Displaying items by tag: overnight summer camp

As the owner of Swift Nature Camp for over 25 year we have seen many changes in why parents send thier children to Overnight Summer Camp. Prior to cell phones and tablets parents were excited that children would be able to live with other kids in a fun and supportive way, while being out in nature away from city life. While the parents often got to travel or participate in other fun things for themselves. But around 2008 or so, parents begun to look at summer camps as a way to get children off their electronic devices. Parents often tell us that it is the "removal of cell phones that makes SNC Special". They especially enjoy that a technology break encourages children to be more  active and not as sedentary plus they will make face to face connections. These skills are important for children to learn at a young age so they do not get addicted to technology like the rest of us. No doubt technology is a very important part of our lives these days but we as parents need to harness that power to make it an advantage rather than a demon.

Here are a few ideas that will help us.

1-Use a Video Tutorial for a Family Activity- This day and age we all use "how to videos" to do projects. I have repaired a car with my son after watching a video together. You could use the same to bake a cake or make a pizza as a family activity? This will make the activity more fun and you will be teaching your children you don't know everything and how to use your resources. .

2-Become a Director- Some evening when the family is all together rather than everyone going to their own devise shoot a movie together.  Together come up with a skit or idea where kids could play their favorite characters and the older kids together even parents should get involved. Years from today the family will look back at these  videos and it will bring a smile to their everyones face. Be sure not to get to crazy on perfection have fun with it and let the mistakes enter in, it will only be more fun in the future.

3-Change your communication- Texts are impersonal and often unclear to children. I much prefer the app MarcoPolo as a way to communicate. It provides  Face to face interactions is very important, especially for your growing kids. It can affect the level of their confidence and the way they interact with other people rather than the abbreviated language of texts. Remember, seeing you and hearing your voice builds a stronger connection than a instant message regardless how sweet you make it.

4-Family Organizer Apps- Cozi Family Organizer has a wide range of really useful functions that you could use a family, such as managing family tasks lists, sending reminders of important family schedules and personal events and even make games out of chores. Why is this important Today children want to know in advance and do not like surprises, so it helps with anxiety. It also helps them become responsible for daily routines and one thing we have learned at Swift Nature Camp, kids do best with structure and routines.

Finally, I believe a wonderful thing all  parents need to do is role model how to be independent of their device. Set a day or even a time each day,  that everyone will put down their tablets and be together as family. Because after all, that is one of the main reason parents send their children to overnight camp - to put down their device be less dependent on technology and more dependent on relationships.

If Anakin Skywalker had gone to Swift Nature Camp, he would not have become Darth Vader. 

For a child in pseudo-slavery with a single parent, young Anakin Skywalker was surprisingly well adjusted.  His mother had educated him well and clearly raised him in a loving, supportive home.  At a young age, he was already displaying the positive qualities all parents hope to see like empathy, kindness, initiative and confidence.  Anakin would go on to spend the next ten years being schooled in the Jedi Arts.  But had he taken a little time off in the summers to go to camp, he would have built upon the strong fundamentals of his childhood and had the power to resist the dark side.

Imagine an alternate universe where every July, Anakin pilots his spaceship to beautiful northern Wisconsin and spends three weeks at Swift Nature Camp.  Here at camp, Anakin would spend his time at activities like boating, archery, or the Lego cabin.  He might go to the nature center and adopt an exotic Earth animal like a bunny or tarantula to take care of for the summer.  He and his friends would go on over-night canoeing trips filled with campfires, s’mores, and stargazing.  His time would fly by and he would count down the days until he could return the following summer.  

The activities and adventures would give him memories that last a lifetime, but it’s the work sleepaway camps do underneath the surface that would keep him on the light side of the force.  The bonds Anakin would develop with his friends would be so uniquely strong and unlike any relationship in his life.  In fact, the overall culture of the cabins and camp itself would have him reevaluating the relationships in his life outside of camp.  Not only would he start to recognize and eliminate the negative influences in his life, he would have new value and appreciation for the positive ones.  Kids who have experienced the supportive, loving, and culturally rich environment of camp are the kind of kids who overcome the pull to the dark side.

Anakin would also experience a place where failure is ok.  At Swift Nature Camp, they know the best life lessons are born out of failure rather than success.  The resilience to overcome something and the wisdom to lean from mistakes are more valuable than anything Anakin could learn from immediate success. 

The things Anakin would take away from his time at that cozy Wisconsin sleepaway camp would be engrained in him forever.  Camp would not prevent the tragedies he would endure or the immense challenges he would face, but it would give him the tools to make proactive decisions for himself and those around him, a lesson even the greatest Jedi masters struggle to teach.

