The Beauty of Camp

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starlight-top-leftChelsea takes the subway to school every morning. Justin spends his weekends hanging out downtown with his buddies. Evan can walk to movie theaters, restaurants, and museums from the apartment where he lives. These city kids spend most of their year surrounded by concrete, honking horns and tall buildings. And that is why they, like so many other kids from big cities, really look forward to coming to camp for a change in their environment.

America’s Finest Summer Camps are located in some of the most beautiful surroundings in the country. Tucked away amongst tall trees, gorgeous lakes and on acres and acres of sprawling green fields, this camp is the definition of natural beauty. When you’re here, you can really connect with nature and breathe in the fresh mountain air.

The lakes are a cool and refreshing place to spend the summer, whether is it fishing, swimming, stand up paddleboarding, water skiing or sailing. The view of the lake changes throughout the day and gives off a different feeling depending on when you are there. In the morning, the lake is a quiet and peaceful place to wake up to. In the afternoons, it is an exciting, water playground where campers jump, splash and play all day. And then in the evenings, the lake is a quiet and peaceful place to reflect and unwind. City kids may not get to experience such natural beauty in their everyday lives, making the beauty of camp even more special for kids who don’t get to see it very often.

Waking up to a view of tall forest trees and the mountains is a nice change for kids who are used to the hustle and bustle of a big city. The natural beauty of camp makes for the perfect backdrop to pictures that campers are sure to treasure forever. Waking up each morning and breathing in the crisp mountain air is good for the heart, mind, and soul!

weequahic-bottom-right-centerBeing immersed in the beauty of the mountains is a welcome and unique experience for many campers. Spending the summer learning to appreciate the outdoors helps campers do the same when they return home. Instead of coming home from school and sitting in front of a computer screen or TV, campers head outside to enjoy nature just like they did at camp. They learn that they don’t need to be attached to phone, TV or computer to have a good time and that real relationships trump online relationships every time.

Being in the middle of the woods exposes campers, especially those who have grown up in big cities, to things they normally wouldn’t see and experience back home. They learn to find excitement and joy in nature, and it awakens something in them that the city just can’t.

Kids like Chelsea, Justin and Evan benefit greatly from a change of scenery and the chance to connect with nature. Spending time outside has been proven to improve vision, encourages social skills, reduce stress and give kids the vitamin D that they need. Who knew spending all day outside at camp is actually good for kids?!

Whether they grew up in the suburbs or in the middle of Times Square, kids love escaping to the mountains, and spending their summers on the lake, in the mountains and surrounded by nature.

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The Importance of “Rest Hour”

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screen-shot-2016-11-01-at-3-10-06-pmFact: At camp, you are “go, go go.” From the moment you wake up, your schedule is packed with things to do. Some days you’re out at the lake all day, other days you are singing, dancing, acting, crafting and creating from the moment you open your eyes until you fall asleep. Your days are filled with fun and adventure, hanging out with new friends, eating delicious foods, trying new things and making life long memories. With days like these, it’s easy to understand why sometimes campers just need to rest. And as seriously as we take fun at camp, we are just as serious about rest. We know the importance of slowing down, taking a break and recharging, and all of our campers take part in “rest hour” each and every day.

When campers are constantly on the move, when they fly from activity to activity, they sometimes don’t have time to reflect on things they are seeing, doing and learning. A rest hour gives campers a chance to relax, read, listen to music, and sleep before getting back into the busyness of camp life. During this time, campers may want to write letters home, organize their cabin space, or have a conversation with a counselor that they didn’t have time for during the day. This intentional resting time is beneficial for a number of reasons.

Resting during the day is good for your body. It gives you more energy and lets your body rest from all the activity during the day. Resting has also been shown to improve productivity and focus, which can really help campers who are involved in a wide variety of new tasks and skills.

Resting gives your mind time to let go of stress. It helps you with your patience and to reduce feelings of frustration. Campers need some time to just be alone with their thoughts and relax in their own space.

Camp counselors know the importance of rest hour, and although campers aren’t required to sleep during this time, counselors encourage campers to use this time to relax and unwind and help them become comfortable with alone time and silence. Campers learn that they don’t need to be entertained every second of every day, and learn to appreciate quiet time.

At camp, you’ll spend a lot of your day on the go. But give it two or three days, and you will be looking forward to rest hour as much as you are looking forward to sailing, soccer games, and s’mores around the campfire.

I Return to America’s Finest Summer Camps Because…

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My older brother started going to camp when he was younger, and I remember picking him up from the bus up at the end of the summer each year and being so excited to hear about all of the things he got to do. I was beyond excited when it was finally my turn to spend the summer at camp, I was ready to experience camp for myself!

