Camps d’été internationaux : 5 manières d’élargir leur horizon

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Le camp d’été en lui-même est déjà une activité très divertissante. Imaginez alors pouvoir travailler avec des campeurs et des moniteurs provenant du monde entier, quel bonheur !… Bien sûr, le camp international n’est pas juste un mélange d’activités existant déjà, le tout avec des accents exotiques en plus. Les campeurs de camps internationaux ont l’occasion de rencontrer des compagnons venant de différentes régions et pays et de comprendre les différences de chacun, tout en acquérant une compréhension d’eux-mêmes. Voilà pourquoi les camps internationaux sont si spéciaux et attirent constamment de nouveaux campeurs.  Le secret de la participation.

1.     La différence pimente la vieChacun a ses propres différences : le camp d’été se base sur cette évidence. Les campeurs deviennent amis avec des personnes venant de différents pays et se trouvent des points communs avec des campeurs venant de l’autre côté de la planète. Ce procédé permet également aux campeurs de mieux apprendre à respecter les différences. Au final, qui souhaite être entouré de personnes qui nous ressemblent en tous points ? Apprendre à apprécier des cultures différentes peut aider les campeurs à devenir de meilleurs citoyens qui seront confiants, tolérants et qui s’amusent.

2. L’accent est mis sur la communicationLa communication est-elle superflue ? Bien sûr que non, les compétences de communication des campeurs font partie intégrante de la formation de renommée d’un camp d’été ! Le bataillon international est une bonne occasion de tester les facilités de communication des campeurs. Surtout quand des campeurs venant de différents pays essaient de se trouver des points communs et de se comprendre : quel défi pour eux ! Chaque campeur international pourra alors tellement partager avec chaque compagnon. Une magnifique leçon à apprendre.

3. Une amitié véritableL’amitié est au cœur du vécu d’un camp d’été et une raison pour laquelle les campeurs reviennent chaque année. « Qui sera avec moi cette année ? »« D’où viennent les nouveaux, à quoi ressembleront-ils ? »Voici les questions qui viendront à l’esprit de chaque participant à un camp d’été. … Le mieux, c’est que quand les campeurs internationaux retournent en Chine l’été, ils pourront aussi devenir correspondants avec des campeurs venant de partout dans le monde. Et qui sait, peut-être que bientôt, vous pourrez aussi rendre visite à un campeur international en France, en Chine, en Espagne ou dans d’autres pays. De nouveaux amis !

4. La tolérance est un passeport internationalLe monde est de plus en plus connecté. Apprendre à être tolérant envers des personnes différentes est une leçon importante non seulement pour les campeurs, mais c’est aussi une leçon de vie pour tous. Les campeurs internationaux apprennent à comprendre les différences culturelles les plus authentiques, ce qui leur permet de comprendre l’aspect amusant des différences de culture plutôt que de les redouter ou d’en avoir peur. Le rapprochement culturel est l’objectif d’un camp d’été international.

5. La curiosité est la cléLes campeurs internationaux semblent savoir que le secret pour se faire des amis c’est d’être curieux. La curiosité des campeurs internationaux concernant les cultures différentes favorisera la communication mutuelle plutôt que les spéculations unilatérales concernant l’inconnu.Devenir ami avec des compagnons venant de différents pays, c’est aussi la manière la plus facile de passer un été heureux à écouter attentivement des tas de choses intéressantes ! Gardez l’esprit ouvert et acceptez de nouvelles expériences.

Pour ceux qui sont en quête du monde, celui-ci est un endroit d’aventure et de divertissement. Le camp international est un point de départ merveilleux, où les campeurs comprennent non seulement la richesse du monde, mais apprennent aussi à chérir les facteurs qui rendent leur propre culture si unique et intéressante.

Du point de vue de personnes différentes, chaque pays dans le monde aura une atmosphère propre et unique : pour les campeurs internationaux, le monde est une grande famille !

