Why We Love Laurel South

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If you were to ask campers what made their summer at Laurel South so memorable, most of them would not tell you WHAT made it so memorable, but instead WHO. Campers are surrounded by a professional, caring, and dedicated staff of counselors and directors whose primary focus is their safety, well-being, and personal development all summer long. Students and recent graduates from schools all over the country apply to change lives at Laurel South, and only the most qualified are accepted. Campers are surrounded by counselors who possess integrity, honesty, self-discipline, a strong moral character and a fun, kid-friendly personality. The camper-to-counselor ratio is better than 3:1, ensuring each camper gets personalized attention from their counselors.

 

Many counselors have been at Camp Laurel South since they were young campers, and have moved up the ranks and proven themselves worthy of one of the most important jobs they’ll ever have: building the foundation of our future generations. These counselors are dedicated to empowering and encouraging campers, to help them safely test their own limits, to foster friendships and self-confidence, to be a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen. Laurel South’s campers are happy, productive and confident because they are surrounded by adults who believe in them, listen to them, and bring out the best in each of them. What better place to spend a summer then surrounded by positive adults who are dedicated to making sure you have the best summer of your life?!

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The Magic of Camp Starlight

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Camp Starlight has been the backdrop for lifelong summer memories for over 70 years. It is a place that holds a special place in the hearts of thousands of campers, and its focus on tradition is what keeps campers coming back year after year. Camp Starlight knows how valuable camp traditions are, and why they play such a huge role in the overall camp experience. While there are certainly surprises and new things to explore while at camp, there are some things that have been done the same way for decades, passed down from generation to generation, that makes campers feel like they are part of something special.

 

There are special songs, evening programs, activities, sayings and other special elements of camp that have a deep rooted history, and campers take these traditions very seriously. They understand and feel connected to the thousands of campers who have jumped in the lakes, played on the fields, and sat around the campfires before them, and find peace in taking part of a ritual that has been the foundation for memorable summers before them. Each camper experiences Camp Starlight in their unique way, but the special traditions unite and unify campers, and leave a lifelong impression on each one. Not all sleep-away camps are created equal, and Camp Starlight’s age-old traditions and rich history make it the best place to get the true summer camp experience.

For the Love of the Game

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If you’ve been on social media recently (and who hasn’t?), chances are you’ve seen Geno Auriemma, Head Coach of the University of Connecticut Women’s basketball team, comment on what he looks for in an athlete while recruiting his players. UConn hasn’t lost a game in two years and there’s a reason why.

We need to go back to our roots. We need to focus more on enthusiasm, being a team player, passion…and then the talent. Our culture today focuses on me, me, me and on being rewarded for independent talent and being the best.

As a parent, coach, camp director and athlete, it’s my priority to teach kids to love sports, to respect their sport and teammates, to have a positive attitude and to work hard to accomplish their goals. The rewards will come. Be patient.

To see Coach Auriemma’s comments, click here: http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2017-03-20/watch-why-uconn-coach-geno-auriemmas-2016-womens-final-four

See you at the game!

Rachel Milim is the Director of the Brant Lake Sports Academy in Brant Lake, New York.  Check out: www.brantlakesportsacademy.com.

Running Off the Energy of Camp

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There is a buzz, an excitement, and an energy that you can feel in their air every morning when you wake up at camp. It’s a feeling that puts an extra pep in your step before your feet even hit the floor. Even camp staff and counselors who regularly need coffee to function admit to waking up with a new sense of excitement and readiness for the day before their usual cup of coffee. The energy of camp is something that is hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it yourself. The gorgeous grounds and being surrounded by such positive people is a natural stimulant that gives campers and staff a boost of energy each and every day.

It’s hard to be in a bad mood when beauty is everywhere you look. There is the natural beauty of the campgrounds, the lakes, the mountains, the sprawling fields and gigantic trees. There are the quiet mornings and peaceful evenings, the glow of the campfire and the soft sound of the breeze in the trees. The beauty of camp is refreshing, and spending a few minutes in silence, appreciating the vastness and beauty of it all is usually enough to get anyone out of a mental slump.