Recently, I was wondering why after 25 years of overnight summer camp we are still relavent to society. Of course, it came down to relationships in particular or camp staff. They are a great bunch of young adults that come to camp for all the right reasons and the right mindset. Then I ran accross this article by Mike McClary and it made things much more clear. Summer camp is a place where everyone is valued and we are all held to a higher standard. A standard that is not about ourselves as much as it is about others. When creating this environment it requires all agree to this mindshift. Camp is a much easier place to have this happen than out in the world. In the past I have asked staff why they return to camp and I have often heard "Camp makes me a better me". When you have staff feeling this way it is bound to filter down to the campers at camp.

The below article is a great way to move closer to living camp everyday in our life

Mindset is everything.

It defines your actions. Your thoughts. Your life.

Adopt the scarcity mindset, and you'll always be scared for what you have. And that you'll never get what you want. Scarcity has a way of holding you hostage and making you a victim. 

If you adopt a success mindset, you'll see opportunities for growth everywhere.

So today, I'd like to share with you 9 tips to start developing a success mindset... starting today.

Tip #1: Start your day with positive affirmations

You are what you think. 

And you think about what you teach your mind to focus on.

So if you start your day focusing on the positive things about yourself, your mind will grow a habit of thinking about positive things.

Tips #2: Read/listen to inspiring stories each day

Historian Thomas Carlyle once said that: "History is nothing more than a collection of biographies belonging to great people."

And those people had the right mindset.

Spend at least one 30 minutes each day reading their biographies. Listening to videos about them. Listen to their podcasts.

Let some of that awesomeness transfer to YOUR mind.

Tip #3: Accept the fact that perfection is impossible

There's no such thing as being perfect. At anything.

In fact, I’ve found that perfection is the enemy of profit. 

And if you constantly try to reach perfection, you'll never be satisfied and happy. 

OR, you will never take a task to completion.

Do your best.

More often than not, it'll be enough.

Remember that there is a law of diminishing returns that comes into play. 

Tip #4: Meditate

Calm your mind.

Clear your thoughts.

Get to know yourself.

Many great ideas came to life thanks to the process of meditation.

Tip #5: Learn to say NO - and stick to it

Energy, time, and focus drainers are everywhere.

So are many temptations and shiny objects.

If you say YES to any of them, you're taking a step away from your goals.

Learn to say NO. And keep your focus on what you truly want.

Tip #6: Turn failures into lessons

In every failure, there's a lesson.

Why it happened. What did you missed. What can you do to prevent it from happening the next time.

And if you can learn a lesson, then it wasn't a failure at all.

It was a teaching moment.

Like Edison said: "I haven't failed 20,000 times. I found 19,999 ways how NOT to make a light bulb."

Tip #7: Surround yourself with success-oriented people

You are the average of the 5 people you spend most of your time with.

Do you want to get fit and go to the gym 3x a week?

Hang out with people who are fit and go 5x.

Want to be the best at what you do?

Surround yourself with people who are the best at what they do.

Surround yourself with people who'll lift you up.

Tip #8: Get a mentor/coach

Even the most successful people have coaches.

They help them stay focused and on track.

Find a mentor who'll keep you away from distraction and negativity.

Tip #9: Remind yourself of your past successes

Failure can distract you. A lot.

Some negative people can distract you. Significantly.

And that makes it easy to slide away into apathy and negative thinking.

Constantly remind yourself of your past successes.

And keep reminding yourself that you're capable for greatness.

Come to the Swift Nature Camp 
Informational Open House
in Chicagoland May 27th - MEMORIAL DAY.   

Our Open House is a wonderful time to learn more about camp by meeting the Directors (Lonnie & Jeff), staff and other campers.   If you are already enrolled in camp this is a wonderful time to meet new friends and play games with the other campers and counselors. You can even bring a friend. We will take a hike round Willowbrook Wildlife Center and explore the animals and activities. If you have not committed to SNC and are still thinking we might be the right camp for you, please come with your questions. We hope you can make it to this fun program. Please dress for the weather. If you have any questions call us at 630-654-8036.
We hope to see you there, Lonnie & Jeff

OPEN HOUSE AT THE WILLOWBROOK WILDLIFE CENTER

Why Come? Have your questions answered, Feel more comfortable with the owners and staff, Make firends, Help campers feel good cabout camp

