Displaying items by tag: Summer Camp
College Students Elevate Your Summer: Unleash Your Potential with an Overnight Camp Adventure in Wisconsin
College life is a whirlwind of lectures, exams, and late-night study sessions. But what if you could press pause on the academic hustle and immerse yourself in a transformative Summer Job? Picture this: spending your summer surrounded by the lush landscapes of Wisconsin, embarking on a journey that not only rejuvenates your spirit but also shapes you into a more resilient, creative, and confident individual. Welcome to the world of overnight camps in Wisconsin – a haven for college students seeking a break from the ordinary to the extroidinary.
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Escape the Ordinary: Wisconsin's overnight camps offer a refreshing escape from the routine of college life. Imagine swapping textbooks for nature trails, lecture halls for campfires, and deadlines for starry nights. It's a chance to rejuvenate your mind and soul in the midst of Wisconsin's breathtaking landscapes.
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Unplug and Reconnect: In a world dominated by screens, an overnight camp in Wisconsin provides the perfect opportunity to unplug and reconnect with the simplicity of life. Trade the constant buzz of notifications for the soothing sounds of nature, and let the serene surroundings become the backdrop for your summer adventure.
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Discover Hidden Talents: Camp activities go beyond the typical college curriculum. Whether it's mastering archery, conquering a high ropes course, or igniting your artistic side through creative workshops, Wisconsin camps offer a diverse range of activities to help you discover hidden talents and passions.
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Forge Lifelong Friendships: Camp camaraderie is unlike any other. You'll meet like-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds, creating bonds that go beyond the summer. Whether it's sharing stories around the campfire or tackling team challenges together, you'll forge friendships that last a lifetime.
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Build Leadership Skills: Overnight camps in Wisconsin provide a unique platform to hone leadership skills. Take charge of group activities, lead team-building exercises, and discover your potential as a leader in a supportive and empowering environment.
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Cultivate Resilience: Camping isn't always smooth sailing, and that's the beauty of it. Facing the challenges of outdoor living cultivates resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills – qualities that are valuable not only in camp life but also in navigating the complexities of college and beyond.
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Immerse in Wisconsin Culture: Beyond the camp borders, Wisconsin offers a rich tapestry of culture, cuisine, and traditions. Explore local festivals, savor iconic cheese curds, and experience the warmth of Wisconsin hospitality. It's a chance to broaden your horizons beyond the college campus.
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Create Lasting Memories: The memories made at a Wisconsin overnight camp will become cherished stories you carry with you throughout your college years and beyond. From starlit nights to shared laughter, every moment contributes to a summer that is truly unforgettable.
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Wisconsin's overnight summer camp jobs beckon college students to break free from the academic routine and embark on a transformative summer adventure. It's a chance to discover new passions, build lasting friendships, and cultivate skills that go beyond the classroom. So, pack your bags, leave the lecture halls behind, and elevate your summer with an immersive experience in the heart of Wisconsin – where nature, camaraderie, and self-discovery await.
If you would like to learn more about camp give me a call or text
Lonnie
630-776-2151
Summer camp jobs can provide a unique and valuable learning experience for candidates seeking to develop skills that are highly sought after in the 21st century workforce. These skills, often referred to as "soft skills," are non-technical abilities that enable individuals to effectively communicate, collaborate, and problem-solve in a variety of settings.
One of the primary reasons summer camp jobs are so effective at preparing candidates for the 21st century is that they require individuals to work closely with diverse groups of people, often in high-stress environments. Camp counselors, for example, are responsible for leading activities, managing conflicts, and providing support and guidance to campers of all ages and backgrounds. This requires strong communication skills, the ability to adapt to changing situations, and the ability to work well with others.
In addition to developing communication and teamwork skills, summer camp jobs also provide opportunities for individuals to build leadership skills. Many camp positions, such as head counselors or program directors, involve taking on a leadership role and managing a team of staff members. This requires the ability to motivate and inspire others, as well as the ability to delegate tasks and responsibilities effectively.
Another important skill that can be developed through summer camp jobs is the ability to problem-solve. Camp environments can be unpredictable, and staff members are often required to come up with creative solutions to challenges that arise. This requires critical thinking, resourcefulness, and the ability to think on your feet.
Finally, summer camp jobs can also provide opportunities for personal and professional growth. Many camps offer staff training and development programs, which can include workshops, seminars, and leadership development activities. These experiences can help individuals build their confidence, improve their interpersonal skills, and gain a greater understanding of themselves and their goals.
Overall, summer camp jobs offer a unique and valuable learning experience for candidates seeking to develop the skills needed to succeed in the 21st century workforce. An Overnight Summer Camp like Swift Nature Camp,offers close collaboration with diverse groups of people, the development of leadership skills, the opportunity to problem-solve, and the chance to participate in professional and personal growth activities, can help a young adult to gain the confidence and abilities needed to excel in a variety of settings in their future.
As a summer camp director for over 25 years families often ask why camp has such a positive impact on kids. I usually answer with "Camp Magic". Yet researcher have been researching what children need during their summer of no school and magically Overnight Summer Camp meets all of the requirements. Below is their article published on the Society of Behavioral Medicine.
Lazy Days of Summer: How to keep children active all year long
Dori Pekmezi, PhD; University of Alabama at Birmingham
Linda Trinh, PhD; University of Toronto
Diane Ehlers, PhD; University of Nebraska Medical Center
Jennette Moreno, PhD; Baylor College of Medicine
It is known that children are less active over summer break. A recent study among children 6 to 9 years of age showed that physical activity dropped by 53% during the summer months. Moreover, time spent in sedentary activities (e.g., screen time) increases. According to the national survey data, children watch more television (+18+ minutes/day) over summer break than during the school year.
There are many possible reasons for these seasonal differences in physical activity. School days typically involve regular physical activity sessions (e.g., recess, PE class) and limited screen time, which may have a protective effect on children’s health behaviors. The structured days hypothesis suggests that disruptions in such routines are responsible for lower physical activity levels over the summer. However, parents also play a role. Past research found that third and fourth grade parents restricted screen time during the school year to encourage homework completion and then relaxed these rules once school was out of session.
