals on campus that help campers reach their fitness and nutrition goals.

 

So, don’t worry about eating a few cookies and enjoying holiday meals with your family. Enjoy the holidays and have a Happy New Year! Healthy eating starts back up in 2018!

‘Tis the season!

Last updated by

 

Brant Lake Dance Camp

‘Tis the season!

Sugar Plum Fairies dancing in your head, living room or studio?  Whether the performance you’re excited about this Holiday season is one you are dancing in, or one you have tickets to; it’s hard to forget the Soldier Variation Master Class from last summer in our beautiful Studio with Ralph from the New York City Ballet.

I was scoping out #welovedancing while in an airport waiting room this week…it’s wonderful! People are dancing all over the world! From Professional companies in Istanbul, to two guys on a rooftop in India, to a dozen little girls in pink leos and tutus in Columbia, to Fitness dancers in Salvador, to Ballroom Dancers in France…and of course the ubiquitous Nutcracker recitals here in the USA. Dance is a universal language. Every country, every culture, every group has dance. Just like the language of that country, the style of dance may change from place to place but, the joy, freedom and pure human expression is universal.

However you are enjoying your holidays and your dancing this winter, I hope that you also get a smile thinking about how at that very moment, someone elsewhere in the world is dancing too.

Wishing you and yours a very Happy, Healthy and Joyous Holiday season…and lots of dancing.

With a smile,

Mieks

We’ve Got a Lot to be Thankful For!

Last updated by

Camp Laurel

 

We’ve Got a Lot to be Thankful For!

 

And just like that, November is gone. In a flash, the days full of colorful leaves, pumpkin spice and turkey are over; soon to be replaced by days of snow, colorful lights and holiday shopping. But before we can officially turn our attention to the merry month of December, we must first honor Thanksgiving and mention all the wonderful things we are thankful for this year.

 

Our Camp Parents

 

While they may only be at camp for one day each summer, our Camp Parents are an integral and important reason we are successful all year long. It is our collaboration and partnership with parents that allow our campers to have the best summer possible. Without their trust and support, Camp Laurel would not exist.

 

Our Staff

 

It’s not easy to take care of 500 kids, day in and day out for an entire summer; lucky for us, we have an incredible team of counselors at Laurel. Not only does our staff work very hard for multiple hours each day, they do it all with a smile! They go above and beyond to make sure our campers are safe and having a great time, and their “buy-in” to camp life is infectious.

 

Our Campers

 

And last, but of course not least, we have our campers – the “heart and soul” of camp. Their energy is contagious and their enthusiasm is what makes Laurel such a magical place. Just by letting their guard down and being themselves, campers instill a sense of comfort and love into the environment. Without our campers, Laurel would not be the same accepting place that allows kids to break out of their comfort zone.

 

We can’t say it enough, but thank you to all of our Camp Parents, Staff and Campers. We’re so fortunate to have you!

 

Camp: The Ultimate Self-Esteem Booster

Last updated by

Camp Laurel South

Self-Esteem is a very unique concept.  No matter how strong someone is, a little and seemingly insignificant interaction can seriously sway their sense of self in a positive or negative direction. This is especially true in children, who are very impressionable and aware of all that happens around them. Having supportive and encouraging interactions is vital toward developing strong self-confidence, thus making camp the ultimate self-esteem booster.

At Laurel South, the support and encouragement needed to help boost campers’ self-esteem is prevalent and comes from both staff and campers. Starting during Staff Orientation, a family environment is created; the community feel and comradery are unbeatable.  Staff are there for one another and are genuinely invested in each other’s endeavors. Whether in times of trial or times of success, encouragement is unwavering. This helps instill positivity and confidence into campers’ minds. The more they hear “you can do it” or “you’re doing great”, the more the children believe it.

Receiving support isn’t the only way to boost a campers’ self-esteem. Campers also gain self-confidence by giving support. The more support a camper gives his or her peers, the better the camper feels about himself or herself, and the more likely they are to continue to give support. It’s a constant cycle that further reinforces the positive and comforting atmosphere at camp, and is a big reason why campers at camp are able to break out of their comfort zone.