There is beauty and energy in the people of camp. The relationships that are formed and fostered here, the activities that take place, and the memories that are made create a unique sense of positive energy that is contagious. Campers can’t help but run, jump and skip across camp, because there is so much joy and happiness surrounding them! Of course not every single moment of every single day is rainbows and butterflies, but campers report feeling upbeat, encouraged, energized and excited for the majority of their time at camp.

Camp staff and counselors feed off of the genuine excitement and positive vibes of the campers. There is just something about camp that keeps the energy alive from sunrise to sunset. You’ve got to spend a summer here so you can understand it!

Camp Can Increase a Child’s Communication Skills and Why That Matters

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Dear America’s Finest Summer Camps,

 

I wanted to write to personally thank every camp counselor, director, and anyone else who was responsible for the incredible camp experience my daughter had over the summer. My daughter Kelsey wasn’t like other young teenager girls her age when it came to the communication department. Other moms would vent in frustration about how their girls talked non-stop, but I never had that problem with Kelsey. Sometimes I WISHED I had that problem, but Kelsey just wasn’t a talker.

 

This worked against her in school, where she had severe anxiety at the mere thought of public speaking or even raising her hand to ask a question in class. She became more of a follower than a leader because it was easier for her to go with the flow than to speak up. I think she spent a lot of time being unhappy or discontent because she couldn’t find the words to communicate what she wanted.

 

Although she was nervous to go to camp, I knew we had to do SOMETHING to get her used to talking to other people. Camp was the best decision we ever made.

 

At camp, Kelsey shared a cabin with a handful of other girls, all of whom who were much more outgoing and outspoken than she was. A few of them took her under their wings and made her feel comfortable and included, and those girls are some of her best friends now. I am so thankful for those girls who didn’t take advantage of her quietness but embraced it as a part of who she was.

 

Throughout the day at camp, Kelsey had these two or three friends to do things with. They’d eat lunch together, play sports together and do crafts together. Somehow these young girls knew that all Kelsey needed was to feel comfortable and she’d eventually come out of her shell. And come out she did!

 

By the middle of camp, Kelsey was cracking people up with her sense of humor and witty jokes. People wanted to be around her because she really is so funny! People wanted to sit with her during campfire times and they wanted her on their teams when they played sports. She really started to open up!

 

I heard from counselors that by the end of camp, her confidence had skyrocketed. She was asking questions when he needed help, she was talking about issues or problems she had with other campers, and she seemed to be the life of the party everywhere she went. When she got home, she explained to me that at camp, you don’t have that fear of being made fun of or rejected for what you say. She said she felt comfortable in the group of friends that she had made, and felt that she could trust and depend on her counselors to listen to what she was saying. She learned to resolve issues calmly and confidently and to speak up when she felt something was important. When she came home, she was practically a different person. Her confidence was so high, and I officially had one of those teenagers that talked nonstop.

 

It is sad to me that her school environment is not as safe and welcoming and open as the camp environment. I wish teachers would focus on the quiet and shy students more, and help them come out of their shells instead of just ignoring them. I am so thankful for the girls who welcomed Kelsey in, and the counselors who constantly encouraged her to speak up and reminded her that her thoughts and in opinions were valid and important.

 

Ever since Kelsey learned to communicate while at camp, her life has really changed. She’s more of a leader now, she has great friends, and her problem-solving skills have completely turned around. She stands up for what she believes in and that makes me very proud. She is always careful to make other people who are shy and timid feel comfortable and heard like the girls at camp did for her.

 

There are a million great things about camp, but for our family, teaching Kelsey how to communicate and boosting her self-confidence were life-changing. We will be forever grateful.

 

-Sincerely,

 

Mother of a chatterbox

The Value of Communal Living at a Young Age

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We’ve all heard horror stories of terrible college roommates; the ones who are dirty or irresponsible or rude or have no self-awareness. It raises the question, if these people would have been exposed to more communal living experiences growing up, would they be better roommates as an adult? Living with others is a skill that many children only learn from living with their families. Many children never share a room or living spaces with people other than their family until they go away to college. So it’s no surprise that these children struggle when it comes to etiquette and social norms that come with communal living.

