Camp Laurel

Taking Your Skills to the Next Level

During the school year, athletes, artists and dancers devote hours a day to their skill. Kids see significant improvements thanks to the time commitment they put toward their favorite activities. But imagine what they could do if they had seven weeks to devote to learning, practicing and improving the craft they’re so passionate about? Camp offers campers an extended period of time to focus on their interests in an encouraging and positive atmosphere.

Being trained and encouraged by the counselors at Camp Laurel is one way campers can improve their skills. Each activity is led by a counselor who is not only knowledgeable about what they teach, but passionate about it, too. At camp, the new environment can give the activity new life. Campers see their activity from a fresh perspective which helps keep their engagement level high.

Some campers come to camp to focus on one sport or skill, while others like to mix it up. Campers also don’t feel they have to commit to one sport or activity due to time restraints. Whether they choose to work on a specific activity or want to jump around and try a little bit of everything, a summer at Camp Laurel provides campers with plenty of time to take their skills to the next level.

For some lucky families, dinnertime is an enjoyable and relaxing time to connect with family. For others, it’s like World War III. Whether kids are too busy chatting about their day to eat, or refuse to eat anything remotely healthy, keeping kids fed can be a challenge for many families.  Many parents are surprised to hear that when their kids go to camp, they’re more likely to try newer, healthier foods than they would at home.

Spending the summer at camp means kids are active and busy from morning ‘til night. They are running from activity to activity, and are burning calories without even thinking about it. They need to be constantly refueled, and camp makes sure they’re putting good stuff in their bodies. At America’s Finest Summer Camps, campers are sometimes more likely to try a new food because their friends are eating it, which opens their minds to trying new things. It’s a good kind of peer pressure.

Kids also become more responsible for their eating choices.  They don’t have parents choosing and prepping every single meal for them, so they are responsible for making balanced and healthy choices. They have access to homemade options throughout the day as snacks and are given multiple healthy options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Soups made from scratch and a colorful salad bar encourage campers to make balanced and healthy choices. They are also encouraged to stay hydrated with water throughout the day.

Kids aren’t deprived of a sweet treat here and there, but they learn about balance. They eat well throughout the day and stay active, and learn that indulging in a dessert is perfectly fine in moderation.

At home, it is easy to get into a weekly dinner routine consisting of the same meals that kids will like (Taco Tuesday, anyone?!) While this makes dinner time a little easier for parents, it doesn’t give children the opportunity to try new foods. At America’s Finest Summer Camps, campers are exposed to new foods on a daily basis and are encouraged to try them! They are usually pleasantly surprised that they like quite a few of the new foods that they try!

It’s important to teach children from a young age the importance of nutritional responsibility. Providing them with new foods to try and encouraging them to find a balance is what they eat, drink and do will create healthy adults who value good food and living a healthy lifestyle.

Brant Lake Sports Academy

International Women’s Day

Did you know that March 8th is International Women’s Day? Who are the mentors and leaders in your life? From teachers to coaches, celebrities to parents, there are many people who can influence your life in positive ways. 

At BLSA, our coaches are role models both on and off of the field – a person looked to by others as an example. Their values, attitudes and behaviors are inspiring to our campers. We hope that each camper brings something they’ve learned from our coaches home with them to be used in their daily lives. 

Celebrate International Women’s Day – who is that special woman in your life?

At America’s Finest Summer Camps, we strive to create a culture of kids and teens that respect themselves and others. Everything we do is based on giving young people every opportunity to interact with other people in a healthy and positive way. Every day, campers learn to solve conflicts, share their feelings, listen, and communicate effectively; skills that are vital to becoming a productive member of society. And in a world where so many kids report feeling left out and alone, we’re determined to help create a culture of “includers.”

Inclusivity is a foundational element at camp, and from day one campers are taught the importance of teamwork and making everyone feel welcomed. In a place with this many people, there are bound to be personality conflicts, but we welcome these as opportunities to teach respect and acceptance. Everyone is welcomed to camp with open arms, and a friendly and welcoming attitude is instilled into everyday culture.