So if you want to see your kids self-esteem go through the roof…send them to camp!

The American Camp Experience

Last updated by

There are very few things our children can so enjoy and that teaches them as much as the American camp experience.

So Much Fun

At America’s Finest Summer Camps, we strive to introduce our campers to fun activities they’ve never tried. Not many of our campers get to enjoy waterskiing or fishing or hiking or zip-lining or gaga or taps when not at camp. They are simply not available at home.

Very few would choose to join the Theater at school because they fear what their classmates would say. But, at summer camp, they know they are in a safe, fun, adventurous environment and therefore, take the plunge. And, for those who like to compete, they can do so in all of our sports.

In addition to our day activities, we schedule Evening Activities each night. These include such options as Night at the Races, Shaving Cream Whiffle Ball, Campfire each night so that the fun doesn’t stop after the last activity period.  And, we also head off camp to enjoy a hike, a baseball game, or time at an amusement park.

Deep Traditions and Values

Singing and Dancing at lunch and dinner. Friday night Campfires by the lake with laughter and stories and awards (and s’mores). Evening hero huddles and nominations. Session ending Tribal War or Olympics. Songs and cheers.

We are fortunate to be a part of a community that was started 66 summers ago and is still going strong. There are three reasons, we feel, that America’s Finest Summer Camps has continued to thrive:

  1. Our deep traditions combined with modern program choices facilities.
  2. Our amazing campers from all over the US and larger world.
  3. Our values of Gratitude, Attitude, and Courage

Each of our campers and staff members choose each day to be kind to one another and enjoy the activities they get to pick. And, they do so in an environment, created by our staff, that makes our campers want to come back for more each summer.

Summer Home

The reason our campers return each summer is because they have become a part of a community in which they feel more like themselves than anywhere else. Regardless of where they are from, what they are good at, or what they look like, they are accepted and celebrated. We give them opportunities to try new things, build their independence and understand of different cultures, and laugh while learning.

What could be a better summer home?

We hope you’ll choose to enjoy an American camp experience for the coming summer. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to learn more.

Can’t wait for camp!

Being a Camp Counselor: Learning Skills that Will Help You in Any Profession

Last updated by

As the school year ends and the summer approaches, individuals are faced with the question of where to work for the summer. While acquiring an internship can give you extensive experience in your respective field of work, the benefits of working as a camp counselor are too large to ignore. For seven weeks, you are working in a fast-pa

 

ced environment with people from all over the world.

 

These seven weeks present challenges, valuable lessons, and an increase in skills you never realized you had.

 

Recognizing Individuality

Living in a bunk day in and day out with both campers and co-counselors is a unique situation that many people wouldn’t necessarily find themselves in. As a camp counselor, you are presented with the task of getting to know each of your campers on an individual level in order to establish strong relationships and ensure a safe and enjoyable environment. The ability to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of each of your campers is a skill that is highly valuable in any profession.

Building Confidence

The environment at camp allows counselors to discover their individuality and be themselves. This environment of acceptance fosters the development of each counselor’s confidence and overall skill set. With higher confidence comes clearer decision making abilities, higher quality instruction, and stronger performance.

 

At camp, you are both a coach and a mentor to not only the kids in your bunk, but also to the rest of the children at camp. Camp transforms counselors into natural leaders with the drive to be successful. The confidence that is established at camp can be carried over to all aspects of life after the summer is over. From going into a job interview to giving a presentation to your boss, having confidence in yourself will allow for the highest success rate.

Team Building and Problem Solving

Working with co-counselors at camp teaches a valuable lesson in both teamwork and problem solving. Although your co-counselors are around your age, they can be from all different parts of the world. Counselors come to camp from the United States, the UK, South Africa, and Australia. This wide range in backgrounds presents the opportunity for understanding and appreciating different cultures, working with varied experience levels, and finding a common ground to resolve conflict and effectively problem solve as a cohesive unit.