I spent my first summer at hiking, mountain biking, climbing, team building, friend making, s’more eating, lacrosse playing and fishing. But one summer was not enough. I made it very clear on the drive home that first summer that I HAD to go back next summer, and I would do whatever it took to get back there!

“Why do you want to go back?” my mom asked on the drive home from the bus. What a loaded question, I thought. Why wouldn’t I want to go back? I made so many new friends and tried so many new things!

I explained to her that first and foremost, I wanted to go back and see all of my friends. I got to camp and didn’t know anyone, and was a little timid about just walking up to a group of people and introducing myself. But lucky for me, Jack, a camp counselor, swooped in and saw that I was a little nervous, and made me feel right at home. He introduced me to some other kids who were there for the first time, and right away we all clicked. All summer long I was involved in sports and games, and it became easier and easier to make new friends. The other campers in my bunk really became close friends. We talked a lot, supported each other when we were missing home, and it was nice to be able to look around camp and find a smiling face waving at you to come over and sit by them. I felt included at camp, and when it was time to go, I was really sad to leave them. Thankfully, we shared phone numbers and email addresses and plan to keep in touch throughout the school year, and we made promises to reconnect next summer at camp. I can’t wait to see them all again!

I also explained that even though my summer days were packed with fun and adventure, there are still so many things that I didn’t get to try that I really want to. I want to get back to camp to try archery and overnight camping. I want to dabble in some of the more “artsy” programs available at camp, like music production or hip hop dance. I want to go back and re-do some of my favorite activities, like wakeboarding and golf. It’s amazing how you can wake up early and go to bed late, spend your entire day on the go, and still not do everything that the camp has to offer!

And, as if those things weren’t enough, I told her that I want to go back to camp because it feels like I’m part of something. It’s that feeling of belonging to a team, where everyone looks out for everyone else, where you feel important and included, and where other people support you and cheer for you. There is something different about my camp friends and my school friends. My camp friends and I have been through something special together. We’ve participated in camp traditions; we have a special bond that other friends just don’t have. I feel like I’m part of something bigger when I’m at camp, and it is another reason why I really want to go back.

My little sister has started counting down the days until she can have her first camp experience, and I know that just like my brother and I, she will have many reasons to return to camp year after year!

Keeping Active After Camp

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Unless you live on 100+ acres of grassy fields, on a lake, complete with swimming pools and tennis courts, an equestrian center and hundreds of your closest friends (and if that is the case, lucky you!) then it may be hard to stay as busy and active at home as you do when you are at camp. When you spend your summer at camp, you are surrounded by nature, you have access to almost every sport and activity you could imagine, and it is easy to spend your days literally running from one adventure to another. Campers can’t help but feel exhausted at the end of the day; thanks to all of the activity they do on a daily basis.

 

When it’s time to come home, some campers find it easy to fall back into their more laid back routines, consisting of a lot of computer time, TV time and video games. Some campers start to spend more time sitting down inside than enjoying the outdoors, and this can lead to unhealthy snacking, weight gain and an overall feeling of sluggishness.

 

However, it is easy to take some of the things you learned at camp and apply them to your normal routine when you are back at home. You may not live on a lake, but you can still get outside and enjoy the sunshine. You may not have access to a soccer field, but you can still get outside with a few friends and kick a ball around. You may not have a swimming pool in your backyard (or live in a place where swimming is realistic during the fall and winter) but you can still go for a run, start a pick up game of baseball with other kids in the neighborhood, or put together a dance routine to impress your family after dinner. There are many ways to stay active while you are at home, and you don’t need a huge campus or counselors to help you do it.

 

Staying active during the fall and winter months is very important to your overall health.  When you feel good physically, other aspects of your life seem to follow. Your confidence begins to improve, which helps you build healthy and strong relationships. Exercise has been scientifically proven to release hormones that help you focus in school, help you get a good nights sleep, and help to promote strong bones and muscles. It is great for your heart, and the endorphins released when you exercise gives you an overall great sense of happiness.

 

Many campers are introduced to a sport while at camp, and then choose to continue pursuing that sport throughout the school year. If you loved soccer at camp, why not try out for the school team? If you really loved gymnastics at camp, why not look into joining competitive after school team? By staying active during the school year, you give yourself months of practice before returning to the sport at camp over the summer. You will be amazed at the progress you can make from one summer to the next, simply by sticking to it throughout the fall and winter.