Camper Games and Hike-START TIME: 1pm

Parent Information  -START TIME: 1pm

Camper & Parent Question & Answers: 2pm
Ending 3pm

WHERE: Willowbrook Wildlife Center (across from the College of DuPage) Glen Ellyn Il
WHO: Campers Enrolled or Families that are considering SNC and want more information

DIRECTIONS to Willowbrook Wildlife, Center Glen Ellyn, Il

WILLOWBROOK WILDLIFE CENTER IS LOCATED on the east side of Park Boulevard across from College of DuPage, one mile south of Roosevelt (Rt. 38) and one mile north of Butterfield Road (Rt. 56). ph(630) 942-6200
525 S Park Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

 Every day parents search the internet for sleepaway camps near me. Yet. parents often are not searching the right key terms. No, overnight camps near me is not the right way to find a residential camp. The issue is the "near me". When picking a camp it is natural for a parent to assume that the closer it is the better it will be for thier child. Nothing could be further from the truth. Distance should only be one of the factors to consider.  Why? Because systematically asking the right questions will help ensure the success of your child at overnight summer camps. 
Here are a just a few of the more important questions:

• How long are the sessions?
• How are staff trained?
• Is an RN or Doctor on staff?
• Are activities going to be enjoyed by your child?
• Coed or single gender?
• How many children, How many staff?
• Are cell phones allowed?
• What is the cost?
• Is the camp Accredited by the American Camp Association?

To find a detailed list of questions to answer please see Summer Camp Advice.

The above list is only a beginning of question needed. So you can see that when you get to the point of thinking about location many other areas of concern should have already been addressed. Parents need to realize they need to trust the camp and its directors in order to achieve some of the benefit of an overnight camp. This is why it is important for parent to contact the directors and create a personal relationship with the camp.

• Here are a few Reasons to choose a camp farther from home:
  It's worth it: There may be something about a camp that makes the travel worth it. If your child wants to specialize in sailing or mountain climbing, you'll need to choose a camp that meets those need. A parent may have a preference for a camp that they once attended, even if they no longer reside in the area.

• Diversity: While your camper may not see as many familiar faces in a camp far from home, this may be just what he or she, and you, want. Children may want to separate their camp life from the lives they lead the rest of the year, having the opportunity to begin the program with a 'clean slate'. Campers often have a sense of freedom when they go to a camp where they don't know anyone.

• The distance doesn't bother the camper or parents: Many children find traveling alone, even by airplane, exciting rather than scary. Assuming that proper travel arrangements are made, you may be comfortable with a camp away from home.

• So when picking a sleep away summer camp do your homework. Realize that many many considerations need to be made and  and be aware that overnight camps near me should not be your first search term. Using this, you will limit your options and minimize many of the benefits summer camp can provide.

Summer camp is a special place it give children a place to call home that is less structured has less pressure than their home routines of school and sports. Plus it gives kids a chance to experience life in a screen free zone, just like the olden days. Yet when an overnight summer camp has an environmental Education focus, camp doubles up its value to campers and parents alike. 

At Swift Nature Camp is an environmental education summer camp in Wisconsin that is rooted in fun with nearly 50 different land and water activities its hard not to have fun. Learning new skills in a non competitive fun way allows each child to participate at their level and try to better themselves. To give children autonomy, camp daily gives children the opportunity to select the activities that they want to do that day. So in a way a camper get to create their own camp experience rather than having adults give them a schedule.  Kind of like the old days when chidden could just go outside and play.

Our campers love nature and environmental studies, so at Swift Nature Camp we blend camp activities with outdoor education along with summer fun.  Our goal is to have our campers uses an exploration to developing an hands on appreciation and understanding of the natural world in Wisconsin that is right outside their cabin door. .Our interactive activities utilize scientific skills of discovery, observation and investigation. Yet what are campers love is our Nature Center and Camp zoo. Here many native animals are kept as well as other small pets. Campers even have the opportunity to adopt an animal while they are at camp. These critters are for learning responsibilities and animal care. 

Our daily environmental classes seeks to teach campers about human impact on the environment and to be aware of how they are connected to nature. This individual responsibility is the key to teaching children about conservation.  our hydroponic garden project is special because the campers help catch the fish that help verbalize the plants living in the garden, this interaction helps make the concepts stick. SNC 

Not only do campers learn Environmental Education but this overnight summer camp in Wisconsin let's children learn skills in personal relationship building. Kindness and understanding are the corner stone to cabin life, helping to insure team-building and cooperation. To learn more about Environmental Education in Wisconsin

Ramblings of a Camp Director

It was 1966 and it was my first year at Camp Minocqua, a boys camp in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Dr. John P. Sprague, founded Camp Minocqua for Boys in 1905 on Tomahawk Lake.  The history of camp was part of the camp culture. Historically, camp was designed to taking young boys out of the cities and the finer things in life and allowing us boys to live out in nature with others boys, while our counselors just seemed like older brothers.  

