5 Ways international camps expand camper horizons

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wNxh05rFRfag3dpov5qZyvaDgEbrsdGCsbnxS3VgwCYSummer camp is already super fun. So as you can probably imagine, adding international campers and counselors to the mix turns up the fun-dial even higher!

…But international camp isn’t just the same camp activities and friendships with a few exotic accents thrown into the mix. The secret sauce that makes international camp so special to returning campers is the chance to learn something about people who are truly “different” — and learn something about themselves in the process.

1. Difference is the spice of life

Everyone is different and special in their own way — at international camp, they’re just a little more different! Meeting peers from other countries and finding common ground with campers from the other side of the world teaches international campers to value differences.

After all, no one wants to be around people who are exactly like themselves all the time! Learning to appreciate different cultures helps international campers grow into curious, tolerant, and fun-loving world citizens.

2. Communication is everything

Is talking about communication redundant? We sure hope not, because workshopping camper communications skills is a huge part of the leadership programming out here at camp! International camp is a chance for campers to put their communication skills to the test.

Especially when all the campers come from different cultures with separate languages, finding common ground and making oneself understood can become a challenge; every international camper learns the rewards of sharing a part of yourself with someone completely different.

3. Meaningful friendships

Friendship is at the core of the camp experience, and it’s what keeps campers returning year after year.

“Who’s going to be in my group this year?”

“Where will they come from, and what will they be like?”

Questions like these are at the top of any young summer camper’s mind.

…The best part is, once the summer ends, international campers return home with pen pals from every corner of the globe. Who knows — maybe you’ll even go visit some of your new friends in France, China, and Spain some day soon!

4. Tolerance is the international passport

In a world that’s more connected every day, learning to be tolerant of those who are different from you is an important lesson for everyone to learn — not just summer campers.

International campers learn first-hand how the differences between cultures can be fun and interesting rather than intimidating or alienating. Bridging cultures is the name of the game at international camp.

5. Curiosity is key

International campers know that the secret to making friends is to always be curious. Instead of assuming things about people from different cultures, international campers simply ask.

When it comes to making friends with campers from other countries, listening with a curious ear is the easiest path to a fun summer. Who knows what you might learn!

Always open to new experiences

The world is an adventurous place full of fun and opportunity for those who know where to look. International camp is an excellent first step, teaching campers not just the exciting things the world has to offer, but an appreciation for the things that make their own culture unique and interesting.

Every country in the world seems exotic from someone’s perspective — for international campers, the world is one big family!

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Baseball fever at summer camp

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Screen Shot 2015-01-26 at 12.48.08 PMBaseball. The crowd going wild while a player steals home. The smell of popcorn and hot dogs in the bleachers. Afternoons playing catch with the family at the park. Generations of American tradition, all wrapped up in one game.

Much like summer camp, baseball is something that many of us take for granted as a part of our childhood. Few activities come close to being so… well, American. Baseball and summer camp are as close to our hearts as flag, family, and country.

…So it should come as no surprise that baseball is one of camp’s most intensely anticipated activities, with campers going wild year after year, debating over particularly clever plays well past the last activity and into the evening.

So what is it that makes baseball so special?

“The thinking person’s sport”

Everyone has their theories around here at camp, but here’s one that seems particularly insightful: baseball, like camp, is a thinking sport. The strategy is different from games like football or basketball — where the adrenaline comes from chaos, and each player is constantly making split-second decisions.

Baseball, on the other hand, requires more planning for the future. Half the game is spent between plays, with players huddled in circles determining their best bets. Like many things in life, the game is all about anticipation. Baseball teaches campers to think ahead, and to enjoy waiting for the fun parts of life. As it turns out, anticipation is often just as fun as the event itself.

Taking time to reflect

Interestingly, many of the campers most excited about baseball at camp aren’t actually players at school. Baseball is their top pick at camp, and meanwhile they play soccer or lacrosse for their teams back at home.

It’s hard to say why this is, but it may be that the leisurely pace of the game is better suited to camp, where campers have a chance to think ahead and reflect in ways that the hectic school year schedule often doesn’t allow. Baseball requires concentration and focus, both of which come easier in a supportive environment like camp where everyone has plenty of time to look inwards — and of course, no homework to keep them distracted!