Declines in physical activity over the summer can have adverse effects on children’s health (e.g., weight gain). Numerous studies have shown that body mass index increases more in the summer than in other seasons. Excess weight gain can lead to obesity and poorer metabolic, cardiovascular, respiratory, and mental health for children. Overweight/obese, low income, Black, and Hispanic children are at increased risk for summer surges in body mass index. Thus, physical activity in the summer months is critical for children’s health.
What the Experts Say
Dr. Jennette Moreno from Baylor College of Medicine is an SBM member and content expert with the following advice.
What tips do you have for parents to keep kids active during summer?
Tip 1: Infuse structure into your child’s summer. During the school year, children have to get up and get going, but this may not be the case during the summer. Set up a routine that gets them moving. This may involve going to summer camp, taking walks, going to swim lessons, or just having a standing playdate with friends. Also going to bed at a similar time during the summer as during the school year will help your child to be rested and active the next day.
Tip 2: Be prepared for the weather. Heat, humidity, and inclement weather are common barriers to outdoor physical activity. Take advantage of mornings before it really heats up. Water activities can help beat the heat, but also have indoor physical activity options ready to go, like online yoga and PE videos geared towards kids. My kids love dance parties, playing twister, turning board games into active play by running after the dice and adding jumping jacks in between turns. On bad weather days, check out local climbing gyms, indoor playgrounds, or bowling alleys.
Tip 3: Place limits on screen time. If given the choice, many kids will pick screen time over going outside to play. However, if screen time is limited, they may find something more active to do. One idea is to set your devices to not be accessible during school hours (even during summer) and only allow a pre-specified number of hours of screen time. This is how my kids got into designing obstacle courses outside.
Tip 4: Find a buddy. Kids are more likely to be active when other kids are around. Scheduling playdates, getting involved in a local kids group like scouts or a sports team are great ways to help kids maintain social relationships and encourage active play during summer.
How can schools/communities help kids stay active over the summer?
What about public health practitioners and policy makers-how can they help?
Teachers often ask children to read, journal, and practice math facts during summer. I would love to see schools design physical activity curriculars for kids to do at home during summer and keep the playgrounds open and accessible. Other important ways to help promote physical activity among children during summer is to make sure all families have access to high-quality affordable childcare during summer. As well as encouraging walkable neighborhoods in which children regardless of socioeconomic status have access to safe parks, playgrounds, splash pads, and public swimming pools within walking distance of their homes.
For over a hundred years Ovenight Summer Camps have been providing outdoor fun and personal growth for America's youth. 2020 was the year of exceptions, resulting in 85% of the summer camps remaining closed. At Swift Nature Camp in Minong Wi. camp was on and COVID FREE. Swift Nature Camp attracts bright, curious and creative children with passion for nature and the outdoors. At camp, they tackle exciting adventures, and gain confidence and independence with their outdoor explorations.
But, 2020 was different, many long standing SNC camp families were understandably reluctant to send their children to camp. Yet, with so many camps closed, many other families who did not know SNC, sent their children, making the summer of 2020 one of the busiest summers in 25 years.
By creating a safe bubble, Jeff & Lonnie Lorenz knew that the children would appreciate camp more in 2020 than ever before. Jeff says "Despite all the rules to keep covid out, like isolating, masks, washing, cleaning and staying in pods it was still an amazing experience and much better than being in the basement looking at a screen."
After the in camp isolation and masks wearing, the happiest day at camp was the day that camp was declared COVID free and the "safe bubble" was working. Campers were crazy with excitement. It meant that kids were again allowed to be kids and not worry at all about a pandemic. Swift Nature Camp was again a safe place.
In early May 2020 the government had given little support to help camp understand the best practices for summer camps to be open. Fortunately, the ACA (American Camp Association) had contracted with an outside environmental firm to put together a best practices plan to keep campers safe and reduce the spread of COVID. The plan worked flawlessly at Swift Nature Camp and never was there a reason to suspect a COVID case. In the summer, camps were a testing ground for many of the COVID plans like the "Safe Bubble" that the NBA used successfully in the fall of 2020. Camps helped lead the way that outdoors is a limiting factor in transfer of COVID-19.
So camp was coming to a close, we were sitting outside with our staff and we asked about their after summer plans. Not surprisingly, many colleges were doing classes online. So the question came up, "would you like to do school at summer camp?". Again, pandemonium erupted with the option of being at camp covid free, playing with kids and doing school. Thus was born the Fall School Camp that took place later that fall for 6 weeks. Being that we felt comfortable tackling COVID all that was needed was rearranging the camp schedule so students could get the school work they brought from home completed on time. Many families loved the concept of giving their child the ability to have face to face contact along with outdoor exercise rather than staying home doing school work in isolation. The kids loved it. Because the group was small, it became more like family. Lonnie, the Camp Director says "It was amazing the students were so well behaved and friendly towards each other, their appreation for having such an opportunity was evident". Two of the greatest days were the day it snowed 4 inches and stayed around for 3 weeks and spending Halloween at camp including pumpkin carving and party at night.
As we move to 2021, with a COVID vaccine slowly rolling out, it is clear that all of us have become more knowledgeable about the virus. As a residential summer camp that blazed the trail in 2020, this year will seem much easier. Today, we wait for the spring to give us more information, allowing more informed decisions to be made. Safety is camps major concern, evaluation will take place and perhaps there will be less isolation & masks and more fun and friendships in the summer on the horizon.
Stephen Wallace is director of the Center for Adolescent Research and Education (CARE), a national collaborative of institutions and organizations committed to increasing positive youth outcomes.
Pitching Magic
When unresolved grief goes to summer camp.
- Camp appears to be a key context for developing relationship skills. This is consistent with past research on camp, but [new] findings suggest that the relationship skills young people gain at camp might play a role beyond the camp experience.
- As a context for developing relationship skills, preliminary findings suggest that camp is an integral part of a young person’s overall learning, alongside school and other educational contexts.
- Camp is a unique learning experience that appears to promote skills transferable to 21st century school and work contexts.
- Preliminary findings suggest that camp is a safe place for young people to explore who they are and how they want to be viewed by others.
- Camp gives campers the opportunity to practice being around and appreciating people with attitudes, values, and abilities different from their own.