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El campamento cambió a mi hijo

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Screen Shot 2016-03-14 at 3.42.06 PMMe sentía nerviosa y emocionada de enviar a mi hijo Connor a America´s Finest Summer Camps este año. Su mejor amigo había asistido a un campamento de verano antes y no podía parar de hablar sobre él. Así que después de mucha investigación y discusiones, hemos decidido permitir a Connor pasar el verano afuera. No miento, mi « corazón de mamá » se quebró un poco cuando él prácticamente saltó del coche y no se dio vuelta a mirarnos, pero me sentía segura de haber tomado la decisión correcta. La semana pasada, cuando lo recogí, estaba 100% segura de que lo habíamos hecho. El niño feliz y sonriente que saltaba en el asiento trasero era… diferente.

No podía precisar esas diferencias, salvo el entusiasmo en sus ojos y su voz cuando hablaba de sus nuevos amigos y se emocionaba recordando bromas y conversaciones divertidas con sus nuevos compañeros. Una de las principales cosas que noté cuando llegamos a casa fue que estaba muy servicial. Sin necesidad de ordenarlo, hacía su cama, llevaba sus platos al fregadero, se ofrecía a comprar los alimentos o incluso simplemente preguntaba si podría llevarnos algo de la cocina ya que iba para allí. Cuando regresó, noté un nuevo sentido de consideración. No es que antes fuera insensible pero definitivamente noté un cambio en su voluntad de ayudar a otros y pensar en los demás antes que en sí mismo. A medida que pasaban los días, mi corazón estaba lleno de alegría al verlo emocionado enviando correos electrónicos, chateando y hablando por Facetime a todos sus nuevos amigos. Fue a un campamento siendo un poco tímido y volvió sociable y con confianza. Me encantaba verlo interactuar con sus compañeros, su atención real a lo que otros tenían que decir y su convencimiento de contribuir a la conversación.

11403218_10152921109351960_6993264803082064644_nHoy mismo, me dijo que iba a intentar pruebas de futbol en la escuela, un deporte que nunca había jugado antes del campamento. Dijo que se sintió animado para hacerlo en el campamento y que jugaba casi todos los días cuando estaba allí. Como mamá, estoy fascinada por los cambios positivos resultantes de haber enviado a mi hijo al campamento. Sabía que haría amigos, probaría una o dos actividades nuevas y aprendería a vivir tanto de forma independiente y en grupo, pero no tenía idea de que podría desarrollar habilidades sociales, fortalecer su carácter, crecer en los vínculos y aumentar su confianza sólo en unas pocas semanas.

Cualquier padre que incluso esté pensando en enviar a sus hijos al campamento debería dejar de pensar e inscribirlos. No sólo disfrutarás unas semanas de relajación libre de niños sino que cuando tu hijo vuelva a casa, estarás gratamente sorprendido por todo lo que han aprendido y más importante, en quiénes se han convertido.

America´s Finest Summer Camps cambió a mi hijo para mejor, ¡y ambos esperamos más crecimiento y los cambios que van a ocurrir el próximo verano en el campamento!

How to make cool shadow animals with your flashlight!

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As night falls over America’s Finest Summer Camps, the loud and crazy activities of the day give way to the whispered and wonderful activities of the evening.

Bedtime stories, chilled-out card games, and friendly chatter fill the hour between returning inside and falling asleep.

As a camp counselor, you will always need plenty of fun, surprising activities to keep the fun flowing. Learning a few shadow-animals is a sure-fire way to spark campers’ creativity and interest. The best part is, all you need is a flashlight and a wall! (Check and check!)

Level 1: Bear & Alligator

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The simplest shadow animals use your thumbs for ears mouths, and can be easily modified to match dozens of recognizable animal faces! Try curling in your fingers to make a snub-nosed pug out of the alligator, or move the bear’s ear over its nose to make a triceratops dinosaur!

Level 2: Dog and Eagle

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Woof woof! Wrap your right hand around the left to add two ears and a defined head-shape to your friendly Fido!

Then try using your hands for a flapping bird — one of the oldest tricks in the book. You can spread and curve your fingers to make a creepy spider for some easy heeby-jeebies!