Room to breath

Everyone needs a little room to breath when they think towards the future. Room to breath is something that camp and baseball have in common. They show us that you don’t have to be doing something every single second of the day in order to have a great time. Sometimes, it’s someone else’s turn — and that’s a good thing. After all, you’ll be using that time to get ready.

…When your turn comes, we know that you’ll shine!

More Than Just A Lake

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rdspsUTMrlXdz4jrAyADor2vbjs_17dBJcY6PO6UCDwThere are many things notice when they arrive at camp the first day. They notice the cabins, all of the new faces, the baseball fields, ropes course, tennis courts and acres and acres of open space to run in, play in and explore in. But one of the most breathtaking and exciting parts of camp is the lake. With over 2,500 feet of private shoreline and over three miles of “so-clear-you-can see-right-to-the-bottom” waters, the lake and sandy shoreline is a popular place for campers to spend the majority of their summers.

When it comes to watersports, campers can try a variety of different options while at America’s Finest Summer Camps. Campers can relax and learn the art of fishing, or work their muscles on a standup paddle board, or they can get their heart rate up as they experience the speed and thrill of wakeboarding and water skiing. Professionals monitor each and every sport based in the water closely, and safety is of the utmost importance. The lake doesn’t just offer a location to try new sports; it serves as the backdrop for the time in their lives when kids will remember they tried something new. It will be the place they fondly remember as the spot where they faced their fears, tried something new, and had the time of their lives.

The lake also serves as a great place for reflection and peace. A quiet stroll along the shoreline can be a great place for a confidential conversation between friends, a quiet place for journaling or writing letters back home, or simply a place to connect with nature. Warm, sunny days heat the water to a comfortable 80 degrees during the day, making it easy to run, splash and play in the crystal clear waters all day long. (Don’t worry, sunscreen is readily available and lifeguards and other professionals are always around!)

The lake is a central part of camp, and it brings campers together in a variety of waves. America’s Finest Summer camps would feel incomplete without all of the activities, events and life lessons that are centered on the lake. Self-confidence, friendships and trust are all built on the lake. Campers who come from a part of the country where they don’t have access to such a beautiful part of nature really connect and enjoy everything the lake has to offer.

The lake is so much more than just a body of water in the middle of camp. The lake is a place that campers really connect with, and where lifelong memories are made.

 

 

What I learned about friendship from the social life at camp

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Screen Shot 2015-12-08 at 3.23.53 PMYou know that “first day of school” feeling? I’m sure you do. Some people love it while others may find it a little scary. The chance to explore a new place, try new things, and make new friends can be simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying.

How about that “first day of camp” feeling? I’m going to be honest with you, I was a shy kid, and the first day of camp I was worried about getting overwhelmed. So many new faces! So many totally new activities! You mean we’re staying here for three weeks?!

Making friends at camp is a piece of cake

Well, it turned out my fears were completely unfounded; I quickly learned that it’s practically impossible not to make new friends at camp. From the team games to the delicious communal meals to the campfire circles, sticking to yourself isn’t really an option. There are no TV shows or computer games to distract you — going outside and joining in the fun is your only choice!

If you’ve ever noticed how doing things with friends is more fun than going solo, you’re not alone. Friendship is at the core of what it is to be human, so it’s only natural that friendship is the part of the camp experience that gets talked about the most.

…But camp doesn’t just teach you how to make friends. It teaches you how to keep them.

Teamwork makes the dreamwork

Summer camp is a crash course in socializing. Spending days and days together with the same core of friends teaches campers how to communicate with each other in ways that you can’t really learn at school. After all, it’s not just nine-to-five like at school; it’s seven-days-a-week, from dawn ‘till dusk.

You aren’t just playing games at camp; you’re learning how to live communally. That means sharing, communicating, and understanding different perspectives. It’s all easier said than done, and camp provides a friendly and supportive environment for practicing those skills.

Being there when your friends need you

Learning to be a good friend means learning to give as much as you take. Everyone has rough days, and camp is no exception. Cheering up a friend who doesn’t feel like playing the games or joining in the campfire can be tough, but every camper does it. Why? Because they know that their camp friends would gladly lend them the same emotional support.

