Displaying items by tag: summer camp for teens in Wi
Our Campers are Superheroes
We are living in the age of the superhero. Superhero shows are popular on TV networks, it seems like a new superhero movie is released at least once a month. Sometimes the world is a scary place - people want a superhero to rely on to save the day. Superheroes remind us that there is good in humanity. Superheroes give us reasons to dream about what could happen. Superheros show that it is possible to succeed despite hardships.
We know these things all too well, because at Swift, our campers are superheroes. Our campers amaze and impress us every day. Our campers try new things, solve problems, fix things that are broken, and bring little bits of happiness to the lives of everyone around them. I realize that saying all of our campers are superheroes sounds a bit cliche, but let me share what lead me to this conclusion:
Every great superhero knows that “With great power comes great responsibility” and our campers are responsible and learning to be more so each and every day - sometimes in little ways and sometimes in big ways. Our campers learn to do their laundry, fold their clothes, make their beds and clear a table. From far away, these might look like little things, but when a parent is trying to put a younger child to bed, sign 6 different permission slips for school and shovel the drive all at the same time, a child that can clear the table or start a load of laundry can save the day. Campers show us that they are responsible when they work towards earning achievement awards. It’s not responsible to waste resources - superheroes have a calling to use their skills. Getting achievement awards at camp isn’t easy - it requires a lot of work to meet the requirements, but whenever a child brings a completed award form and knows all about their activity, we can see how responsible they are being. They are responsibly making sure that their talents and hard work doesn’t go to waste.
Superheroes are resilient. When a situation goes bad, they figure out another way to save the day. Honestly, one of my favorite superpower to see a camper display is resilience. Witnessing a camper survive a struggle and then try other things to fix it and solve the problem is an absolutely awesome experience. When going out to the pond to explore, a camper usually doesn’t come back with an enormous frog to show everyone on their first try, which can be disappointing. But three days later, that camper has enlisted three more campers and an elaborate strategy for cornering “the big one” and we’ll see them up at the office later that day with a frog that must weigh nearly 3 pounds in a bucket, wanting to share their success and get a picture with their “catch of the day”. A camper on a canoe trip that gets stuck on a rock hiding just below the water’s surface doesn’t give up or shake their canoe paddle at the sky while wailing. (Well, actually, they may do that last part, but only as a joke.) They stow their paddle, get out of the canoe, dislodge it and reboard with the help of their counselors. And if it happens again, they do the same things, as many times as it takes to get to their destination. That resilience keeps them going when things are frustrating. (And it often gets them s’mores in the end.)
Superheroes are caring - if they didn’t want to ensure the well-being of others, superheroes wouldn’t have anyone to “hero” for. Campers show that they are caring through the sacrifices they make so that a communal living environment can work. Campers console a cabin mate that is homesick or frustrated. Older campers help the younger campers to learn the rules and to succeed at activities and games that they are still learning. Also, the amount of campers that come to the nature center each day to care for the animals there is amazing. They make sure that our camp critters have everything that they need: food, water, the right environment (a clean cage, heating lamps, etc) and of course provide them with lots of attention and love. Our campers are superheroes that care not only for one another, but for all the critters that live with them at camp.
One of the strongest associations we have with superheroes is that they are brave. Our campers are impressively brave every day. For some campers, being brave starts when they get on the bus, or on a plane, or in their parents car to head to a place that they have never been before. New places and people are scary, and it takes a lot of bravery to head to a place that they are unfamiliar with. We see bravery in activities every day. Campers are brave when they participate in team building with their cabin by trusting their new friends to help them succeed. Campers are brave when they hop into the lake for a swim - there are many that have never swam in a natural body of water before. Campers are brave when they try a new activity at arts and crafts even though they are a little hesitant about how it will look when they complete it. Campers are brave when they head out on a camp trip or learn an advanced skill like how to right a capsized canoe.