Level 3: Deer and Mountain Goat

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Once you’ve mastered the dog, adding curved horns and and a peep-hole for the eyes can turn it into both a deer and a mountain goat. Getting the shape just right for less recognizable critters than dogs and birds can be tricky, but it’s worth the effort once you’ve nailed it!

Level 4: Rabbit and Bear Cub

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The final step in shadow animal mastery is the jump from faces to full-bodied creatures! The trick here is using one hand for the legs and body while the other takes care of ears and mouth. Getting the angle “just so” is more important here than with easier animals. Once you’ve got it, they can crawl, wave, and give high-fives!

Bedtime is fun time!

Hand shadows can also add some interactive fun to traditional camp stories, or even make an appearance in your group’s skit or talent show performance!

Once you’ve mastered the basics, what other unexpected animals and shapes can you and your campers dream up?

Practice at home and be sure to share your creations with us, whether on Facebook or in person!

In the meantime, keep dreaming that camp dream. 😊

Lights! Camera! Action!

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Screen Shot 2015-11-03 at 3.29.17 PMI could hear my heart pounding in my chest and I felt like I was going to throw up. I could hear the whispers of my fellow campers just behind the curtain, and I became absolutely certain that this was a very very bad idea. And then, like slow motion, the curtain lifted and I saw the entire audience looking at me. And the music that was all so familiar from practice started, and my feet started moving and my lips started talking and I was doing it! I was preforming in front of a huge crowd and to my surprise, I was LOVING it. It was so much fun pretending to be someone else, and I lost myself in the character I was playing. I had never been in a play before, and never thought as myself as the “in the spotlight” kind of kid, but I felt right at home on stage.

One of the reasons I felt so confident on my big night was because we had so many opportunities to practice. Every day, almost from the first day at camp, we would all get together and practice our lines, our movements and we got a lot of guidance from our counselors, some of whom had been in dozens of plays in high school and college! They were so helpful in making us feel comfortable and confident, and sometimes we forgot we were “working” because we were having so much fun.

Some of my cast mates were from preforming arts schools, and had a lot of theatre experience under their belt. We all really learned a lot from them, and were lucky to have them on our team. But no matter if we had done 10 plays or this was our first one, everyone was treated like a very valuable part of the production. I loved the feeling of being part of a team (since sports have never really been my thing) and feeling valued, wanted and appreciated. When I got nervous, I just had to look out of the corner of my eye to my friend Jake who would give me an encouraging nod or wink, and I suddenly found my confidence. When someone else got tripped up on their lines or forgot their mark, I was able to mouth the words or improvise so that the show flowed smoothly.

Since I was in the play at camp, public speaking at school has been much easier. I even tried out for the play at school, and although I didn’t get the role I auditioned for, I’m having a great time being part of the production. That is another thing that being in the camp play helped me with; understanding that you don’t always get the starring role, but that without the supporting roles, the play can’t go on! Everyone has such an important role, no matter how small, and I love that about being in theatre.

After the play, everyone clapped and cheered, and for the rest of my time at camp, people I didn’t even know came up and told me how funny I was and what a good job I did. It was so nice to get that encouragement from my fellow campers. Some even said that they’re going to try out next time!

Being in the camp play was one of the most exciting, nerve-wracking, and amazing things I’ve ever done, and I learned so much!

Benefits of Camp: Parent’s Perspective

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In a world of Wiis, Xbox ones and 360s, nothing is better than real “whee’s” on the zipline, one on ones with friends and the 360 views your kids will get when they attend summer camp.

Unplug your kids and find out how they can benefit. It’s an invaluable experience that allows them to develop the skills they need to become confident kids.

As hard as it is to send my boys off to camp each year, I know it’s the best thing for them. I’m the type of Mom who wants to be with them all summer long. I love re-living my childhood through their eyes. But summers away, teach them to believe in themselves. They gain more than just experiences, adventures and new best friends, summer camp instills positive behaviors that carry over into adulthood.