 

Staying active at camp is easy, it just comes with the territory. Staying active at home doesn’t have to be hard, and can help improve all areas of your life when you are home. Being active makes you happier and healthier, and is something all campers can do to boost their confidence in the months when they aren’t at camp.

 Taking the Camp Spirit Home with You

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When camp comes to an end, you’ll pack up your trucks and head home to get ready for another busy school year. When you leave, you’ll leave with a lot more than you came with. Your journals will be full of memories, your phones will be full of new phone numbers for all of your new friends, and you, as an individual, will leave with a new sense of confidence and independence that you only get when you spend a summer at camp.

 

There are different ways different campers bring a little piece of camp spirit home with them. You may find yourself humming one of the whacky camp tunes as you clean your room, which will bring back memories of campfires and canoeing on the lake.

 

You may find yourself digging through your laundry basket to find your super comfortable camp t-shirt, the one that reminds you of scoring the winning soccer goal or laughing until you cry at one of the shows put on by some of your best friends. You may search your room for your beloved camp hat or sweatshirt, as the perfectly worn in feeling brings back warm memories of late night talks and adventures outside.

 

Your family members may notice that you come back with a new sense of confidence, a new passion for sports or the arts, or a brand new sense of independence. They may notice that you left for camp one way, and came home with the camp spirit still dancing inside of you. They may notice you are happier, more active, and more willing to try new things. A lot happens at camp that causes changes and shifts within you, and it is impossible not to take those experiences and lessons and apply them into your normal routine back home. Shy campers may find it easier to make new friends, outgoing campers may learn to find comfort in quiet time and connecting with Mother Nature. Camp has this special way of exposing campers to a side of themselves that they may not normally see. This is the spirit of camp that comes home with each and every camper.

 

And next summer, when you come back, you’ll be amazed at all of the new things you take home with you. Year after year, even after you think you’ve done and learned and experienced everything camp has to offer, you still come home with something new each summer. You may learn that you don’t need to be constantly connected to Wifi to feel connected. You may learn that there is something special about spending time in nature. Every summer, campers take a little something extra home with them that stays with them for the rest of their life.

 

Lucky for you, a lot of the camp spirit that you’ll take home with you, and carry with you for the rest of your life, won’t take up any extra space in your camp trunk.

 

 

 

The Physical Health Benefits of Summer Camp

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There are quite a few things that have seen rapid growth over the last several years, including Justin Bieber’s popularity,  SnapChat and Disney’s Frozen. However, there is something that is taking over America’s youth at a frightening speed, and it’s not as light and fluffy as Elsa or The Biebs; it’s childhood obesity. Childhood obesity has seen a dramatic increase over the last 30 years, and more and more children are struggling with health issues because of their weight. Excessive weight gain in kids and teenagers can be blamed on hormones or genetics, but a major reason kids are overweight is because they are sitting in front of TV screens and laptops instead of getting outside to play. At America’s Finest Summer Camps, kids spend all day on the go, and many have seen a dramatic change in their weight and overall health because of it.

Many campers spend their days out on the water. Swimming, water skiing and water aerobics are just a few of the ways that campers stay busy and moving throughout the summer. A lot of the favorite waterfront activities require using muscles that kids aren’t used to using, and helps them tone muscles and lose weight, without even knowing they’re working on it. These activities are great for kids who don’t naturally gravitate towards traditional sports and fitness activities, and for those who have a natural attraction to the water.

 

For those who do love sports, America’s Finest Camps has plenty of options. Natural born runners will love participating in running and triathlon sports, kids who like being part of a team will feel right at home playing flag football, soccer, lacrosse and softball. Regardless of which sport they try, they will be surrounded by counselors who have a heart for the sport, who are focused on fitness, and can motivate and inspire campers to make healthy choices.

Tennis is another camp favorite, and burns more calories than cycling, skating or aerobics! It is a sport that requires speed, flexibility and agility, and is a fun and easy way to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

And when campers aren’t participating in organized sports or activities, counselors put together games that combine team building, socialization and physical activity. Campers are always on the move, working up a sweat and burning calories, and it’s all disguised as good ol’ fashioned fun.

The food served at camp is both delicious and nutritious, and is carefully planned to fit in with the camper’s high activity levels. Salad bars, soups, healthy sandwiches, fresh veggies, and vegetarian options give kids the opportunity to eat foods that taste great, and help them achieve their fitness goals.

