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Summer is on the way and children around the world are flocking to USA summer camps. THis uniquely American institution offers kids the opportunity to gain independence while learning school curriculums, music, sports, dance and acting camps. Yet one of the most popular is the traditional summer camp experience, where children play in nature and learn camping skills.
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Regardless of the type of camp you and your child choose often parents feel separation anxiety from their children, especially in the case when this is a first time experience. Parents tend to become lonely when their are not around. However, parents just like children need to feel comfortable away from each other. Ones desire to be together is only proof of how well you are parenting. Here are a few ideas to reduce your anxiety while waiting for your camper to return.
• Be sure that you feel comfortable in the camp you have selected. Call the director a few times with in the first week to make sure your child is doing well. Now that you have no safety reason to worry it time to try and move on.
• Enroll in a special interest class. While your kid is away learning something new during the break, you too could see this as an opportunity to also address your personal interests. You could try enrolling in cooking classes or yoga courses. Whatever your preference might be, there is an available adult summer class for you.
• Date Night ! I once had a parent tell me”Now that the kids are not home me and the misses are going to be home all night in our undies” I don’t know if you need to do this but you can go out for a nice dinner and see a movie. 
• Learn a hobby. You could learn how to do cross-stitching, baking, photography, or other things that interests you. This is the perfect time because your children won’t be around in a few days so nobody could disturb you. So take a class at the park or Jr. College.
• Finish or start reading your piles of books and finish watching your tons of DVDs . Nothing beats days of lazily doing nothing in the house and just being a couch potato. It would feel like you are back to being a teenager again because there are no kids to tend to.
• Pamper yourself for a day in the spa and a stroll in the mall to shop. Surely, you won’t really be depressed if you experience the things you love, right?
Remember camp is a growing experience for our children but at the same time its getting us ready for the day they move out to college.
Choosing a camp is a big decision faced by parents each and every summer. And the summer of 2010 is no exception.
When the last school bell rings, each summer parents want to know: Where to send their kids for camp? It's a choice that shouldn't be taken lightly. Any parent sending their child off better be a little nervous. Before making the decision, put together a list of requirements.
It will include:
You want it to be a safe place
You want it to have caring staffYou want it to promote Funbut there is so much more.
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With thousands of 
Overnight summer camps available -- from day camps to sleep away camps, specialized, private and public camps a decision can be overwhelming.
Yet, 3 simple point will guarantee your child's success: Know your child, know the camp and know yourself.
SummerCampAdvice.com recommends to take your child's personality and preferences into account. Is your child shy or outgoing? Athletic or academic? Independent enough for sleep-away camp or not quite ready to leave home?
'When you know your child and match a camp to their needs, you have a much higher chance for success,'' says Lonnie Lorenz, director of Swift Nature Camp a Kids Summer Camp, with traditional, noncompetitive, activities for Boys and Girls ages 6-15 specializing in nature and the environment.
An important consideration is whether your child would be better off in a more general program like a traditional overnight camp or a more specialized program that focuses particular skills like performing arts, technology, music, sports or academics.
Maybe your child is not quite ready to leave home so a day camp might be the way to go. Children do go to overnight camp as early as 6 but most common is to be 9 or 10. If your child still not showing signs sometimes you just have to say ready or not you have to give them loads of encouragement and send them off,'' says Lonnie.
So now you know the type of camp that best meets the need of your child its time to start checking out camp. Do your early research on the web, but be sure to call references and get brochures. and if possible even visit.
Lonnie suggests that “Parents talk with camp directors to ensure their rules, routines and procedures are an extension of what's followed in their home”. “You want to feel comfortable with the folks your handing your kids over to.” Also consider: child-to-staff ratio, the daily routine and how the staff deals with new campers,homesickness, problems, food allergies Lorenz said.
The most difficult part about summer camp isn't always picking one or paying for it. Camp has become expensive and should be a factor when choosing a camp. Camp can range from $200 per week for a church camp to $1000 a week for a private camp. With these questionable economic times camps are working with families by offering payment plans, financial aid, sibling discounts, scholarships and other assistance.
One of the main functions of camp is helping children gain independence. Yet, often it's the parents who have the hardest time letting go. “We, as parents, want to be there and help our children but kids really benefit when they are left to their own devices in a safe supportive place like summer camp,'' Lorenz said. “Don’t restricting your child because of your personal fears, we have seen it so many times.''
When your child comes home you will hear the stories about all the accomplishment and fun but what you see is that they've leaned to grow in their appreciation of themselves and their appreciation of others.