Superheroes have a “Super-factor”. Some superheroes are great because they have a supernatural power that allows them to triumph over others. But there are also superheroes whose superpower is based on being extra successful at normal skills. These are our type of superheroes - this is one other thing that makes our campers superheroes. One camper might be super at always knowing the right thing to say. This seems kind of basic, but so many kids and people are a little bit awkward when it comes to comforting and encouraging others. These kids are the superheroes that are cheering their cabin mates on during a swimming activity or are sitting next to a cabin mate who is a little upset during quiet time. Another camper could be super at singing and remembering all the words to camp songs - this is the camper that is making the walk to activities or a hiking trip super by helping out the counselors to get the whole group to belt out a song. Another camper might be a super canoeist - they are the ones who can use their strength to keep the boat moving in the right direction while another camper tries out new skills.
They may not wear capes (though sometimes they do) but all of our campers are superheroes, and we see them becoming stronger and stronger each year. What is your child’s “super-factor”?
Every Summer a pilgrame begins that of Teenagers going to overnight summer camps in Wisconsin. For many this experience may have begun as a child and just continues but for others it is a new experience. Either way a an Overnight Teen Summer Camp in Wisconsin can have profound positive effects on your teen now and later in life. Below are just a few of the ways our teenagers personally grow and develop at Summer Camp.
Leadership Activities
As our children mature in to the teen age years they are increasing looking to gain additional responsibility. At Swift Nature Camp teen are the older brothers and sisters at camp. They role model for the younger children and even help them in learning new skills. Having the younger campers look up to you gives teen a positive feeling along with a feeling of belonging and responsibility to others. That's what leadership is.
Learn Skills
An overnight teenage summer camp provides a full of physical activity. Teenagers are stronger and are more wiling to take risk allowing counselors to focus on developing skills. At Swift Nature Camp no better place is this shown is the overnight adventure trips that teens participate in. These trips are longer and more difficult to stretch a teens skill level give each teen a feeling of accomplishment. Teen who find a hobby or a life passion are often healthier and have lower rates of obesity.
Increasing Responsibility
Camp is all about personal responsibility and this is even more true for teens. Often parents far to often remind teens to do all the normal hygiene activities. As teen’s in crease responsibility to make good choices for their health which in turn the reinforces benefits and consequences. Often, when another reminds teens it takes better than a parents. Having teens accountable for their actions with regard to behavior and interactions with fellow campers. Even the most dependent teen can learn to rely on himself when he spends time away from mom and dad. What is amazing is often these habits can continue once back home. . 
Improving Teamwork
Teamwork is what camp is all about. This is even more true at Swift Nature Camp as we see teenagers grow to build a tight community within their cabin. It is this strong, value centered community that changes teens. While away at a sleepaway summer camp teens will increase their ability to work with others even if their cabin mates are from a variety of backgrounds and countries. Campers at a teen summer camp must learn to work collaborate with peers and be an effective member of a positively motivated team.
Gaining Friendship
Teens often are trying to find their place in this world. Camp provides a place that is supportive of who they are on the inside. We have often heard campers say, "They make the best friends at camp". Why when you live with someone, you see the good the bad and the ugly. You realize that person has good days and bad, yet you are their for them. Not even school can build friendships like camp.
No Screens
Today we all are on our screens. Camp provides an escape from screens helping teenagers rediscover the face to face real world with real people. Camp provides so many activities and personal relationships most teens do not miss their electronics while at camp. We all can use a little less screen time.
Appreciation
Teens can often be self centered and to consumed on their appearance and how they are perceived by others. While at camp where they brave the elements camp provides the opportunity to appreciate some of the simpler things in life. These include a dry warm bed,hot food at dinner cooked over a flame and friends that are there for them. Not to mention nothing is better than when a cabin of teens heads down to the waterfront to watch the sun set into the lake.
When teenagers head off to an overnight summer camp you know they will have the time of their life while increasing their social, mental, and physical health.