- Camp helped me make new friends. (96%)
- Camp helped me to get to know kids who are different from me. (93%)
- The people at camp helped me feel good about myself. (92%)
- At camp, I did things I was afraid to do at first. (74%)
Their parents explain the outcomes for their kids, including the following.
- My child gained self-confidence at camp. (70%)
- My child continues to participate in some of the new activities he or she learned at camp. (63%)
- My child remains in contact with friends made at camp. (69%)
As leaders in “trauma-informed” education, summer camps also support children who have experienced trauma in their lives.
In her Camping Magazine article “A Time to Grieve: Dealing With Loss and Change This Summer and Beyond” editor-in-chief Marcia Ellett points to work of camp professionals, and others, in ensuring “best practices and educational resources to facilitate the mental, emotional, and physical health of grieving children and their families.” She cites the important impact of the National Alliance for Grieving Children, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the needs of children and teens who are grieving a death and provides education and resources for anyone supporting them (Ellett, 2020).
It takes a village.
Speaking about trauma-informed programming, Linda Ebner Erceg, RN, MS, PHN, adds, “That also means not only understanding the prevalence of trauma … but also recognizing that trauma histories will arrive with some campers and staff, and those histories have the potential to color the camp experience. Being trauma-informed also means assessing camp practices to determine their potential to trigger trauma responses …” (Ebner Erceg, 2018).
Trauma is the experience of a person to an event that is emotionally painful or stressful. Trauma can result in lasting mental and physical effects and is defined by the experience of the survivor. According to recognizetrauma.org
The behaviors caused by trauma sometimes depend on a child’s age when the symptoms appear. However, some symptoms can affect all children, including:
- Major changes in eating or sleeping
- Nightmares
- Anger or rage
- Unreasonable fear
- Unusually strong startle reactions
What if trauma-informed became trauma-resolved? It has, in the form of Experience Camps, which offer free one-week camps for boys and girls “who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver.”
Sara Deren, Chief Experience Officer, and Cara Allen, Chief Clinical Officer, told me on a Zoom call that their camps provide a blend of typical camp activities with a clinical component to help kids process grief:
Grief can change the trajectory of a child’s life. The only question is how. We know that grief camp can help foster resilience. It's a place where kids can laugh, cry, play, create, remember the person who died, or forget the grief that weighs them down. It's a place where they can feel “normal,” because everyone there has been through something similar and understands what it's like to lose someone important to them.
In interviews, three Experience Camps campers, Peyton (age 10), Nani (age 16), and Graham (age 17) – each of whom lost a parent – told me about their losses and reflected on their stays.
Peyton:
- I lost my dad when I was five. My mom has been there for me and when I cry, she says life is unfair sometimes.
- Camp was very fun, though I was scared of the fish. I made a lot of friends I could talk to. I liked the water swing into the lake and I did it a bunch of times, even though I was afraid.
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Nani:
- The day I celebrated my 10th birthday is the day my dad passed away. It helps to share memories of him with my brother and uncle.
- At camp, I have a community of people who understand the loss of a parent. It’s helpful to recognize I am not alone in this and that I am not as broken as I was feeling, I went to camp for six years, made great friends, and had group chats. Everybody knows you as a person and encourages you to be happy again and not feel guilty about it. Going through grief makes time stop, so it’s powerful to have the camp experience.
Graham:
- When I was in sixth grade, I was walking home from school and saw my dad’s car in the driveway two hours earlier than usual – not a good sign. My mom had brain cancer with chemo and radiation for five years. I was confused and dazed but I never lost hope. My relationship with my dad is strong, so I talk about it with him at dinner every night. When I have my breakdowns, I call him. I was sad and angry. I was in denial. Being vulnerable is the biggest challenge.
- My first summer at camp in Maine was a little scary. I was pretty silent but listened to the other kids, which was helpful. I thought, ‘Wow, they’re strong.’ Every one of them lost someone they loved, which helped us to form a community. I am afraid of heights, but I did the rock-climbing wall anyway. And I learned to comfort others. It’s the best week of the year.
The common themes of loss, struggle, challenge, and positive risk-takingabound. Pitching the magic of summer camp for children with unresolved grief.
Information about other camps for grieving children, including Camp Amanda the Panda, Camp Erin, and Comfort Zone Camp can be found herehttps://cdn.psychologytoday.com/sites/all/modules/contrib/extlink/extlink_s.png"); width: 1px; height: 1px; position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); white-space: nowrap; clip-path: inset(50%); border: 0px; background-position: 2px center; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">.
References
ACA. (2020a). Research and evaluation. American Camp Association. https://www.acacamps.org/research (30 Nov. 2020).
ACA. (2020b). The value of camp. Benefits of Camp. American Camp Association. https://www.acacamps.org/campers-families/because-camp/benefits-camp/value-camp (30 Nov. 2020).
Browne, L. (2018). Research 360: promising themes from phase 1 of the 5-year impact study. January 29, 2018. American Camp Association. https://www.acacamps.org/news-publications/blogs/research-360/research-360-promising-themes-phase-1-5-year-impact-study (30 Nov. 2020).
Stephen Wallace is director of the Center for Adolescent Research and Education (CARE), a national collaborative of institutions and organizations committed to increasing positive youth outcomes.
See whats new at SNC this fall
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Keeping Summer Camp Magic Alive Through COVID-19
At the end of summer camp 2019, as we all said goodbye to SNC for the year and started to make plans of returning in 2020, we did not anticipate an obstacle quite like COVID-19. As the pandemic started to grip the nation, life as we knew it was about to change. It didn’t take long for my college to shut down, originally only being an extended spring break, which quickly turned into remote learning from my hometown for the rest of the year. Friendships made at school were suddenly taken away, plans that were made for the end of the school year, all gone thanks to a pandemic. Yet, despite all of this, SNC 2020 still happened as planned, with a few adjustments of course.
Coming to camp wearing a face mask would be the first noticeable change that took place in the summer. As I showed up, the bright smiles I was used to seeing on the first day back were replaced with a piece of fabric that made breathing more difficult. Usually during staff training, all the male counselors would sleep in one cabin and all the female counselors would sleep in another cabin. This year, we were split up, having to open multiple cabins so that we could minimize the risk of spreading the virus if one of us had it. Despite this, some things didn’t change. We still created strong bonds with each other and grew from strangers to friends, we still laughed and joked, it still felt like we were at camp. With camp set up and ready to go, there was only one crucial piece missing, the kids.