Communication

The fast-paced nature of camp highlights the importance of learning flexibility and communicating with those around you. Whether it be schedule changes caused by inclement weather or adapting to the preferences of your campers, the ability to be flexible and innovative is a lifelong skill that allows your leadership capabilities to excel.

 

The combination of the skills learned as a camp counselor which include communication, problem solving, flexibility, individuality, and confidence, is a key factor in being successful to any workplace. When faced with the decision to apply for an internship or a counselor at a sleepaway camp, take into consideration that in just seven weeks, lifelong skills will be developed and achieved.

Camp Laurel: The All-Encompassing Specialty Camp

Last updated by

As a parent or potential staff member looking at camps, one of the first questions always asked is: “what activity do you specialize in?”. This should be a straight forward answer.  But for Camp Laurel, it’s not that simple. How do you convey that you “specialize” in everything? From Athletics to InterArts to Waterfront, Laurel puts a true emphasis on creating the best programs possible at any camp…anywhere.

 

The Instructors

 

            Having the right people in place is integral in running a high-level program. This starts during the hiring process. At Camp Laurel, only people highly qualified in their applied program area are selected to work at camp; basketball and lacrosse staff, for example, have all either played or coached at a high level; ceramics staff hired are all BFA Ceramics/Pottery candidates, etc. But not only are staff talented in their specific area, they are also skilled teachers. This is a very important distinction as all the skill in the world is useless to an instructor if they cannot teach this skill to the campers. In hiring the right staff, a balance of fun and skills progression is reached, and Camp Laurel campers are able to stay engaged while also improving their fundamentals.

 

The Facility and Equipment

 

While the instructors teaching campers are very important in running a high-level program, the best instructor is limited without proper facilities and equipment.  At Camp Laurel, all facilities and equipment are in great shape and are consistently updated to make sure that optimal conditions are met for campers; all soccer fields are level with regulation size goals; all sailboats have fully functioning sails and rudders, etc. In addition, there is ample space within each program area. Campers aren’t sitting around, waiting their turn. Instead they are always engaged and learning new skills.

 

So if you’re looking for a specialty camp of any kind…give Camp Laurel a look!

Brant Lake Sports Academy

Last updated by

Halloween is over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress up! After a day on the field and down at the lake, the girls at BLSA like to unwind with some fun and creative evening activities. This is probably my favorite time of day because many campers come out of their shell and the group tends to bond as a whole. Through wacky expression, campers let their guard down and truly enjoy themselves.

Polar Bear Challenge Motivates Campers

Last updated by

Jumping into a teeth-chattering cold lake every morning isn’t the most pleasant sounding idea at camp, but you would be surprised by how many people willingly do it and there’s actually a great reason why they do. At camp there is a special club you can be a part of if you jump into the lake every single morning of the summer.

Jump in, splash around and embrace the cold and you’ll be a member of the prestigious Polar Bear Club. Each morning campers from all the divisions jump into the lake to complete the daily task of being in the Polar Bear Club. No skips are allowed, even if it’s extra chilly in the morning, and if you successfully complete this challenge there is a special party at the end of the summer just for you. It’s a silly challenge but there are so many benefits to being a part of the Polar Bear Club because of everything it teaches campers.

For a camper to participate in this means they start their day completing a challenge a lot of people won’t even attempt to do. When a camper starts every morning overcoming a challenge and feeling accomplished, it sets them up to have a positive day where they can accomplish many more things. This ripple effect will translate into campers realizing how much potential is inside them, motivating them to tackle larger and more difficult challenges.

The Polar Bear Challenge also shows campers the importance of determination and to never give up, especially on mornings when it’s a bit nippier than usual. Their hard work pays off when at the end of the summer they realize they are one of few campers that were actually motivated enough to become a member of the Polar Bear Club, the rewarding feeling is something that makes all those cold mornings well worth it.