When we hire counselors, there are a few things we look for in regards to character and personality, and an attitude of acceptance, respect and inclusivity are some of them. Our counselors and staff are trained to lead activities that make everyone feel included, and to notice signs in campers that could signify that they’re feeling left out or lonely. Campers also see counselors interact with other groups and staff members and learn to model their positive and inclusive behavior. There is no “us vs. them” mentality at camp (unless it’s all in fun during a game or competition!) and even good sportsmanship and teamwork are a top priority.

One of the coolest things about camp is that the options for sports, arts, activities, and adventures are endless. There is not a one-size-fits-all type of camp; it’s a place where kids with all different levels of abilities and strengths can find a place where they belong. Everyone finds their place at camp, and is encouraged by other campers and staff to be the best versions of themselves.

Camp is a place where boys and girls feel like they belong.  After a summer at camp, students head into the school year with an eye and a heart for others. They learn to build others up and make everyone feel included. If you were to take a peek at campers as they enjoy a meal, you’d never guess that they were strangers before; the connection and relationships that they build at camp are based on respect, communication, and inclusivity.

Brant Lake Dance Camp

For the Love of Dance

Love is the theme of the month and we all LOVE to dance. At Brant Lake Dance Camp we encourage everyone to try as many different dance forms as possible. Diversity in your training will not only make you a stronger dancer, it will exercise your brain and stimulate your creativity as well. If you love your Contemporary at home, try a Jazz or Modern class at camp. There are sure to be new ways to move your body that you’ve never thought of before, and you’ll love the way you feel when you master a new combination. You’ll also love the addition of new-found techniques while creating your own Enchoreo piece.

With three levels of Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop and Modern professionally taught at Brant Lake Dance Camp, you’re sure to find a new Love of Dance to add to your current Love of Dance.

America’s Finest Summer Camps are focused on developing the whole child in a way that is healthy and fun. And although all of the running, jumping, swimming, climbing, dancing, and playing is great for their physical health, working on their emotional well-being, their character, and their self-confidence is just as necessary. This is why we put so much emphasis on having a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset.

By definition, people with a growth mindset “believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. On the other hand, people with a fixed mindset “believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort.”

Campers come to camp with the labels and expectations that the world has put on them, and many have come to believe that these traits, both good and bad, are just an integral part of who they are. Some have been told they are smart their entire lives, and their fixed mindset makes them believe that their intelligence is something that comes naturally to them and doesn’t require effort to improve upon. The same goes for athletic performance, relational ability, and their character. Campers who have been told they have anger issues will begin to believe that they are incapable of handling their anger; it is a fixed part of them that can’t be changed or improved upon.

At America’s Finest Summer Camps, we focus on fostering a growth mindset in each camper. When they succeed, we praise their efforts by saying things like “you worked so hard at that” instead of “you are awesome!” Although the latter can be helpful to hear, hearing specific praise acknowledging the effort that the camper put into a specific task is more rewarding and builds their self-esteem. Camp staff and counselors work hard to praise the process instead of just the person. Campers will hear us say things like:

•    Tell me more about what you did

•    How did you figure that out?

•    Are you pleased with how it came out?

•    You must be so proud of yourself

We try to avoid labeling campers or putting too much emphasis on the labels they put on themselves. We want to encourage them to see themselves as capable and worthy of improvement in all areas of their lives. We want them to strive to be the best versions of themselves instead of being complacent with the label they’ve grown so comfortable with.

As campers step out of their comfort zones and try new things, they realize that they are capable of so much more than they thought and that their qualities, strengths, and abilities are not fixed. We want campers to be intrinsically motivated; to try new thing and preserve through hard things to feel good about themselves, not because they are seeking the approval of anyone else. 

A summer at camp is about growing, maturing, and improving in all areas of life. Our goal is that campers leave with new friends, new experiences, and a stronger sense of who they are and what a valuable asset they are to the world. And it all starts with how they think about themselves.