Our first session is always the shorter Discovery session. It is designed for campers who have never been to Swift to feel out if this camp will become their new summer home. In previous years, our biggest worry was homesick kids, as many of them had never been away from home for two weeks. This year, we had the unique obstacle of COVID, which would test our abilities as a team, communicating with each other if we were worried about a possible case of COVID, enforcing children to wear face masks in hot and humid weather, having a UV light in the cabins, and having a reworked schedule. With all of these changes, some of the returning counselors wondered if it was even the same camp we had come to love. As it would turn out, it was. It became clear quickly that there did not appear to be any cases in camp, and as no one could leave and come back, all worries of spreading the virus were gone and we got to enjoy camp as we knew it. After the first week, we relaxed COVID restrictions, the masks we once wore over our faces were no longer present, instead replaced by the beaming smiles of kids. 3rd activity and Free Time came back, which was fantastic, because even counselors love Free Time. Camp was back to normal, and there was no greater feeling. As the second week came to a close, so too did the session, and we sent home all of our new friends happy, dirty, tired, and most importantly, COVID free. For them, it was the end. For us, it was merely the beginning.
While Discovery felt difficult with COVID policies, the first Explorer session would present a new issue. Many kids in these sessions have been coming here for years, and they knew how the schedule worked and what camp felt like, so when that was all changed due to a virus, they faced a similar problem the returning counselors had. Was this the camp that they had grown to love and call home in the summer? The hardest part about this session was not being able to hug all the kids you remembered from years prior as they got dropped off. We had hit the reset button, our guards were up, and we were ready to beat our invisible virus enemy again. As a counselor, I am always shocked by how much the kids change over a year of time. In the months we aren’t at camp, little boys and girls turn into young men and women. Some kids feel like they’ve grown a foot since you’ve last seen them. Seeing these changes is one of the most exciting parts of this job, because even though they’ve changed on the outside, they are still the same kids on the inside. There were several returning campers I didn’t recognize at first glance due to their growth and the face mask over their mouth. After settling back into our COVID scheduling, it again became clear that the chances of the virus being present here were quite low, and a bit into the second week of camp, we relaxed restrictions. All of a sudden, it was back to normal, the bell woke us up, we stood shoulder to shoulder in the bathroom all trying to brush our teeth, and we high fived and sang on our way into the dining hall. Camp was back, and for a longer time during this session. Free Time and 3rd activity allowed us all to meet new people and make new friends, whether they had been coming for years or this was their first year here, camp was in full swing. Smiles, laughter, and singing filled the dining hall, and the returning campers remembered why they come back every summer. The second week quickly came to a close and the third week flew by, bringing us to the end of another session. Again, we sent the kids home happy, dirty, tired, and COVID free.
When the final session of the summer came around, we knew COVID cases were rising, and some of us began to worry about having the virus at camp. As the final group of campers arrived, we all had to put masks back on and completely restart, which was very difficult for both staff and campers who stayed for 6 weeks. We had just enjoyed living mask free at camp, and for one last time, we started all over again. However, the first week flew by and we once again began to relax COVID policies more and more, until we were able to return all the way back to normal camp. The last session always feels the fastest, and this one was no exception, and felt like it ended as quickly as it started and the summer was coming to a close. Due to our strict policies, and possibly a little bit of camp magic, we were very fortunate not to have a single case of COVID amongst campers or staff.
We always tell the campers that camp is a magical place, and some choose to believe it, and some don’t. After this summer I can say, without a doubt, this is the most magical place to exist. Despite there being a pandemic, we still had camp. Even with COVID restrictions, we still had fun. And even though case numbers grew as the summer went on, no one here ever got the virus. Against all odds, we had another successful summer, filled with laughter, singing, and a ridiculous amount of sand in everything we owned. We would wake up every morning, feeling thankful that we were at camp, having fun, and being safe, even if it meant wearing a face mask. But the days where the masks came off, there were screams and cheers of joy, because it meant that we were finally back home for the summer, the way we wanted it to be all year. And it made leaving even more bittersweet than it usually is, because we overcame an invisible enemy, by working together, by using patience, knowing the best days were ahead of us, and by uniting as a community to ensure we could all get the experience that we wanted to have. If that isn’t the very magic of camp at work, I have no idea what is. This summer exemplified what camp is about, adapting to change, working together, and overcoming any challenges that come along. With summer 2020 behind, we are already looking forward to summer at SNC 2021. Until then, keep smiling, respect one another, and when it’s summertime again, we will be up here waiting for you to return.
The Latest Covid News at Camp
2021 COVID-19 SUMMER CAMP PLAN
QUARANTINE CONTRACT- please download and complete
Swift families -
As we all anxiously await the beginning of camp we all need to realize that SNC will be different in 2021. Yes, we ran camp successfully in 2020 with no COVID and plan on doing it again in 2021. Yet, we can not tell you definitively what our COVID-19 plan will be for the summer ahead. So as you read below, understand that we will use the latest science to help us protect our campers in 2021 and that are plans will continuously be changing up till camp time.
2020 RESULTS
THIS IS WHAT WE DID IN 2020
Our goal is to create a protective bubble around camp to protect our children. To accomplish this, we will need to be sure that those coming into camp are COVID free, while keeping the rest of society out of camp. Our main focus is to take care of everyone within that bubble while reducing the impact from the outside COVID world. The strength with which we enforce the plan may seem unfair or difficult but we believe it is what strengthens the protection of our bubble. So apologies up front if you find our plan difficult or inconvenient. It was not our goal to be burdensome on your family, just to keep all safe while providing a summer camp experience.
The basic parts of our plan:
We are going to do everything possible to create a self-contained bubble to protect our camp community.
We will monitor all campers and staff upon arrival and throughout the camp session.
We will ask families to self-isolate their campers for a 12-14 day period before arriving to camp. We will begin each session with a 3 day cabin quarantine, followed by a 4 day modified quarantine.
Sanitizing and cleaning will be at the forefront, and there will be lots of hand washing and hand sanitizing.
There will be times where campers and staff will be asked to wear masks.