And the winner is.......

Thanks to all the campers and staff that placed their vote for the best Tshirt design. It was very close with this shirt only winning by 1 vote. Don’t worry , if you liked the others you will see them pop again next year and you can vote again.

 

Hey Parents,

Grab your child's hand and head in to Nature! Any adult who has a personal relationship with nature was once a child, hungry for knowledge and FUN...
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Hey Parents,

Grab your child's hand and head in to Nature! Any adult who has a personal relationship with nature was once a child, hungry for knowledge and FUN new experiences outdoors. It is not only a parents desire but their responsibility to foster a love of the outdoors at a young age. This effort, and for some it will be, not only will you be get the two of you to do some physical exercise, but you will also be introducing them to an endless amount of new information about the world around them. Hikes are a wonderful activity at any time of year. Spring offers the first flowers of the season. They may be wild or carefully planted in someone’s back yard. Either way, children enjoy the hunt for new buds and examining the different types of blooms that the season brings. At spring we also see an influx of birds. Younger kids are content to merely watch a bird fly, yet older children can find enjoyment in noting the different characteristics and identifying the breed of the bird they've discovered or even smearing some peanut butter on a pine cone and hanging it from a tree.

In summer, animals of all varieties are most active and easier to spot. Even in the city you can find a few squirrels in the trees. Carry your flower and bird watching activities into summer as well. Don’t forget to keep you feeder full and water in your birdbath.

Most folks do not see Autumn as the season of harvest and reproduction for nature. With a bag in hand start to collect pine cones, acorns, seeds and other items that can be used for crafts or displayed as is. Be sure to have your child identify each and tell you how it might be used in nature. A bouquet of colorful fall leaves is incredibly easy to create and will give your child a constant reminder of the fun they had outdoors.

Winter may not be the most hospitable season for many, nature hikes can still be incredibly rewarding. Try seeding a spot by picking out a specific area and throwing out seeds, bread, apple chunks or bird feed. Upon your return, examine the snow for tracks then determine which animals have been enjoying your feast. If you continue to supply the same area all winter, you will most likely get the chance to see if your guesses were correct before the snow melts. Remember, most animals are nocturnal so go out after school at dusk.

Don't feel the need to be constantly hiking to enjoy the outdoors. You can entertain your child plant a few early blooming flowers and keep the bird feeders full. A budding naturalist will want to check every day and see what’s new. Make sure to give them a journal to record their finds. Younger children may be happier drawing their finds, while an older child will be happy with a disposable camera to commemorate the changes they notice.

Gardening is a wonderful way to get children outdoors. Keep their attention span in mind while planning the size and number of plants, otherwise it will be extra work on your hands. Vegetables like carrots, leaf lettuce and radishes are almost foolproof, But the most rewarding and fun is getting one or two pumpkin for jack o' lanterns.

For most families outdoor activities are most often done in the summer. Yet, for most parents making the time to get out in nature can be a challenge. Camping is a great way to expose kids to nature, but rather than giving yourself the hassle of planning a week-long trip there are some options. First, just set up a tent one morning in the backyard. Cook your meals outside, fly kites and play tag. When it's time for bed, crawl into your tent and tell stories by flashlight. Second, have the pros help you out. Look for a day or an overnight summer camp that specializes in Nature and the outdoors. For many parents this might seem like a whole new area that they might be reluctant to get involved with, but once you do your research you will find that Summer Camp is so much more than just a break from your kids...it’s child development!
To learn more about Summer Camp visit www.summercampadvice.com

Swift Nature Camp is a Wisconsin Summer Camp for boys and girls ages 6-15. Our focus is to blend traditional summer camp activities while increasing a child's appreciation for nature, science and the environment. They also have a special “first time at summer camp” program that is dedicated to providing kids a wonderful first time experience.
Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu once said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Start your child on their own thousand mile journey through life today. 

The most important Hint is to remember when looking for things to do in nature is to get OUTSIDE. Almost any indoor activity can be done outside in nature.