Such was the beginning of residential boys camps in America. Later camps for girls were established by the Girl Scouts of America and Camp Fire girls. Sleepaway summer camps continued round World War I when many charities opened summer camps for working-class children giving them a chance to get a way from urban life.

Anyway, here I was at a residential camp where I would be staying for 7 weeks, that was a long time away from my parents. Was I ready? Absolutely not. I cried often during those first few weeks and when the storms came I was even more scared. But, I made friends that I still remember today, maybe better than my school friends. Camp gave me a chance to make decisions without my parents. Some were good and made me feel great, like when I got to name the sailboat “Stormy Weather”. Others were not so good and resulted in me taking a bite out of a bar of Ivory soap. But they were my decisions and the natural consequence fell where they would. From this independence I learned that when I make decisions and fail, I learn more than when my decisions result in success.

I returned to Camp Minocqua for 7 summers giving me almost one complete year living at camp. So I guess it was not all that surprising when at the age of 38 I got this idea to start a summer camp. Shortly there after I opened Swift Nature Camp. Yes, some of camp Minocqua’s history can be seen at SNC but times have changed and so has the overnight summer camp experience. No longer is Ivory soap cut in wedges nor are kids left unsupervised. No, Swift Nature Camp is an intentional place, filled with support and encouragement, a place that comforts children on their journey to adult hood. We help give kids the skills they need to be productive parts of society. Sleepaway camp should be part of every child’s summer.

Summer Camp May Improve College Admissions Odds

Kelli B. Grant | CNBC -Sunday, 27 Apr 2014 | 10:00 AM

How you spend your summer vacation isn't just fodder for first-day-back-in-school essays. It could provide a boost on college or job applications—especially if you went to camp.

Colleges have been getting more selective in recent years. In 2012, the average four-year college accepted 63.9 percent of applicants, down from 69.6 percent in 2003, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Many are even more selective. This year, Yale University accepted just 6.26 percent of applicants, down from 6.27 percent a year ago and 11 percent in 2005, according to educational consulting company IvyWise. Cornell University accepted 14 percent, versus 31 percent in 2005.

Grades and standardized test scores are still the top factor for admission, but educational counselors say colleges are starting to take a harder look at extracurricular activities, particularly those over summer vacation. "Parents assume their kids need to be even more competitive on grades," said Eric Greenberg, founder and director of education consulting firm Greenberg Educational Group. "What has happened, ironically, is the opposite."

To colleges, summertime is like the hiatus between jobs a prospective employer would ask about, said Mark Kantrowitz, senior vice president and publisher at Edvisors Network. "Colleges want to understand, what have you been doing with yourself?" he said. "What happened during that gap?" The answer can be telling of what a student will do on campus.

Source: Talia Rodwin,

Campers: Sylv, Hannah and Talia.

Parents shouldn't immediately race for the nearest camp sign-up sheet. While there are surely college admissions officers with fond memories of lake swims and archery, the camp experience that is more likely to stand out is a specialized one that speaks to a student's interests, experts say. Summers at soccer camp can help show a would-be college athlete's dedication, for example, while theater camp can be an edge for someone applying to the acting program—especially if the high school's drama program is so-so (or nonexistent).

Focused camps aren't that difficult to find. Half of day camps have some kind of academic activities or areas of study, and one-third offer a STEM (i.e., science, technology, engineering or math) program, according to the American Camp Association.

"By being stronger on the extracurricular activities, you can actually make up somewhat for weaknesses academically," Kantrowitz said. It's no slam dunk, though. "Not everyone is going to yield a benefit, but it's something that distinguishes you," he said. (Considering, however, that some camps can cost upwards of $1,000 per week, it's worth pointing out that extra experience in a student's areas of interest could just as easily come from a summer course at a local college, volunteer experiences or work, he said.)

Steven Infanti, associate vice president for admissions at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, said a STEM camp experience is something that makes him take a closer look at a student's application. "When I look at an applicant who has a 2.5 [GPA], which would be kind of a borderline admit for us, but I see on his application, I participate in this camp…that shows a lot of initiative and someone who has a passion," he said.

For higher-achievers, relevant camp experience may put them in the running for the university's fellowship program, which pairs 15 incoming freshmen with faculty for research projects, among other advantages.