Our live - in nurse and the doctor in town will work with us to support any medical needs that campers have.
Some parts of camp won't be fun, like wearing a mask. But we will be next to a shimmering lake, in the woods, among friends and have a ton of activities to participate in.
Lastly, COVID may arrive at camp, but working with our nurse, local doctor and hospitals we believe we can isolate and get campers tested, plus maybe a vaccine maybe available.
Preventative measures :
We are asking all families to self-isolate their campers for 12 days before their arrival at camp. This means that campers should not be leaving the house or playing with friends. If other individuals in the house are working outside the home, we ask that they wear masks and/or adhere to social distancing guidelines within the house. We will provide you with a form (available on (Campdoc) & here to record your child's temperature and any possible symptoms during this time. Our counselors have already arrived at camp and will be isolated here for over 2 weeks before campers arrive. Our counselors have agreed not to leave camp for the entire 10 weeks that they will be working this summer.
Additional things we are doing to stop COVID:
We will have additional PPE for any staff performing healthcare duties and will have additional hand sanitizer, soap, and cleaning supplies to use as necessary.
Cabins will be sterilized with UV light during meals when all campers are out of the cabin.
We will be keeping windows and doors (with screens) open at all times to promote fresh air circulation through buildings.
Travel by SNC Motor Coach
For campers that are taking the bus, their luggage aside from a carry on with a packed lunch should be placed in the trunk. We will ask that parents do not get out of the car. Campers will be expected to wear a face covering, and camp staff will be wearing a face covering as well. Camp staff members will check the camper's temperature and ask about any symptoms. Assuming things are clear, the camper will then get out with their carry on to board the bus. Camp staff members will retrieve luggage from the trunk and load it onto the bus. There will be assigned seating on the bus and campers will be asked to wear a face covering aside from when they are eating, and we will ask campers to bring a packed lunch so that there will be no need to stop for food. Continous movies will be showing to help pass the time.
Driving TO Camp
If you are driving your camper to camp, please place your luggage in the trunk. We will ask that parents do not get out of the car and that campers are wearing a face covering. A staff member will screen your child while they are in the vehicle and then they will be able to get out and staff will help them to unload their luggage from the vehicle. We would ask that while you travel to camp, you minimize stops as much as possible and wear face coverings and adhere to social distancing guidelines if you need to be in public. We recommend packing meals and snacks and only stopping as necessary for restroom visits and gas. Please wash your hands and use hand sanitizer frequently.
Driving FROM Camp
If you are driving to get your camper we are allowing you to get out of your car and walk around camp. Please do not go into any buildings and keep 6 ft from others while at camp and please bring a mask.
Flying to Camp
If your camper will be flying to camp, please contact us so that we can discuss the safest way to fly and how to keep your child safe while protecting our safe bubble.
Quarantining at Camp
When camp starts, all campers and staff will be wearing face coverings. Progressive quarantining is our plan. We will keep campers in their small cabin groups for the first parts of camp and gradually widen their circle of contact to include other cabins at camp. These quarantines will be fun and filled with activities, so it’s more than just sitting in the basement staring at a screen.
For the first 3 days of camp, campers and staff will wear face coverings whenever they are inside and not eating or sleeping, or are outside and cannot physically distance. Campers will be with their cabin for all activities for these first 3 days, with the exception of a few outdoor activities where everyone can be physically distanced. We will be screening everyone's temperature with a touchless thermometer before each meal. Cabin bathroom visits will be scheduled to minimize interaction between groups.
For days 4-7 of camp, campers will wear masks when they are inside with other cabin groups or are outside and cannot physically distance from other camper groups. When campers are only with members of their cabin, face coverings will not be required. We will screen temperatures once a day and group bathroom visits will continue to be scheduled.
At day 8 till the end of the session face covering and other requirements may be lifted or extended based on the guidance of our live- in nurse and the results from the first 7 days.
Staying Between Session:
We will not be allowing any outside visitors on camp between sessions. Campers that are staying for more than one session will need to remain on camp between sessions, because their first session at camp will essentially qualify as their 12 day before camp quarantine. Between session care is available at a charge of $150.
Dining Hall:
We know that the indoors create a time of risk. Here are some things we are doing in our Dining hall. First, we will wash our hands and wait to be called in to the Dining hall by cabin group. Campers will be asked to wear masks when they gather before meals while temperature checks are happening. Grace and other songs will be sung outside before entering the Dining hall. Campers and staff will remove their masks after all food is served. Tables will be separated from other tables by at least a 6 foot difference. The dinning hall will be sanitized with a fogger once a day and cleaned before and after each meal. After leaving, all campers’ hands will be sanitized. Windows will remain open promoting air flow.
Bathrooms:
Bathroom trips will be scheduled by cabin group for the first days to limit group mixing. Our bathrooms are large enough that campers can maintain distances during individual bathroom trips.
Activities:
All campers will wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer before and after any activity. For the first 7 days, instructor staff will wear face coverings when teaching indoors or during outdoor activities that require close physical contact. (We can't realistically have someone teach a swimming lesson with a mask, but an archery instructor should wear one if they are close to campers to distribute equipment or help them to adjust their form.
What happens if we suspect COVID:
If a camper or staff member shows symptoms of COVID-19 at camp, they will be quickly isolated, and we will arrange for them to be tested for COVID-19. If they test positive, we will continue to isolate them from the rest of camp, and will ask you to arrange for their travel home within 24 hours. In cases where that is not possible, we will work with you to find a solution. If a camper tests positive, we will have all individuals in the cabin tested as well. If a camper needs further care for severe symptoms, we would take them to the hospital in Spooner or Hayward, and for more serious issues, transport to a hospital in Duluth, MN can be arranged.
What we need from you:
Success depends on you. We need you to believe that what you are doing will have an impact on your child and every other child at camp. So please take the 12 day isolation seriously. All it takes is a parent to fudge his documents and the next thing you know our camp is shut down and every child is sent home. No parent wants that.
Helpful Hints:
Please send your camper with 2-4 cloth face coverings. We recommend buffs for this purpose because they can be worn around the neck as well, making them easy to keep track of. We would not recommend disposable masks. If you choose to send disposable masks with your camper, you should expect them to go through several a day when taking into account hot weather and varied activities. Have them pack an extra pair of warm pajamas or an extra blanket to keep warm on any chilly nights. Make sure to send a sturdy water bottle, we will not be using any water fountains at camp. Your camper may want hand cream or lotion to help with any dryness from extra hand washing.