Just last week it was camper Mathew’s birthday. Forrest was invited to go play with him at Safari Land an indoor amusement park. When it came to cake he did not have to “dance around the room” :( We all had a great time. Needles to Say Forrest got him the La+La Lasagna song along with some legos.... Click to see more photos.
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Ellen has a new cause which all in the child profession or with kids must take note. It’s to Stop Bullying. She devastated by the death of 18-year-old Tyler Clementi. If you don't know, Tyler was a bright student at Rutgers University whose life was senselessly cut short. He was bullied on the internet and when he could not take it any longer he took his own life..
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Something must be done. This month alone, there has been a shocking number of news stories about teens who have been teased and bullied and then committed suicide; like 13-year-old Seth Walsh in Tehachapi, California. Asher Brown, 13, of Cypress, Texas and 15-year-old Billy Lucas in Greensberg, Indiana. This needs to be a wake-up call to everyone: teenage bullying and teasing is an epidemic in this country, and the death rate is climbing.
One life lost in this senseless way is tragic. Four lives lost is a crisis. And these are just the stories we hear about. How many other teens have we lost? How many others are suffering in silence? Being a teenager and figuring out who you are is hard enough without someone attacking you.
My heart is breaking for their families, their friends and for a society that continues to let this happen. These kids needed us. We have an obligation to change this. There are messages everywhere that validate this kind of bullying and taunting and we have to make it stop. We can't let intolerance and ignorance take another kid's life.
I want anyone out there who feels different and alone to know that I know how you feel. There is help out there. You can find support in your community. If you need someone to talk to or if you want to get involved, here are some organizations doing great work:
The Trevor Project at 866 4U TREVOR. It's a 24-hour, national help line for gay and questioning teens. You can learn more about The Trevor Project at their website: 
thetrevorproject.org.
Angels and Doves is a nationwide anti-bullying non profit organization. Their website is 
AngelsandDoves.com
The National Center for Bullying Prevention is helping to promote awareness and teach effective ways to respond to bullying. You can learn more about them at their website: 
Pacer.org/bullying
The Matthew Shepard Foundation runs Matthew's Place, an online community and resource center for LGBTQ youth. The website is 
matthewsplace.com
GLSEN is also a great organization that is working to eradicate bullying and bias in schools. Their website is: 
glsen.org
STOMP Out Bullying is focused on reducing bullying and cyberbullying. Find out more on their website: 
stompoutbullying.org
Things will get easier, people's minds will change, and you should be alive to see it.

Read more:http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2010/09/its_time_to_end_teenage_bullying_0930.php?icid=ellen|ws&ncid=webmail#ixzz118Uvajd5

In mid-September just a few weeks after camp we found ourselves traveling through Tennessee. So we thought we stop in and see Zack. It was great spending time with him at his local malt shop. We laughed at many camp stories, that know one seems to get unless they are at SNC for the summer. The most exciting thing that came from our time together is that Zach plans on spending his 2011 summer back at SNC in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Yea!

 

Often parents hear of the importance of teaching the whole child. Yet, what does that mean? It means that we need to consider the child as a whole, not just the intellectual needs of a child but social and emotional ones as well. This admirable goal, often is not applied to intellectual children.
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So often teachers do not have enough resourses to address all these needs of a child. Schools group by age and intellect and hope that intellectual, social, and emotional development is all the same. However, children and especially gifted do not typically follow this even development. Instead, they follow an asynchronous developmental pattern. That means that a six-year-old gifted child may have the intellectual needs of a ten-year-old child and the social and emotional needs of an eight-old, but the physical development of a six-year-old. In a roomful of typical six-year-old children, a teacher will find it difficult to teach to the whole gifted child.

Summer camps that specialize on all areas of a child’s development make it possible to help the whole child. Summer Camps provide gifted children with a chance to be exactly who they are. A good gifted program will be staffed with people who understand all kids of children, people who recognize that gifted children may be quite advanced intellectually, but socially and emotionally be quite like any other child of the same chronological age.

Every year, Kohl's recognizes and rewards young volunteers (ages 6-18) across the country for amazing contributions to their communities. This year we are recognizing more than 2,100 kids with more than $415,000 in scholarships and prizes. We know our SNC Camp kids are always getting involved. TELL US YOUR STORY and we will nominate you to Khol’s Cares Scholarship Program

 

For those who have been around Swift for some time, you know camp friends are unlike any other friends. Last week when we were in Minneapolis we had Jess (now living in AZ) stop by and visit. Jess has been involved with camp since she was 18. Now 10 years later she looked back fondly at all that she had accomplished at Swift. From Water Front to Assistant Director. She did it all. This is why we love Swift so ...it’s great to see folks grow and develop at camp...

 

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Winter

25 Baybrook Ln.

Oak Brook, IL 60523

Phone: 630-654-8036

swiftcamp@aol.com

Camp

W7471 Ernie Swift Rd.

Minong, WI 54859

Phone: 715-466-5666

swiftcamp@aol.com