Friends that last forever

The camp experience is as intense as it is fleeting. Experiences like that don’t come around often, so it’s no surprise that campers often become life-long friends (or at least pen pals). When you find yourself missing summer, your camp friends are always there to remind you that you aren’t alone. Only someone who was there with you can truly understand what the nostalgia is all about — it’s an experience that links you forever.

Summer is always around the corner

The only sad part about camp friendships is when camp is over and you have to wave goodbye. Next summer always seems so far away!

I can guarantee the first question your family will ask when you get home: “did you make any friends?”

Regardless of how shy a camper may be, the answer is always the same: “so many!”

What I learned from playing sports at camp

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I wish you could have seen my face the first day of summer camp; my excitement was so contagious I was worried the nurse would put me in quarantine. That being said, my excitement had nothing to do with sports. So far as I was concerned, sports were just another stressful school activity, and to be honest I was initially disappointed when I first saw “basketball” on my daily schedule.

Fast forward a week later, and I was signing up for golf and baseball of my own free will, and even organizing pickup games during rest hour. While I’d dreaded sports at school, they quickly become one of my favorite activities at camp!

So what happened? Well, it might sound a little cheesy, but it didn’t take much camp spirit to change my attitude. Let me explain…

Camp is “different.” In a good way.

Although many of the team sports at camp are familiar from the team sports at school, the experience of participating in sports at camp can be a completely different experience. In a good way, of course.

11754301_10153473318116419_718260190002830276_oFor campers who thrive on organized sports at school, camp offers a unique opportunity: a chance to hone skills in a more focused environment, and access to incredible coaches who are completely invested in helping their campers have a blast and build their skills. “You mean I get to spend all day long outside playing games?” For sporty campers, the athletics program at camp is paradise.

For campers who might be less inclined towards sports at school, on the other hand, camp offers a different kind of advantage: a chance to try a wide variety of sports in a stress-free environment, without the pressures that come along with the high-stakes atmosphere of organized team competitions at school.

Learning to challenge yourself

I know I wasn’t the only convert; many other campers who would never describe themselves as sporty outside of camp found themselves discovering the more positive, pro-personal-growth side of athletics during their time at camp. If the school environment sucks the fun out of volleyball for you, just try it at camp! It’s a totally different game. Trust me.

When competitive sports let me down at school, I thought it was everyone else’s fault. But getting a chance to chill out and try new things at camp taught me that actually, it wasn’t anybody’s fault; I just needed to relax and learn to be okay with winning some days and losing on others. You know, just like life.

Camp is a great environment to try new things

Regardless of a camper’s feelings towards sports at school, the number one difference that camp has to offer is this: variety.

At camp, it’s not a question of fitting a sport or two around academics; it’s a question of fitting as many sports as you can imagine into a single day! Roller hockey, golf, flag football, lacrosse, cheerleading, baseball, tennis, soccer… and those are just the tip of the iceberg.

The chances for finding a sport that suits you are endless, and if you don’t care for a particular game you aren’t stuck with it; after all, a new one will be starting up next period.

Keep an open mind

So here’s my advice to a new camper who might be anxious about team activities at camp: relax, give it a try, and keep an open mind. The best part of camp is that the scenery is always changing. Even if you decide that an activity isn’t up your alley, you can always sign up for something new next time.

…And once you do discover your favorite sport, it’s just a question of signing up as much as possible!

Go Back to Camp!

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Screen Shot 2015-11-03 at 3.32.52 PMMy friends have stopped asking me what my summer plans are. They’ve stopped inviting me to beach trips and concerts and road trips. Not because they don’t like me anymore, but because they know that there is only place I want to spend my summers: America’s Finest Summer Camps.

They know that all year I count down the stays to pack my bags, buy new tennis shoes (that always get destroyed by the end of camp) and head off to my favorite place in the world. They know that I don’t sleep the night before camp, not because I’m nervous, but because I know there are hundreds of kids going to bed anxious and nervous and excited about going to camp, meeting friends, and meeting their new counselors!