COVID Waiver:
We will be asking all families to sign a waiver that they understand the risks associated with Covid-19 and that in no way can SNC guarantee a COVID free summer for your child. But we will do our best.
Camper Responsibility:
Please note, we will be taking these policies very seriously, more serious than any other activity at camp. Please review this list with your campers to make sure that they are prepared and emotionally mature enough to handle the changing requirements in camp areas. You know your child best, and we trust you to decide if they can handle the responsibility of helping to keep everyone at camp safe. If after repeated chances your child is unable to follow instructions, keep a mask on or cannot social distance, you may be asked to come and pick up your child with no refund. Practice wearing a comfortable mask (face covering) before hand so your child is used to it.
Last Day to Enroll
because campers will need to isolat we will be closing enrolment 14 days prior to the start of each session. Thank you for your understanding.
If you have questions or want to chat about any of our new COVID-19 mitigation protocols or have any other questions about camp, please contact us. The easiest and most reliable way to contact us is to send us an e-mail. You are also welcome to call at any time (715.466.5666), but we are often out of the office getting things done around camp and you may need to leave a message.
We believe that all campers that returns home from camp should isolate and not go to see older adults for 2 weeks especially those that may have extenuating conditions that do not react well to COVID.
If you are still considering whether to register for camp or not, please know that we will be closing registration at 13 days before each session begins to allow families to quarantine their campers for the requested 12 days.
We are grateful for all of our camp families and are committed to making sure our campers can have a safe and fun summer, and allow them to spend much needed time being active outside.
5/23/2020. COVID-19
Dear Swift Families -
I hope this message finds you healthy and happy! We have arrived at camp with our staff and have already started working with them on how we are going to make this summer fun and safe.
So many activities that our children participate in have been changed or cancelled in the last few months. We want to assure you that while we are making some changes to meet the unique safety concerns posed by Covid-19, we would not choose to run our program if we could not ensure that we will be providing a fun and exciting experience. We've been working with experts to make sure that we can protect the physical health of our campers and staff while providing them with a much needed outdoor summer experience to refresh their mental and emotional health.
We want to meet with you again online on a ZOOM MEETING FRIDAY At 6:30 so that we can answer all of your questions and tell you more about precautions we are taking and some things that will change. We want to assure you and your children that Swift will absolutely still be a fun place to be this summer.
We'd like to give you some examples & information to guide you and and perhaps help you to organize any questions that you might have. Some of the precautions that we are taking will have no or very minimal affects on the camp program. For example, we will be asking you to self-quarantine your camper for 10-12 days before arriving at camp. Our staff are doing an additional quarantine at camp before any campers arrive, and they have commited to spending their entire summer on camp property to make sure that they won't be exposed to other people, allowing them to maintain a "safety bubble" at camp. We'll be using UV light and environmentally friendly disinfectant sprayers to clean supplies, equipment and sanitize living areas several times a day.
We are lucky that our program is based on nature and the outdoors, so most of our activities take place outside. Studies have shown the risk of transmission of the covid-19 virus are extremely low in outdoor environments. A few examples of how things might change camp schedule/activity wise:
We will be treating all of our cabins as "family units", so for the first few days we will maximize the time spent in these small groups. This is only a slight extension of what we would do normally - we've always prioritized time together as a cabin during the first few days at camp so that cabin mates can bond as a group. Instructors at all of our activities will teach in ways that promote distancing. Campers at the nature center can learn about camouflage through games where they hide in the woods using camouflage themselves. Campers can learn about survival skills by spreading out and building shelters or learning how to create a solar still to collect fresh water. Campers at boating may demonstrate their skills by playing a game of follow the leader instead of a game where they boats could be side by side.
Some activities won't really need to change at all from the camper facing side of things. Swimming is considered to be a very low risk activity - we will sterilize equipment like water toys as needed, but our swimming is outside, in a well ventilated environment (the breeze near the lake is great) and on sunny days the natural UV light speed the denaturing of the virus. At an activity like archery, campers are already distanced for safety reasons, and our instructors will be outfitted with hand sanitizer so that campers can cleanse their hands before and after using equipment.
And some things will change in ways that we are really quite excited about - brainstorming ways to promote physical distancing have lead us to come up with ideas that could change camp routines in fun ways. Now we want to be able to pull some of these surprises out of our sleeves while at camp so to maintain our campers excitement levels and give them new and exciting things to write home to you about. But to give you an example, during camp we historically have eaten nearly all our meals together in the dining hall. We'll still be eating there commonly but this year we will be asking campers and staff to wear masks in certain as they enter, exit and while they are waiting to be served. It's likely that we will wear mask for singing grace together in the dining hall. But cabins will also have the chance to have new experiences at meals. Instead of eating lunch in the dining hall for the 10th day in a row, they might get a packed picnic lunch to have with their cabin outside. Campers might decide to have lunch near the bog, where they can watch the turtles that are almost always sunning themselves around lunchtime each day. Another group might decide to head out on a couple of rowboats and have a floating lunch in the middle of the lake. With a lifeguard, a cabin might even choose to set up their lunch on the dock in the swimming area and eat while sitting in the shallow water.
From the administrative side of things, we want you to know all of the things that we are doing to keep everyone at camp safe, and we want to make sure our campers feel safe at camp - we know that many of them have had increased anxiety over the past few months. And that is where the fun comes in - we can keep our campers safe while making sure that they can still be kids. Some of the things at camp won't have to change at all. Some of the things will be slightly different. And some of the things will be new and inspired in exciting ways that we can't wait to share with your children.
Thank you for planning to share your children with us for the summer, we can't wait to meet our new campers and be reunited with our old friends.
Lonnie & Jeff Lorenz
Swift Nature Camp
http://SNC.Camp
715-466-5666
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Covid-19 has caused a huge disruption in the world and as we begin a recovery Parents wonder if summer camp is safe. Over 30% of the summer camps have closed for the summer because they felt it was impossible to tame this virus. At Swift Nature Camp we will remain open because we see things differently, we know this virus has devastating effects the elderly and those with conditions. Our goal is to create a "safe bubble" that will keep kids safe. This concept was recently mentioned in a Wall Street Journal article ByAaron E. Carroll
Here is just a part of that article:
Overnight camp is different. It’s both safer and riskier.