Spending a summer at camp is a great way to prepare your child for the realities of living with other people in their adulthood. It helps them become aware of their surroundings and the way they impact the space that they share with others.

Early risers learn to occupy their time quietly and respectfully in the mornings without waking up others. Night owls learn to keep things quiet once it’s time for “lights out.” Children who are used to being disorganized at home learn that their messiness affects others when sharing a cabin, and they begin to learn the importance of organization and cleanliness. Sharing a cabin also teaches campers to respect property that is not theirs, such as the beds in the cabin, the bathrooms, etc. They learn to be aware and careful about how they treat things that are not their own.

From day one, campers are taught about their roles and responsibilities as a member of a specific cabin. Counselors know that this may be a camper’s first time living with others, so they use gentle reminders and guidance to help campers keep their personal spaces tidy, to stay organized, and to respect the other campers around them. Every day at camp is a new opportunity to learn valuable life skills and prepares them to be respectful and responsible roommates in the future.

Living together with 8-10 peers gives campers the chance to learn how to deal with different personality styles. It gives them a chance to practice their communication and conflict management skills.

Nobody goes into parenthood with a goal to raise a nightmare roommate. All parents want to raise kind, considerate, self-aware human beings who others like being around and, eventually, living with. Gifting your child with a summer away at camp is about more than sports and campfires. It is about learning valuable life lessons that will help them become a more productive member of society.

Your child will thank you. And so will his/her future college roommates.

How Camp Makes You Confident – Not Arrogant

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The first time they arrive at camp, campers may feel anything but confident. Everything is new, people they don’t know surround them, and they aren’t quite sure what to expect. But as the days go by, they are constantly exposed to new experiences, adventures and activities that push them out of their comfort zones. They try new things, they fail, they try again, and eventually they succeed. This creates a confidence boost that helps them realize that they’re capable of much more than they sometimes give themselves credit for, and it gives them the push they need to venture further out of their comfort zone and try even more new things.

Camp has a special way of boosting confidence without creating a sense of arrogance. Confidence comes from trying new things and feeling positive about what they’ve accomplished, without feeling the need to brag, boast or make others feel inferior. Confidence is admitting mistakes and learning from them, while arrogance is denying that mistakes were made at all. Confident people encourage other people to be their best, while arrogant people think that they are the best.

Camp counselors help campers learn the difference between confidence and arrogance by demonstrating it in their every day lives. Camp counselors demonstrate confidence when they lead a group of campers on an outdoor adventure or tackle an activity or obstacle that is difficult for them. They demonstrate how to be graceful winners when they are successful, and have a positive attitude regardless of if they win or lose. Campers learn a lot just by watching their counselors, which is why America’s Finest Summer Camps only hires counselors who demonstrate a high level of confidence without coming off as cocky.

Campers try new things, meet new people, eat new foods and learn new things every day at camp, and it boosts their self-confidence. This in turn builds their character and self-esteem, making them happier individuals for a lifetime. It is fundamental for campers to establish a healthy sense of self, and this can be done by stepping out of their comfort zone, trying new things and being made to feel encouraged and capable by the people around them.

Camp creates happy, healthy and confident kids who are self assured enough to walk into any situation with a positive attitude, and who encourage others to feel the same.

The Gift of Family Camp

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Looking for S’MORE Family Time? Sign up for one of our Family Camps this summer!

Giving your child the gift of a sleep-away summer camp experience is one they will cherish for the rest of their lives. But what about kicking it up a notch? Why not treat your entire FAMILY to the summer camp experience of their dreams, and make it an international vacation?

If you’ve ever thought about bringing your family to the United States for a dream vacation, spending it at Family Camp at America’s Finest Summer Camps is the way to do it! Not only are you allowing your child to experience the excitement and adventure of international travel, but also you are including a final destination that they will remember forever.

Families who travel internationally benefit in many ways. The shared experiences of travel bring families together and connects them in a special way. Getting somewhere together takes teamwork, and families who work together to get from point A to point B successfully set themselves up for working together in other areas of their lives. Part of traveling internationally is learning new things, and when families learn together, they have another thing to bond over. Whether it is learning to read a map, decipher unfamiliar road signs, learning a new language or trying a new food, parents and children who travel internationally broaden their horizons and learn to appreciate diversity. Traveling together as a family gives parents the opportunity to give new responsibilities to their children, to help them branch out of their comfort zone, and expose them to new things. Studies have even shown that kids who travel with their families do better in school than those who don’t!