I go back to work at camp every year because it makes me a better person. I feel like investing in the lives of kids and watching them grow, learn and blossom into who they are meant to be beats anything else I could be doing with my summer. I go back every year because I made a goal to be the person my younger self needed. I needed someone to trust, to talk to, to listen to me, to encourage me, to answer my questions and to make me feel important. And so I go back every year to be that to the campers. At the end of a summer I am full of emotion, knowing I enhanced the lives of kids. I didn’t get that sense of satisfaction and purpose after a summer of road trips and concerts and beach trips.

I get beach days as a counselor when I spend time kayaking and swimming and fishing on the lake with my campers. I get concerts when I watch kids sing and dance their hearts out on stage. I get to experience adventures as we mountain bike, climb the wall on the ropes course and race down the zip line. But when I do it, I’m not doing it for me, I’m doing it for the dozens of campers who depend, trust and rely on me. And there is not better reason than that.

I go back to camp every year because it is a blast. It is a summer full of fun and excitement, where we learn something new every day. I go back to camp because I’ve built relationships with campers and want to reconnect with them, and be part of the lifelong memories they are making.

My friends see how happy and refreshed I am when I come back from a summer as a counselor, and compare it to how exhausted, sunburnt and broke they feel, and are beginning to ask questions about what it means to be a counselor. They want in on this adventure, this experience that I’ve fallen in love with.

I go back to camp because I become a better person every time I go, and so do the campers. And it fills my heart to be a part of that.

Camp crafts: keeping the arts alive

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Screen Shot 2015-11-03 at 3.29.17 PMSummer camp isn’t just about campfires and sports and jumping in the lake: we’re happy to report that the arts are alive and well at Camp Starlight!

From fine art to ceramics to theater, there are activities and specialty resources available for practically anything a creative spirit could dream of.

Art offers variety

Camp is a hands-on place, so it makes sense that the hands-on approach applies even outside the core activities like sports and archery. Not everybody wants to be on their feet all day, so painting, ceramics, and other studio arts give campers a chance to slow down, zone in, and get their hands dirty in a creative environment.

Not a huge fan of ultimate frisbee? How about ceramics then! Not a pottery buff? Maybe some theater will float your boat? Camp is full of creative outlets, and everybody gets a chance to try out as many different mediums as they want until they find the one that speaks to them.

Art builds real-world skills

One of the best things about doing arts activities at camp is how they build on themselves from year to year, all while connecting with students’ activities and interests during the school year.

Campers who dream of going to art school can find plenty of time and resources for honing the skills they already have, while newcomers to a craft can start fresh and continue to grow the next summer if they desire.

At camp, the level a camper wants to reach within the arts is completely within their own control. The sky’s the limit!

Theater keeps everyone laughing

What’s a campfire without some good-natured inside jokes? Theater is a great way for campers to play and practice team organization outside the sports environment. The end product is usually a little on the goofy side (this is summer camp after all, not Shakespeare in the round), but what’s really valuable about the activity is applying those teambuilding skills to something more like “real life” than a team sport.

You could say that the team that plays together, stays together.

Self-expression builds confidence

Ultimately, the goal of creative activities at camp is to build confidence through self-expression.

The arts have always been a safe place for campers to express the things they have on their minds. Making art in a community ensures that everybody gets plenty of attention, and skilled instructors are always on hand to pair campers with the tools appropriate to their skill level. No matter the discipline, every camper gets a chance to show their own unique creative spark.

Camp isn’t just a fun place — it’s a creative place too! So get creative in the arts. There’s no better time than summer to make something spectacular!

Enjoying Camp at Home All Year

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Screen Shot 2015-11-03 at 3.20.36 PMFor most campers, a summer at camp just isn’t enough. Even though camp counselors are pros at squeezing as much fun into every minute of every day at camp, eventually it is time to go home, and teary eyed campers are sad to say goodbye. Parents can easily help their kids feel connected to camp all year round by incorporating little things into their life that remind them of camp.