Colleges may also find longer camp relationships interesting, even if the camp isn't academically focused. "The regular camper who becomes a counselor is a good type of continuity," Greenberg said. That kind of camp experience can indicate positive qualities such as leadership, resilience and good social skills, he said.

That's the kind of story Oberlin College freshman Talia Rodwin expressed in her application essay. Rodwin, 19, has been attending Habon Dror Camp Moshava in Silver Spring, Md., since 2006 and plans to return this summer for her second year as a counselor. (The youth movement camp emphasizes sharing, leadership and communal responsibility.) "I wrote about my camp experiences and community," she said. "I explained how I think of myself as a community builder…and I think that had an impact."

Source: Simon Solis-Cohen

Simon Solis-Cohen (R), whose camp experience led him to become a chef.

While camp as an application booster isn't a guarantee, it could have other benefits for a college-bound student. Overnight camps can offer a taste of independent living (or at least, living away from mom and dad). The right camp could even help solidify a career path, reducing the chance of a five- or six-year stint at a four-year college while an undeclared student explores options.

"If you go to summer camp and you decide because of the camp that this is what you want to be, you're going to be much more focused as a student," Kantrowitz said.

When he was in middle school, Simon Solis-Cohen, now 23, signed up for a magic camp through Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs in Pennsylvania. He liked it so much that the next year, he tried one of the group's business camps. Then, in the summer leading up to his freshman year of high school, he discovered cooking camp. "It really opened my eyes," Solis-Cohen said.

He was so enamored with cooking that he started working weekends during the school year at the camp chef-instructor's restaurant, then attended college at the Culinary Institute of the America. "I ended up using this as my launching pad," said Solis-Cohen, who is currently with Grgich Hills Estate in Rutherford, Calif., after a stint at renowned Napa Valley restaurant The French Laundry.

As Solis-Cohen discovered, camp can even be a kick-starter for jobs down the line—provided the experience backs up other bona-fides. "Camp is about the social experience of working with other young people in a group setting that's outside your comfort zone," said Chad Oakley, president and chief operating officer of executive search firm Charles Aris, Inc. "That in itself is 50 percent of success in a business environment."

But it's no job shoe-in. "You might get the interview because you went to math camp, but you'd actually get the job because of your ability to interface with people during the interview," said Oakley.

Showcasing a camp experience during the college admissions process can be done in a handful of ways. It might be listed as extra-curricular activities on the college application, or a particularly meaningful experiences worked into the essay portion.

"If you had a transformative experience at the summer camp or a big impact on others, that tells them more about who you are as an individual, especially if you can write about how it set you in a particular direction," Kantrowitz said. "If something is of interest to you, you're more likely to write a passionate essay."

Favorite counselors or camp directors should also be considered for letters of recommendation. "Relatively few students submit letters from outside [school] or that are job-related," said Greenberg. "That can be enormously valuable."

Kelli B. Grant Personal Finance and Consumer Spending Reporter

Overnight summer camp is more than Fun & Games. Sure, the plan is to have fun and make new friends.  Research is showing that computers and robots will take away many jobs in the future. But what technology can not achieve, are the soft interpersonal skills. Living with others in a communal setting like camp provides campers to learn empathy, problem solving skills, leadership and independence.

The Top 10 Outcomes of Experiential Learning at Camp

“Camp is an experience every child deserves,” according to the American Camp Association (ACA), which accredits more than 2,400 camps serving more than 7.2 million children and teens. Specifically, ACA points to the "joy" kids experience when they make new friends and the inherent value in unplugging from their electronic devices, enjoying being out of doors, connecting with other young people, and learning about themselves.

And the ACA adds that, from a quantifiable perspective, the outcomes of a summer camp experience include the same skills that are needed in the 21st Century.

1. Friendship skills: Make friends and maintain relationships.

2. Independence: Rely less on adults and other people for solving problems and day-to-day activities.

3. Teamwork: Be more effective working in groups of peers.

4. Family citizenship: Gain attributes important to being a member of a family.

5. Perceived competence: Believe that they can be successful in the things they do.

6. Interest in exploration: Be more curious and eager to learn new things.

7. Responsibility: Learn to be accountable for their own actions and mistakes.

8. Affinity for nature: Develop feelings of emotional attraction toward nature.

9. Problem-solving confidence: Believe they have abilities to resolve problems.

10. Spiritual well-being: Develop purpose and meaning in life.

Gaining experience in these highly valued non-cognitive or soft skills will be life changers for today's youth. Cap provides a safe place to hone leadership and social entrepreneurship skills.