 

SELF RELIANCE

When my kids go to summer camp, they become more confident. Without my husband and I there to guide their every move, they make more decisions on their own and start to trust their own instincts. Camp is the perfect place for them to do this, in a safe environment that nurtures individual growth and development. When kids learn to make choices on their own, it gives them a sense of self worth and sets them up for success in the real world.

 

RESILIANCE

AC9U6411Camp is no different that it is at home or school. Things happen. You child didn’t get to be on the team he’d hoped, friends are acting unfairly, or your child didn’t get picked for a group project. That’s just how it is. At camp, my kids have had several issues like this but they’ve learned to accept that life isn’t always perfect. Knowing they must rely on their own problem solving skills helps them adapt and grow. I like to say, they’ve started discovering their own “know-how”. This allows them to be strong in difficult situations at camp and when they return home.

 

RESPECT

Your child isn’t going to like everyone at camp and not everyone is going to like your child. There are a lot of personalities to deal with. My sons have learned that no matter the differences they may have with others, they have to treat everyone like they want to be treated.  Learning how to be flexible and mindful of others feelings, promotes good working relationships among peers and adults. Learning tolerance and being accepting of others, are skills they’ve taken away from their stay, that go beyond just the summer.

 

LEADERSHIP

AC9U6492Summer camp is all about encouraging kids to step outside their comfort zone and face their fears. This builds character. When you pair character with confidence and helping others, kids learn to become leaders. They thrive in an environment where they’re given the opportunity to help someone else learn something new and teach what maybe they learned the year before. My kids have become noticeably more self-confident and independent and come home with the attitude of wanting to help others.

 

 

10 Times Summer Camp Made You a Better Team Player

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1. When your friend was missing home and you helped them feel better

Missing home is totally natural, and a common part of camp life. Everyone feels that way at some point — even the counselors! Summer campers quickly learn that the best medicine is a good friend to remind you of how much fun you’ve been having, and how much more fun is in store for the days to come. In fact, once you get home you’ll probably start missing camp and all your new friends!

 

2. When the flashlight went out and you faced your fear of the dark

Sleeping in cabins, tents, or even under the stars is one of the most exciting things about camp, but when you’re scared of the dark it’s also a big challenge. Fortunately, you’ve always got your camp friends around to help you face your fears. Once you’re comfortable with the dark, you get to see the stars, hear the hoot of owls, and enjoy all the excitement that comes with a night out in nature.

 

3. When they packed something healthy for lunch, but you were so hungry you ate it anyway

Picky eating isn’t a great option when you’ve been out working up a sweat in the sun all morning, and summer campers quickly learn that any food is good food — especially when you’re worn out and hungry! Adventurous eating is one of many ways that campers learn to embrace new challenges.

 

4. When your team came in second at ultimate frisbee and you showed them that good sportsmanship is more important than winning

Team sports are fun for everyone, but there are always a few players who get a little upset if their team doesn’t come out on top each round. Luckily you were ready to be a good sport and have fun no matter what, because summer camp means playing games all day long — and if somebody gets upset every time their team comes in second, they wind up spending half the day being upset over nothing.

 

5. When your friend dropped their marshmallow and you gave them yours

Do you know that sinking feeling when your marshmallow is practically perfect and suddenly gets just soft enough to droop and fall off your stick? That’s the worst! As a summer camper you’re always ready to step in and save the day, even if it means sacrificing a tasty treat for the sake of cheering up a friend. Now that’s teamwork.

 

6. When everyone wanted to play Freeze Tag and you joined in even though you’d rather play Soccer

Playing well with others means you don’t always get your way, and summer camp taught you how to have fun even if it’s not time for your favorite activity. After all, you may be a pro climber, but chances are you’ll miss out on a lot of fun if you spend the whole day climbing over and over again. For summer campers, variety is truly the spice of life.