At America’s Finest Summer Camps, there is a chant, rhyme or song for almost everything campers do. This not only helps them remember important information, but also brings all of the campers together. Parents can ask their kids what songs meant the most to them and why, and find a way to incorporate the song, chant or rhyme into their daily lives. Campfire songs are a classic camp memory, and having children teach their parents these catchy tunes is a great way to connect parents and kids, and also brings back fond memories of camp all year round.

It won’t take long for parents to figure out what activity their children really connected with at camp. If possible, parents can plan a weekend at the lake for their new sailor or wake board enthusiast and see for themselves why the sport meant so much for their children. If kids discovered their love for acting, music, art or dance, parents can look in their community to see if enrolling their children in these programs/classes is realistic for their family. It is very important for parents to encourage their children to follow their dreams and passions, many of which are discovered after a fun filled summer at camp.

There is no doubt that kids will come home with more than one new best friend. Parents can help their child stay in touch with their camp friends by helping them write letters, emails and arranging “Skype-dates.” If possible, planning a get-together with friends from camp may ease the common “camp sickness” (the camp version of homesickness) and allow kids to foster and build upon the relationships they made at camp.

The Internet is full of fun ideas to bring summer camp to your home, such as DIY fire pits, delicious ‘smore recipes and exciting team games that will get the whole neighborhood involved. Parents can get creative in bringing the camp experience home, and by asking their kids a few questions about what they loved about camp, it is easy to bring some camp favorites right to their own living room.

5 wakeboard tips and tricks to stay in practice all year round

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Screen Shot 2015-10-26 at 2.58.01 PMSummer camp means getting out on the lake, and getting out on the lake means: wakeboarding!

Wakeboarding is a favorite for many campers, providing tons of adrenaline and fun in a super safe environment. (After all, the worst that can happen is you fall in the lake… and campers are constantly doing that on purpose anyway!)

The only tricky part about wakeboarding is remembering everything you learned the year before. Like any seasonal activity, staying in practice year-round is pretty difficult. (Unless you live somewhere with warm winters and happen to have a boat and lake at your disposal, that is!)

So how can you practice at home so you’re in top form when it’s your turn to hit the lake?

We’ve gathered some of the best ways to stay on top of your wakeboarding game. Get ready to impress your camp friends when they see how many tricks you can do!

Note: as with any sport or fitness activity, always wear safety equipment, stay within your limits, and only practice with a qualified instructor to keep everything safe and fun.

1. Practice your board skills with snowboarding or skateboarding

The hardest part of wakeboarding can be simply balancing on the board. Luckily, snowboarding and skateboarding both build similar skills, so if you can get out on the slopes or make it down to the local skate park, you can practice your balance all year round!

The best part is that both sports are super fun in their own right — and they’ll make sure you have killer board handling skills by the time summer camp rolls around.

You can also consider using a balance board, which gives some of the same advantages as a skateboard without requiring you to leave your room or the gym. You could even watch Netflix while you practice!

2. Improve your balance by adding exercises to your routine

If you already have a stretching or workout routine that you follow at least once a week, consider adding some balance-focussed exercises to the mix! Exercises that improve your balance are surprisingly simple: practice balancing on one leg for 30+ seconds, then build up to hopping on one foot, and doing one-legged squats and lunges.

Pro tip: closing your eyes makes these exercises twice as hard, but will have huge rewards when you get on the board.

3. Study up on YouTube

When it comes to learning specific tricks, YouTube is your best friend. Instructors all over the world have videos you can watch for free that break down each trick into step-by-step challenges, and you can play them over and over until you’ve got a handle on the mechanics of the trick.

4. Trampoline time!

Yup, wakeboarding is your excuse to play around on the school trampoline!

A trampoline is surprisingly effective at simulating the wakeboarding experience, and gives you a chance to practice a tricky move over… and over… and over again, until you’re absolutely sure you’re ready to give it a shot on the lake.

Plus, jumping on a trampoline is just plain fun!

5. Daydream

Success comes to those who expect it, and summer camp activities are no different. If you’re excited about another fun season of wakeboarding, go ahead and let yourself get stoked about it!

Visualize yourself doing the tricks you enjoy, and practice them mentally while doing less exciting activities (like sorting your clothes, for example). How did it feel to grind that steep wake? How did it feel to land that spin?