Kids who spend a summer at camp come home with a few more things than they left with. They come home with more friends, a deeper appreciation for their own health and wellness, and the confidence to make healthy choice and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Posing for Pictures at Camp 

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In a world of selfies, Instagram likes and Facebook’s new “love” feature, people are putting more emphasis on documenting an experience than really enjoying the experience itself. We participate in an event (concert, party, sporting event, social gathering) but spend most of the time trying to get the best picture to generate enough likes to make us feel valued, heard and appreciated. As we view life through the camera lens, we are missing the big picture.

 

Since campers don’t have access to technology while at camp, the pictures that are taken of them are real snapshots of what they’re doing. They can’t crop, rotate and edit a picture before they post it and they can’t over analyze how they look or worry about if the camera got their best angle. Instead, the picture will show them sweaty, messy, busy and real. It will show the macaroni and cheese stain on their shirt, the crazy faces they make as they fly down the zip line, and the real, genuine look of accomplishment when they face a fear for the first time.

 

Posing for pictures at camp is beneficial for the campers’ self image. It helps campers become more confident about who they are without the need to fix, edit, change, crop or filter anything out. Kids get so wrapped up in social media and how they are portrayed to the world that they often forget to appreciate who they really are. Self confidence issues happen when teens begin to think that the perfect images displayed on their friends’ Facebook profiles are real life. They forget that for the one perfect picture that was posted, there were probably 50 others that were taken that didn’t make the cut.

 

Campers will also realize that without the instant gratification of Social Media likes, pictures are just that, pictures. When a photo is posted on Instagram, the amount of likes it generates give it a perceived value rather than letting the picture speak for itself. This can create self-esteem issues and detracts from the true purpose of pictures – to document memories that you’ll want to remember. Just because a picture doesn’t receive a lot of likes, doesn’t mean it isn’t an amazing snapshot of a great memory. The ability to remove yourself from the “like” culture and instead just enjoy what you’re doing is invaluable.

 

Promoting high self esteem for campers is something counselors take very seriously, but a lot of it happens naturally. Kids learn that it is okay to just be a kid, and that every moment doesn’t have to have the wittiest, funniest hashtag. When family and friends back home see pictures of kids at camp, they get a real snap shot into a summer full of real friends, real adventures, real laughs and real, life changing experiences. #nofilter.

Patience Makes Perfect: How Camp Activities Teach Mindfulness 

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When you go to summer camp, you don’t just walk away with good friends and fun memories —  you walk away a stronger, happier person.

 

Regardless of where they come from and who they are, summer camp is designed to teach campers powerful life skills: how to be a leader, how to be a team player, and even how to discover your talents. Every skill camp teaches has one core thing in common: mindfulness.

 

High ropes, tall payoff 

Take the high ropes course, for example: learning the skills necessary to advance to the top doesn’t happen in a day. In fact, it doesn’t even happen in a year. Campers may not notice it at first, since the process of climbing is so fun, but by the time they’re old enough to become counselors they’ve learned years worth of technical skills.

 

The best part: it didn’t even feel like work, because the process of learning was so fun!

Enjoying the process  

The same is true for virtually every camp activity. At school, it’s sometimes easy to lose track of the big picture. Sure, you want to know how to do math in the long run, but the process of learning multiplication tables and algebraic equations usually feels long and tedious.

 

Campers, however, know how to be patient and relish challenges. Even if it takes years to reach a goal, it’ll feel like no time at all if you enjoy the process!

Living in the moment 

Mindfulness isn’t just about learning skills, though. Mindfulness is about learning to be happy and appreciate the people around you.

 

Free from the stresses of school and the “making the deadline” feeling of endless homework, campers are free to truly unwind and enjoy the moment. Camp keeps a busy schedule to fit in so many games, but it doesn’t feel “busy,” because you’re always having fun and the counselors are there to help you stay on track.

 

Mindfulness and patience aren’t the same thing, but they play into each other very strongly. Disconnecting from the “right now” attitude of the fast-paced school environment has huge emotional benefits for children of all ages. (Truth be told, counselors benefit from this just as much as campers!) It’s not easy for everyone to turn off their phone and iPad and learn to live in the moment, but the experience is that much richer because everyone is being challenged.

 

Rather than living for tomorrow, live for today. Rather than worry about homework, enjoy feeling at home. Don’t sweat the small stuff — the big picture is, we’re all in this together!

Diving Into Watersports at Camp: Cannonball!  

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The lake is central to life at camp. For many campers, it’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone says the words “summer camp.” For many more, it’s where they learned to swim in the first place!

 

Nothing feels like summer quite like diving off the dock with your friends after a hot afternoon having fun in the sun. Watching the sun set behind the trees, casting bright rainbow colors into the water — being by the waterfront is truly a magical feeling.