 

7. When you climbed to the top of the climbing wall even though you were secretly terrified

Whether you’re rappelling, climbing, or just putting on those water skis, camp activities are bound to push you out of your comfort zone. Are you ready to face your fears? The adrenaline rush of zooming down the zip-line may feel great, but you know what feels better? Knowing that you were brave enough to jump off the platform all by yourself.

 

8. When your team was lagging behind and you volunteered to be the fearless leader

Part of being a good team player is knowing when it’s your turn to step up to the plate and provide leadership for your group. Remember when the group was scattered and no one knew what to do, and you suggested a strategy that brought your team back into the game? Leadership can be that simple, even for the shyest of campers.

 

9. When your friend had to visit the nurse and you went with them to keep up their spirits

Nobody wants to be a fair-weather friend. Sometimes a bruised knee or wood splinter sends your friend to the nurse, and the question is: do you keep playing the game, or go with them so they don’t feel alone? Summer campers are always the friends that stick by you even when the going gets rough.

10. When you went home appreciating your family more than ever

Family is the most important team of all. Camp was amazing and you’ll never forget your new friends and all the fun experiences you’ve had this summer, but boy did you miss your family. Leaving camp is bittersweet, but spending time away from the familiar life of home and school sure reminds you how special it is. Who ever guessed you could miss going to school?

7 Camp Songs That Always Rock the House

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Camp songs may seem a little crazy outside of camp, but if you’ve been to camp before you know these zany off-the-wall melodies are absolute classics. Repeat after me songs are great for kids, and plenty of fun for grown-ups as well! Trust me — no one can sing Hey Burrito without breaking into a smile. The fun is contagious!

We’ve collected a few classics here to help you re-live the camp memories. You can practically smell the campfire!

 

1. Boom-Shika-Boom

When it comes to rocking the house, Boom-Shika-Boom is the guaranteed to succeed: it’s kind of like the We Will Rock You of camp songs, complete with stomping, bellowing, and unstoppable rhythm.

This being a camp song, there’s plenty of fantastical elements thrown in, and every counselor is bound to have their own version by the end of summer. We’ve seen janitor style, mashmallow style and even disney princess style. One more time, y’all!

 

 2. Go Bananas!

Get ready to strut your moonwalk, your chicken walk, and any other suspicious dance moves that may be hiding up your sleeves! Go bananas is the perfect songs for letting out your inner dancing queen, and a favorite for campers young and old.

 

3. The Marshmallow Song

Part of the fun with “repeat after me songs” is seeing how far you can stretch the audience’s memory; before the whole thing dissolves into chaos! These campers seem to have a strong handle on it. Are you up to the challenge?

 

4. The Buffalo

Goofy, with a midwest flair. The buffalo has a dry humor to it that makes it a favorite among middle-school campers. I mean, come on — what’s a camp song without a little good-natured irony?

 

5. Funky Chicken

Ah, Funky Chicken. The song with a million verses that just goes on and on and on.Truth be told, if you’re quick with your imagination, there’s virtually no reason for this one ever to end!

 

6. Heeeeey Burrito!

Feeling hungry? Looking for a good song to share before a camp meal? Nothing gets the point across quite like Hey Burrito. Just be sure use lots of guacamole… and of course, the cinnamon twist!

7. Little Red Wagon

Little Red Wagon is guaranteed to please, especially with younger campers looking for a chance to let out some crazy energy before bedtime! This song starts quiet and gets louder, and louder, AND LOUDER!

 

 

 

Here’s hoping you’ve enjoyed this stroll down memory lane. Brush up on your singing voice and be sure you know all the verses to Funky Chicken when you come back to camp next summer!

 

 

 

 

5 At-Home Activities for When You Miss Camp

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It happens to the best of us.

Summer ends, school begins, and nothing feels quite as fun or exciting as those precious weeks of fun and freedom at camp. Diagnosis: you’re campsick!

Luckily, summer is just around the corner. Here are a few of our favorite year-round activities to bring that camp feeling home!

 

1. Make s’mores

Nothing says “summer camp” quite like campfires, and nothing says “campfires” quite like s’mores. Luckily, making s’mores at home is easy — you can even do it over a stovetop if you’re truly desperate! (Although a backyards campfire is a million times better if you get the chance.)