Summer is always right around the corner, and it’ll be time to get out on the lake again before you know it. Can’t wait to see you there — be ready for some serious watersport fun!

4 Camp games that help you get to know your new friends

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Screen Shot 2015-10-26 at 2.55.22 PMGames take the pressure off when it comes to learning about your new friends on the first day of camp. Here are some of the best games for remembering new names and learning more about each other!

Name Duel

Number of players: 6-26

Concept: A fun game for larger groups that helps reinforce names

How to play: Name Duel is best when managed by two counselors with a larger group. Split the campers into two teams, and have each team line up across from one another, facing away from each other.

Each counselor selects a camper at random from each team by tapping them on the shoulder and leading them (walking backwards) towards one another, between the two groups. Once they are back-to-back, count down from 3 and yell “Duel!” The two competing campers turnaround, recognize each other, and whoever yells the other’s name first wins the round and gets to “capture” the other player to join their team.

The game ends when everybody has been captured onto one of the teams. This game is particularly nice since by the end, there are no “losers” — everyone winds up on the same team!

Two Truths One Lie

Number of players: 2-7

Concept: A game that gives campers a chance to reveal something surprising about themselves

How to play: Players circle up and play rock-paper-scissors to decide who goes first. Place a pile of stones, toothpicks, pennies, or any other small items happen to be on hand in a pile in the middle. These will be used to keep score, so anytime a player gets a point they can take one.

The player who is “it” announces three “facts” about themselves. Two of them are true, but one of them is secretly a lie. For example, a camper might say: “I was born in Australia, I have seven dogs, and my favorite color is blue.” Going around the circle, each player makes a guess as to which of these facts is the lie.

Once everyone has made a guess, the “it” camper reveals which “fact” was not true, and anybody who guessed correctly gets a point.

This game is a fun chance for campers to show something unexpected about themselves, or perhaps get in a humble brag or two!

Ghost

Number of players: 6-26

Concept: Fast-paced name reinforcement game

How to play: Campers form a standing circle and hold out a hand palm-up in front of them. Select a camper to be the first “ghost.” The camper who is “ghost” stands in the middle of the circle. The counselor, or whoever else is starting the game, should select someone from the circle to be “it” first.

The ghost’s challenge is to slap the hand of whoever is “it” before they call on someone else in the circle by name. If they can’t think of a name fast enough, the ghost slaps their hand and they trade places, making them the new “ghost!”

If they call another name before the ghost reaches them however, the ghost has to try and slap that camper’s hand before they call on another. This game can become very fast-paced, and gets more challenging as campers become more comfortable with recognizing each other, making it a fun choice for an orientation activity.

Picnic

Number of players: 7-27

Concept: A memory game that uses alliteration to encourage name recognition

How to play: Put on your thinking cap, because Picnic requires both brainstorming and an excellent memory!

To start, campers form a seated circle. Determine a camper to go first, and they start the game by announcing their name, and what they will bring to the “picnic.” The catch is that the item must start with the same letter as their name. For example, a camper named Carl could say: “Hi, my name is Carl, and I’m bringing Carrots to the picnic.”

Going clockwise, the next camper in the circle follows the same pattern with their own name. However, this is where it gets tricky! Once they’ve introduced themselves, they must also introduce the campers who came before them in the circle. For example, if their name is Tina they could say: “Hi, my name is Tina, and I’m bringing Tuna fish sandwiches to the picnic. This is Carl, and he’s bringing Carrots to the picnic.”

This gets really tricky and fun as you move around the circle, as campers struggle to remember what everyone brought to the picnic! When somebody messes up and can’t remember what someone before them brought to the picnic, or what their name is, the game starts over with the forgetful camper going first. The goal is to make it all the way around the circle without any forgetfulness, challenging the person who went first to recall everybody in the circle. Good luck suppressing the giggles!

Friendship starts with “hello”

The first day of camp is always a little bit crazy. There are so many new faces, and so many names to remember!

Games always help break the ice, so give some of the these a try. Once you know each other’s names, and a few fun facts about your lives outside camp, the journey to true friendship is a million times easier. Before you know it, you’ll all be sitting around the campfire reminiscing about the first day of camp!