 

…But by far the best thing about the camp lake is that it’s something few campers get to experience at home. Especially for those of us coming from the big city, watersports like wakeboarding and canoeing are once-in-a-lifetime events. (Don’t worry, we’ll make sure everyone gets plenty of pictures!)

 

Here are just a few of the activities campers get to try out on the lake every summer:

Wakeboarding 

By far one of the highest-adrenaline sports at camp, wakeboarding is super safe — and super exhilarating! It takes practice to do tricks (or just stay upright!), but it’s well worth it. After a few summers, we know you’ll be a pro.

Canoeing & kayaking 

Something really special about time on the lake is how peaceful it is, and canoeing and kayaking are easily the best ways to get in touch with nature. In your own small craft, you’re completely in control. Plus, it’s a great way to learn the basics of paddling from our expert counselors. Maybe you’ll even hit the whitewater in the olympics one day — who knows!

Sailing 

Sailing is also a great way for campers to build teamwork skills, all while putting their math and science skills to good work!

 

Piloting a traditional sailboat requires communication, knot know-how, and a fair share of understanding about aerodynamics and weather. And let’s be honest: sailing is just plain stylish!

Good ol’ swimming and splashing!  

Last but not least, the number one activity that goes on at the camp lake is good ol’-fashioned swimming. Like every activity at camp, swimming is a chance to build a skill little by little. Whether or not you’re conscious of it, spending every summer out on the lake makes you a stronger swimmer. By the time you’re in high school, it’s a fair bet you’ll be lifeguard material!

 

Just like running on the trails is more exhilarating than running on a treadmill, splashing around in the lake is a million times more fun than doing laps in a pool. We’ll see you at the pier — don’t forget your bathing suit!

Confessions of a Camper: The Things We All Do Right Before Camp Starts 

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Once the last email has been received, the phone calls have been made and its officially official that we’re actually going to be spending the summer at America’s Finest Summer Camps, the preparation begins. Some of us may not even realize that these thoughts, behaviors and feelings are being thought, felt and acted out by hundreds of other fellow campers all over the country, sometimes at exactly the same time. The countdown for summer vacation takes over our calendars and conversations. We will know, at any given time, how many days (and sometimes hours) we have until school is out and summer fun begins.

 

Now, be honest. How many of the following things have you done to prepare for a summer away?

 

  1. Shopping! As the first day of camp approaches, many of us print out and practically memorize the suggested packing guidelines. We haul our parents out to the mall to get supplies and new clothes. We find cool new clothes that are comfortable, because we know that camp isn’t a fashion show, and it’s way more important to be comfortable than stylish. We get shoes that’ll help us run faster and jump higher, and bathing suits that will see plenty of pool water, lake water and sun. Shopping is a fun way to get ready for a brand new experience at camp
  1. Following! And of course we mean social media following! As campers, we check and re-check the camps website and social media sites to check for updates on camp. We stalk the photos to get ourselves excited about what we are about to see, and are hungry for any additional information we can get about camp before arriving. We also like to share pictures and posts of the camp we’re going to on our own social media, to let friends and family know about the amazing adventure that lies ahead.
  1. Activity Selection– One of our favorite parts about preparing for camp is setting up our schedule and picking our activities. There are so many options; it can be stressful for a first time camper, but also very exciting. Reading through the lists of everything camp has to offer, and thinking about the reality that all of these things are open to try is truly exciting! It’s kind of like picking your classes for school, except harder, because it’s much easier to pick between PE and algebra than it is to pick between kickboxing and water skiing! Being part of the planning process and picking out the activities that interest us the most makes going to camp feel more real, and is one of the main ways we get (and stay) excited about spending the summer at camp.
  1. Riding the Emotional Rollercoaster– We may hate to admit it, but there is always a small part of us that worries about camp. We worry we won’t meet new friends (literally impossible) and we worry about being away from home. But in the same thought, we are giddy with excitement about trying something new and being somewhere different. Then some of us go back to being nervous, while others stay in a constant state of impatience mixed with joy. It’s a wild ride, waiting for camp to start, and any and every combination of emotions is normal and ok. Some of us cry when our parents drive away, others are already doing cannonballs into the pool before their parents say goodbye. Some of us are ready to go home at the end, others wish the summer went on forever. We all go through some sort of emotional preparation for camp, and it is a natural part of the camp prep process.

 

As campers, we share a bond that we will never share with anyone else. And although we all experience camp in a different and unique way, there are some things that are just universal. It is these things, these commonalities, that remind us that although we all come from different places and backgrounds, that for these few weeks, we are all campers and in turn, we are all family.