The many options for things to do at camp give families a great opportunity to connect. There are family activities that require everyone work together towards a common goal, and individual, age appropriate activities from everyone from the little Tykes to teens and adults. These activities are made to strengthen the bonds between family members, and to provide a lifetime of memories and stories that start with “Remember when we went to Family Camp and….?”  Having access to so many different activities, programs and events gives every family member a chance to explore things they’ve never done, and experiencing this as a family brings everyone closer.

From eating together to sharing a cabin, this quality time spent without the distraction of cellphones, homework, social media and overtime helps to build a solid foundation for every family that comes to camp. Many international families use Family Camp as a starting point for an even longer vacation. From camp, they head to NYC, Niagara Falls and the Pocono Mountains. They get their trip off to a great start by really connecting together and recharging their batteries, and it sets them up for a fun filled vacation for the rest of the summer.

The thing that makes Family Camp so special is all of the different families that come to take part in it. Adults and kids alike leave with brand new friends, most of whom they would have never met had they not come to camp. International families benefit from Family Camp because it’s a safe place to learn about a new culture, in a place where they are welcomed and where people are excited to have them. Traveling abroad can be exciting, but also a little scary, and Family Camp aims to take the stress out of being in a new county by allowing families to play in a way they don’t normally get to back home.

Family Camp is made for all types of families, from all different parts of the world. It is a safe place where families can learn more about each other, strengthen relationships, talk, listen and most importantly, reconnect. Giving your family the gift of an international vacation where they can play, explore and experience new things with you by their side is the best gift you can give them. It’s not only a fun way to build the summer, but a once in a lifetime opportunity that builds character, self-esteem, and family bonds.

 

Looking for S’MORE Family Time? Sign up for one of our Family Camps this summer!

Campamento de la Familia

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Looking for S’MORE Family Time? Sign up for one of our Family Camps this summer!

Regalar a su hijo la experiencia de un campamento de verano será algo que aprecie el resto de su vida. Pero ¿por qué no va un poco más lejos? ¿Por qué no le proporciona a toda su FAMILIA la experiencia del campamento de verano que siempre soñó y la convierte en vacaciones internacionales?

Si alguna vez pensó llevar a su familia a los Estados Unidos para pasar unas vacaciones de ensueño, hacerlo en el Campamento Familiar de America’s Finest Summer Camps ¡es la mejor manera! No sólo está permitiendo que su hijo experimente la emoción y aventura de los viajes internacionales, sino que también incluye un destino final que recordará para siempre.

Las familias que viajan por el mundo se benefician de muchas maneras. Las experiencias compartidas del viaje las vincula y conecta de una manera especial. La preparación de este tipo de viaje requiere trabajo en equipo y las familias que trabajan juntas para realizarlo con éxito se proponen trabajar juntas en otras áreas de sus vidas. Cuando uno viaja al extranjero aprende muchas cosas nuevas, y cuando las familias lo hacen juntas, tienen algo más que las une. Los padres y sus hijos que viajan por el mundo amplían sus horizontes y aprenden a apreciar la diversidad, ya sea cuando miran un mapa, descifran señales desconocidas, hablan un nuevo idioma o prueban un alimento distinto. Viajar juntos como familia permite a los padres darles responsabilidades a sus hijos para ayudarlos a que salgan de su zona de confort, lo cual los expone a experiencias nuevas. Existen estudios que han demostrado que los niños que viajan con sus familias tienen un mejor desempeño en la escuela que aquellos que no lo hacen.

Las varias opciones de actividades en el campamento proporcionan a las familias una gran oportunidad para conectarse entre sí. Hay actividades tanto familiares que requieren que todos trabajen juntos para lograr un objetivo común como actividades individuales apropiadas para la edad para cada uno de los miembros, ya sean niños, adolescentes o adultos. Estas actividades se realizan para fortalecer los lazos entre los miembros de la familia y les proporciona en el futuro ese tipo de recuerdos de anécdotas que comienzan con un “¿Recuerdas cuando fuimos al Campamento Familiar y…? »  Realizar diferentes actividades, programas y eventos proporciona a cada miembro de la familia la oportunidad de explorar cosas que nunca habían hecho juntos y esta experiencia como familia los acerca cada vez más.