If you’re making s’mores using a stove, here’s a good recipe:

Ingredients:

  • Graham crackers
  • Milk Chocolate
  • Marshmallows

Place marshmallows on graham crackers in a baking pan and toast under broiler for a few seconds, until golden brown. Remove and finish the s’mores with chocolate pieces and graham cracker; the heat from the marshmallows will melt the chocolate. Yum!

 

2. Go backyard camping

Camping is super fun, but sometimes you’re too busy to go hiking into the wilderness to do it. Backyard camping to the rescue! The best part about backyard camping is that the house is close by if anybody needs something they forgot; and you can bring plenty of books to read around the campfire.

 

3. Send mail (or e-mail) to camp friends

AC9U8468One of the best parts about summer camp is the friends you make. Even if they don’t happen to live near you, keeping in touch by snail mail can be just as fun as hanging out in real life. I mean, seriously; who doesn’t love to get a real-life letter these days?

So bust out those craft supplies and get creative with fun letters and postcards! Let them know how everything’s been going at home and school, and add some drawings and glitter paint if you’re feeling artistic!

…And of course there’s always email and chat for those of us who just can’t wait for the old-fashioned post office.

 

4. Enjoy a nature hike

Another part of camp that many of us miss during the year is simply the rejuvenating feeling of being in the great outdoors. The wind in the trees, the quiet of the woods — it’s part of what makes camp so special.

So if you find yourself missing nature, you don’t have to wait until next summer to enjoy it; just get your family together for a trip out to the nearest park or natural area! All you need is a Sunday afternoon, sturdy hiking shoes and a sense of adventure.

Plus, it’s a great chance to put some of those orienteering skills you learned at camp to good use!

 

5. Join a new activity

AC9U8885Last but not least, always remember to challenge yourself. People tend to think of camp as the place for trying a million new things, and “real life” as being a little boring by comparison; but it doesn’t have to be that way!

One thing camp teaches you is that variety is the spice of life, so when you have the chance to try something new, just go for it. Chances are you can make time for dance lessons, band, writing a book, becoming a rock star, or whatever else it is that you might be putting off. All you have to do is step up to the challenge and believe in yourself — just like at camp.

 

…So give it the ‘ol camp try! Next summer is just around the corner, but that’s no reason not to have a blast while you wait!

 

 

4 Constellations Visible from America’s Finest Summer Camps and How to Find Them

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Lights out doesn’t have to mean the fun is over; after all, our summer camps are the perfect places for stargazing! All you need is a clear sky, a few tips and pointers, and of course a helpful counselor.

Once you figure out how to find the north star, it’s a slippery slope to becoming an astronomy expert. Who wouldn’t want to be knowledgeable about this beautiful universe of ours?

Here are four of the easiest constellations to locate during the summer months at camp, and how to find them.

 

The Big Dipper

For many aspiring astronomers, the big dipper is the first constellation they ever discover. The Big Dipper is visible all year round, making it a dependable friend even if you aren’t an astronomy master.

The distinctive dipper or ladle shape is hard to miss, since it’s composed of a few of the brightest stars in the sky. Take a look at the shape in the picture below; this is what you’re looking for.

 

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Found it? Awesome!

Beyond being dependable, the Big Dipper is your secret key to the celestial world. Once you can find the Big Dipper, you can use it to pinpoint many other constellations.

Now let’s use the Big Dipper to find our next constellation: the Great Bear.

 

The Great Bear

The Big Dipper is actually part of the Great Bear, so if you’ve already located that elusive ladle then you’re literally halfway there. Hint: the handle of the dipper is the tail of the bear.

Look for the brightest stars directly forward from the dipper part of the Big Dipper to find the bear’s head, and extend downwards from the dipper’s bottom to find the bear’s legs. Can you spy the Big Dipper in this picture?