As we work on getting our COVID-19 Plan together we know it will include Testing Isolation & Sanitation, Here are a few safety measures SNC will implement:
TESTING
1) Pre Camp-Campers and staff-must be tested for Covid-19
2) Pre Camp-All Campers and Staff Must isolate for 10 days
3) Daily Temperatures checks at meal times
4) Requiring campers and staff to have no underlying health conditions.
SANITATION
5 ) Hand sanitizing will be done before each activity
6) Using a fogger, we will sanitize all of camp 1-3 times a day
7) UVC lights will be used in building during off times to kill virus
ISOLATION
8 ) Encouraging campers and staff to physically distance
9) Limited out of camp trips.
10) More space between bunks in cabins
This is just an overview of some of the things we will be doing this summer to keep our campers safe. If you have questions or would like to chat more please give us a call. Our COVID-19 Plan will be released in early June. Best to all and stay safe.
HERE IA A GREAT ARTICLE
Summer Is Approaching. Bring Camp Back.
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Our plan is to have Overnight Summer Camp in 2020, here is what we are thinking to keep our campers safe from Coronavirus.
Dear Swift Families,
Like all of you, we are looking forward to being together at Swift this summer. Our weekly Zoom meetings, filled with smiling faces and fun activities only reinforce how much we all want our Northwoods camp community to be open this summer.
*SUMMER 2020* --All the planning in the world cannot tell us what this summer will look like. It seems that this pandemic has taught us all to be a bit more flexible and patient. Thank you to our camp families who have been extremely patient. It is early May and we have only had a few families drop from camp while during the same time we have had more than 10 campers join, despite the unclear future. Like many of you, we have been following all the projections, updates, and spending too many hours watching news conferences.
Swift Nature Camp is not alone, weekly the MAIC (Midwest Association Of Independent Summer Camps) meets on Zoom to discuss options to make camp a safe place during COVID-19. Anxiously, we await a report with guidelines for overnight summer camps from the CDC, the American Camp Association, the state of Wisconsin and the local county Health Dept. (so far one case in our camp county). These guidelines will give us a better understanding of what we are facing for this summer, but won’t give us a complete answer. Insiders have told us that the CDC expects to have guidelines for overnight camps out by Mid-May. Still many camps across the country have already suspended programming but most in Wisconsin, like us, are remaining patient, flexible and are still hoping for a safe summer season.
*SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT* --Without guidance from the CDC and others, we have no idea what camp will look like in 2020. All we know is that SNC along with our camp families must remain flexible. We know we will need to adapt our programs, policies and procedures to meet the standards being developed to keep us all safe. The good news is our start date is still more than 6 weeks away and we pray the world could look very different by then.
*NEXT UPDATE* --We will give another update by May 20th.
*HOW WE ARE DECIDING* --When we consider if camp will happen in 2020 we look at three guiding principles.
- Safety - Camper and staff safety are always our number one concern.
- Service - We believe camp is needed now more than ever. Children need some face to face interactions (more than with just their family), they need community and they need to leave their screen for a bit of time and get outdoors.
- Sustainability - Let’s be truthful. This pandemic is financially challenging for many of you and SNC as well. Many businesses and summer camps across the country likely won’t survive this pandemic. We hope not to be this statistic and without the expected summer tuition revenue that path is unclear at this time. It is going to be hard, but we hope we will all find a way through this pandemic.
*WHAT WE ARE THINKING* --Right now the world is more uncertain than ever. Many of us are scared, lonely, and unsure of what the future holds. The longer COVID-19 goes on, there will be increased grief, depression, anxiety, and mental health struggles. All very challenging to children and adults alike.
We know SNC is full of compassionate campers, caregivers, donors, families, and staff.
We will continue to keep you informed and provide what we can. We ask of you patience and flexibility along with your continued support of SNC.
Please give a Hug to your children from us.
Lonnie & Jeff
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Coronavirus Guidelines For Summer Camps 3/1/20
At Swift Nature Camp we are certainly concerned how the Coronavirus scenario will play out over the next 3 months . We are hoping that it will come and leave quickly with few casualties and camp will continue as normal. Like most areas these day it is a "wait and see situation". In an effort to keep campers and staff safe at this time we are making provisions that will include
1) All campers and staff complete a pre-screening through our online health forms program
- 2) All campers and staff are screened upon arrival at the program; and Our trained and caring staff work closely with villagers throughout their stay to ensure their overall well-being.
- 3) Disinfecting areas and encouraging good hygiene among all participants.
4) Stepping up personal hygene
5) Being aware of personal space
6 Quarantining those that have a temp over 100.
7) Giving more assistances to the camp Nurse and the Heath Center.
We will continue to closely monitoring updates from the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, Minnesota Department of Health and U.S. Department of State and will continue to seek guidance from these agencies and public health officials.
Despite concerns, We are encouraging parents to still enroll, because last year we did have to turn campers away due to being full. Should camp be canceled, refunds will be available. However, we are going to do everything possible to provide camp with safe conditions for all. I recently found the below article from USA Today about Coronavirus and Summer Camps it provides good advice for all.
As spring break nears, camp nurses issue coronavirus guidelines for vacation camps
USA TODAY
The coronavirus, which has led to school closures and a run on stores as shoppers frantically stock up on hand sanitizer, toilet paper and other necessities, may impact yet another aspect of American life: camp.
With spring break around the corner, families are making plans. But the outbreak of COVID-19, which has led to nine deaths in the U.S. and sickened tens of thousands worldwide, is leading some to consider postponing vacations. And it could make some parents think twice before enrolling their kids in vacation programs as well.
Outbreaks of illness, from the flu to strep throat, are always possible in a camp setting. But the coronavirus, which has no vaccine and is currently gripping headlines, may be particularly worrying to some camp goers.
The Association of Camp Nursing has posted guidance for camp officials, noting that information about the virus “is a moving target.’’