Desde comer juntos hasta compartir una cabina, este tiempo con calidad sin la distracción de teléfonos celulares, tareas, redes sociales y horas extra ayuda a cada familia a construir una base sólida. También es frecuente que muchas familias internacionales utilicen al Campamento Familiar como punto de partida para unas vacaciones con estadía más prolongada. Desde el campamento pueden viajar hacia la ciudad de Nueva York, a las Cataratas del Niágara y a las montañas de Pocono. Comienzan su viaje de manera grandiosa al conectarse juntos y recargar sus baterías en el campamento y esto los predispone para unas vacaciones divertidas durante el resto del verano.

Lo que hace tan especial al Campamento Familiar son todas las diferentes familias que participan. Tanto los niños como los adultos hallan nuevos amigos, la mayoría de los cuales nunca habrían conocido si no hubieran venido al campamento. Las familias internacionales se benefician del Campamento Familiar porque es un lugar seguro para conocer una nueva cultura, donde son bienvenidos y donde las personas están muy contentas de recibirlos. Viajar al extranjero puede ser emocionante, pero también da un poco de miedo, y el Campamento Familiar tiene como objetivo quitar esa tensión de estar en un país extranjero permitiendo a las familias interactuar de una manera distinta a la que tienen en casa.

El campamento familiar está diseñado para todo tipo de familias, de diferentes partes del mundo. Es un lugar seguro donde las familias pueden aprender unas de otras, fortalecer sus relaciones, hablar, escuchar y lo más importante, volver a conectarse. Regale a su familia unas vacaciones internacionales donde puedan jugar, explorar y experimentar cosas nuevas con usted a su lado y esto es el mejor regalo que pueda darles. No es sólo una forma divertida de construir el verano sino una oportunidad única que forma el carácter, la autoestima y refuerza los vínculos familiares.

Looking for S’MORE Family Time? Sign up for one of our Family Camps this summer!

Don’t Yuck Someone Else’s Yum

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As an adult, there is nothing more annoying that coming across someone who feels that their opinion is the only opinion and that everyone who doesn’t agree with them is wrong. It’s hard to form and keep friendships with people who don’t appreciate or respect the difference of other people. This is why at camp, we implement the “Don’t Yuck Someone Else’s Yum” guidelines, which helps campers appreciate and respect the likes and dislikes of other campers.

 

Teaching campers to be respectful of the opinions of others, even when they don’t agree, is just another way going to camp builds character and teaches valuable social skills. Campers are bound to come in contact with people who have different opinions and preferences from them around camp, and counselors encourage campers to embrace the difference and learn to disagree is a respectful way.  This helps prepare campers for the real world and sets them up to be tolerant and accepting members of society.

 

Campers learn that everyone has different likes and dislikes, but that is not helpful or necessary to make others feel bad for their opinions or preferences. Campers who are made to feel bad or embarrassed about their personal preferences are less likely to speak up or say what is on their mind, which is not something that we want to happen at camp, ever. We want to create a safe place where every camper can express himself or herself and have their voices heard without the fear of rejection or judgment. The “Don’t Yuck Someone Else’s Yum,” rule at camp helps to create this safe environment, and teaches campers the value of diversity in the people around them.

 

Teaching campers not to be negative or judgmental about the preferences of others is also helping them learn proper etiquette and manners. Whether it’s at mealtime or any other time around camp when opinions and preferences are expressed, campers are practicing how to be polite and well-rounded individuals, which will undoubtedly transfer over to their world at home.

 

If your child gets home and you turns their nose up to the delicious broccoli and Brussels sprout dinner you’ve prepared, you can kindly remind me of what they learned at camp, and say “Hey, Don’t Yuck My Yum!” We can’t guarantee they’ll eat the veggies, but it will help them be respectful of the different opinions and tastes of the people around them.