 

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The Little Dipper

The Big Dipper isn’t done helping us; we’re also going to use it to help us find its smaller but no less important sibling, the Little Dipper!

Find the two stars that make the “front” of the Big Dipper and draw a line with your imagination upwards. The brightest star in that line is the end of the Little Dipper’s handle.

 

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The Little Dipper is much fainter than the big dipper, and if any wispy clouds are hanging around it might be quite tricky to find. But there is a reward! That bright star forming the end of the Little Dipper’s handle is none other than Polaris, the north star.

If you can get this far, you have everything you need to find your way in the wilderness. North is always the direction of the North Star, which is why sailors used to be so concerned with astronomy in the old days. Pat yourself on the back!

 

Draco

Everyone loves dragons, so let’s finish by finding the dragon constellation, Draco. We can use the Little Dipper as a reference point, just like we did before.

The snakey part of Draco wraps around the spoon part of the Little Dipper in a giant “s” shape, leading up to the “head” of the dragon — a suspiciously ladle-like four-point star formation, as you can see in the shape here:

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Show off your new astronomy skills to your friends!

Astronomy is like everything else at camp: challenging, but rewarding. And most importantly, tons of fun.

The best part about these four constellations is that they’re visible all year around. Be sure to show your friends at camp, or if you’re a counselor, be sure to teach your campers. That way they can take their newfound astronomy skills away with them and show their friends at home!

When they ask where you learned something so cool, you can just say, “at one of America’s Finest Summer Camps!”

 

 

 

Sailing the high seas… or the camp lake!

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Screen Shot 2015-03-27 at 2.48.18 PMCamp is filled with activities that allow you to learn new skills and test your limits.

Perhaps one of the most unique activities here at America’s Finest Summer Camps when it come to having a blast and building character is sailing.

Sailing teaches many skills; how to tie nautical knots, understand the weather, and control a boat with nothing but the wind to guide you. But like any camp activity, the most important lessons being learned are team building, communication, and the power of believing in yourself!

Team Building

Sailing is a team activity, so learning to work with your “crew” is critical! Whatever style of boat you happen to be sailing, campers are constantly practicing team building skills with other campers on the lake.

  • Campers listen closely to what the rest of their crew is telling them, responding clearly and quickly to commands and questions. If you’re sailing solo, you will still have to communicate with other sailors on the water — so it’s lucky that all the sailing terminology is totally fun!
  • Sailing teaches you to trust in the skills of your crewmates (even if the worst that can happen is getting wet!) You won’t have time to check that every knot is tied correctly, so you’ll soon learn to trust that your friends will stay on top of their duties while you’re on the water, so long as you’re holding up your end of the bargain.
  • When you’re sailing, there’s a job for everyone on the boat. You and your fellow campers will quickly learn to identify situations where you can jump in and help each other.

Self confidence

It’s normal to feel a little hesitant your first time out on the lake. However, with practice you’ll develop your skills and, along with them, self-confidence.

Creating small, measurable goals such as learning new knots can slowly increase your confidence. Small setbacks (like having trouble steering!) followed by successes (catching the wind at just the right angle) teach the importance of bouncing back in the face of discouragement.

Organization and Planning

Managing any boat, even a single-person craft, requires organization and planning. You have to assess multiple factors such as the weather, obstacles in the water, and the lay of the shoreline to navigate your boat to your destination. You also have to keep your sails and lines organized for quick course changes — easily the hardest part of the sailing activity!

Sailing also taps into leadership skills, requiring campers to create a plan and divide responsibilities between the crew. Campers quickly learn to recognize crewmembers’ talents and divide the sailing tasks between everyone aboard accordingly.

Ready for anything

While you’ll learn plenty of physical skills while sailing the camp lake, you will also be practicing important life-skills that can help you at camp, in school, and everywhere else that teamwork and communication are important to success.

The secret to sailing is striking the balance between having a detailed plan and being adaptable when conditions change. Come to think of it, that’s a pretty good strategy for most everything at camp — and life in general!

So have a blast on the lake this summer. May the winds always be at your back!