Among the tips:
Skip the first day if you have symptoms
Besides encouraging camp managers to frequently check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website for updates, the group encouraged them to tell families to keep children at home if they're experiencing a fever, shortness of breath or other symptoms. They should do the same if they've been exposed to the virus. Families should also be made aware of how the program will deal with a child who comes to camp with symptoms, whether they will be "allowed to stay at camp, not allowed to stay, and isolation policies,'' the association's guidance said.
Consider your own screening
When campers and staff members arrive, they should be asked if they have shown any signs of the virus, where they have traveled recently, and if they might have been exposed. Camp managers might also consider checking the temperatures of camp participants and workers as they arrive. And there should be a protocol for trying to keep the camp illness free, from scrubbing surfaces to making sure there's plenty of sanitizers as well as soap and water.
Camp workers should monitor their own health
Make sure staff is vigilant about their own health as well as that of others. “Have staff evaluate themselves every morning for any influenza-like illness,’’ the guidance says. Also, make sure the camp's team understands the importance of hygiene, such as frequently washing their hands and coughing into the crook of their arms.
Know what to do if there's an outbreak
The association recommends checking its site and others, such as the World Health Association's to get tips on how to prepare for instances of illness. Camp supervisors should also reach out to local health officials if they have questions.
Past lessons could help with COVID-19
"Flu currently poses more risk to campers (and) staff than COVID-19,'' the association's guidance says. "Classic, communicable disease personal protection behaviors help reduce exposure impacts from COVID-19 just as they do for other illnesses. Make sure people use them.''
At Swift Nature Camp our campers tend to be those smart kids who like to learn and since they have no screens, they have plenty of time to read. At this old fashioned summer camp we have an achievement award for those campers that read while at summer camp. It takes a little prioritizing but their are plenty of opportunities to read, before bed, quiet time and even outside during activities. Our camp library is loaded with books that campers can choose from. However recently I found this article with a list of books that you might want to give your camper to read at camp
Summer Camps Activities 2020: Campers, Be Sure To Pack These Books This Summer
Sleeping bag: check! Flashlight: check! Books to read …
For children and teens not sure what books to bring to their overnight camp this summer, C.H. Booth Library’s librarians have them covered.
Children’s Librarian Alana Bennison and Young Adult Librarian Catherine Findorak have crafted a list of camp-specific books that will be sure to keep pages turning well after the campfires have died out and the counselors have called lights out.
Young Readers: First Through Third Grade
Camp would not be complete without some ghost stories, and The End of Orson Eerie? by Jack Chabert helps with just that. The spooky book is part of the Eerie Elementary Series, which consists of easy-to-read text and illustrations on every page.
Another popular children’s book series is the Bad Kitty series by Nick Bruel. It features Bad Kitty Camp Daze, which chronicles the hubbub that ensures when the main character, Kitty, bonks her head, causing her to act like a dog, and gets sent to Uncle Murray’s dog camp.
Grow Grateful by Safe Foster-Lasser and Jon Lasser is a lighthearted read for children that features character Kiko embarking on a campingq trip with her class where she learns about gratitude. The book even provides advice and tips for mindfulness and being grateful.
Campers looking for a heart-racing, white-knuckle inducing story can check out I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 by Lauren Tarshis. There, the readers will learn the dangerous tale of an 11-year-old girl coming face-to-face with a grizzly bear in the wild.
Another book shining light on the great outdoors is The Camping Trip That Changed America by Barb Rosenstock. The book highlights the true story of President Theodore Roosevelt and naturalist John Muir’s trip to Yosemite in 1903.
Middle Grade: Fourth Through Sixth Grade
Fans of Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes will enjoy the follow up book Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard by Jonathan Auxier. The fictional journey takes the characters on an adventure they will never forget.
Out of the Wild Night by Blue Balliett will keep readers on their toes as they read about ghosts who select a group of children to help save the island of Nantucket.
Released just last September, The Light in the Lake by Sarah Baughman is perfect for campers by the water. It tells the tale of a 12-year-old girl studying Maple Lake’s pollution; what she discovers will cause her to make a pivotal choice.
The great outdoors is the setting in The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, where a robot named Rozzum unit 7134 — also known as Roz — finds herself on an isolated island where she has to find a way to survive in nature.
Waste of Space by Stuart Gibbs is the third and final installment in the New York Times bestselling Moon Base Alpha series. As exciting as it is to travel the world, this book takes readers on an adventure in space to solve a murder and rescue the moon base commander.
Fans of Kelly Barnhill, Michael Buckley, Adam Gidwitz, Adele Griffin, Lisa Brown, Claire Legrand, Nikki Loftin, Daniel José Older, Dav Pilkey, R.L. Stine, and Rita Williams-Garcia will be delighted to read Guys Read: Terrifying Tales edited by Jon Scieszka. The book features a collection of ghosts stories from each author with illustrations by Gris Grimly.
Those looking for a fright in the night can also dive into The Haunting of Henry Davis by Kathryn Siebel about two kids who meet a ghost named Edgar. The duo goes on an adventure to find out who Edgar was when he was alive and why he has chosen to haunt Henry now.
Grades 5 And Up
A popular young adult series capturing the hearts and attention of graphic novel readers is Lumberjanes, Volume 1 to 13, by Noelle Stevenson. The series features five teenage best friends at Scout camp who go on adventures solving mysteries and fighting monsters.
Another graphic novel sure to delight older campers is the coming-of-age story All Summer Long written and illustrated by Hope Larson. When her best friend leaves for summer camp and our protagonist Bina is left to figure out how to spend her time, she discovers a new friendship based on a mutual love of music.
Grades 8 And Up
With the last book in the “Arc of a Scythe” trilogy by Neal Shusterman finally released last November, campers can binge-read all three books — Scythe, Thunderhead, and The Toll. The dark series takes readers to a fictional world where humanity has conquered everything from hunger and disease to war, and even death. Two teens must apprentice with a scythe, whose job it is to take people’s lives, and if they fail, their own lives could be at stake.
The graphic novel This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki tackles some adult content as its main character, Rose, goes through the turbulence of fighting parents and the unexpected discovery of an older teenager being involved in something life threatening.
So, children and teens heading off to overnight camp this summer will need to be sure to scoot over their toothbrush and socks to leave a designated spot in their knapsack for these page-turning reads.