Tag: life skills

Interpersonal Skills at America’s Finest Summer Camps

In a world where third graders have cell phones and middle school students are striving to be “Insta-famous,” it’s no wonder why teachers and parents are noticing that students lack the basic interpersonal skills needed to be successful in the real world. This is why more and more adults are actively looking for ways for… Read more »

Get a Real Job

For many counselors at America’s Finest Summer Camps, their experience as a camp counselor is also their first experience in the workforce. Many counselors have the opportunity to spend the summer on one of the nation’s most beautiful campsites, enjoying all of the classic sleepaway camp adventures, and get paid for it. Their first job… Read more »

How Summer Camp Can Help Improve Self-Confidence

There is nothing better than walking into your first day of school with confidence and a positive attitude.  Knowing that you look good, feel good, and have everything you need to make this an awesome school year is a great way to start the year. As kids get older, there are many things that they… Read more »

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone and Break Your Usual Routine

It is pretty hard to step out of your comfort zone you are literally in your comfort zone. Being in the comfort of your own home makes breaking your normal routine a little difficult.  When you are at home, you find that you are always waking up in your same room, eating breakfast at the… Read more »

The Art of Friendly Competition at Camp

  Since before the training wheels were even taken off of my bike, I’ve been playing sports. My older brothers were all exceptional athletes which put a lot of pressure on me; I was constantly being compared to them and thus was always being pushed to run faster, train harder, and jump higher. There was… Read more »

夏令营让我的孩子有了改变

今年我怀着既紧张又激动的心情为儿子Conner报名了全美最优秀的夏令营。Conner的好友曾经有参加夏令营的经历,而且回来后不停地极力赞扬。随后经过诸多调查和讨论,我们决定让Conner也去夏令营体验一个夏天。当送儿子到达营地后看他高兴地跳下车,头也没回就兴奋的直奔营地时,这颗“妈妈心”还是有些颤动,但我们坚信这个决定是正确的。上周夏令营结束,我们接他回家时我才百分之百的确定我们做了最正确的决定。这个面带欢乐笑容跳上后座的孩子与之前有些…不同。 当时我很难详细的说出有那点不同,但光从他谈论在营地结交的新朋友以及当他说起他们之间的小笑话而兴奋不已时我能看得出他眼中发自内心的激动和兴奋。回到家后我们注意到他最大的一点改变就是他变得更加懂事了。不用我问孩子就会自己主动铺床、饭后将自己的饭碗放到水池、主动提出帮忙提杂物甚至在路过厨房时会主动询问我们是否需要些什么。我们发现从营地回来后的他变得更加体贴细心。这并不是从前的他不懂事,而是我看到他愿意帮助别人以及多为别人着想的意愿变得比以前更加强烈。随着日子一天天过去,我非常开心的看到他很享受地与新朋友发邮件、聊天、视频等。夏令营之前的他还有些内向,现在的他变得爱说话并且更加自信。我喜欢看到他与同龄的伙伴们互动、我也喜欢看他认真倾听别人说话并且自信的参与他人交谈。 就在今天,他告诉我他要参加学校足球队的面试,足球是一项夏令营之前他从没接触过的体育运动。他说在营地时他受到鼓励参与足球运动并且每天都与小伙伴们一起踢足球。作为母亲,看到儿子通过夏令营有了积极正面的改变而震惊。我预想得到他会结交一些新朋友、尝试一些新活动、学会独立,但我从没想过通过短短几周的时间能够提升他的社交能力、促进他的性格发展和关系增长以及增强他的自信心。 任何还在迟疑是否让孩子参加夏令营的家长都不用在怀疑,这真的是让孩子得到锻炼的好机会。在这短短的几周里你不仅可以享受一下放松时光,更重要的是你会被孩子通过夏令营所学到的东西和他自身的改变所震惊。 全美最优秀的夏令营让我的孩子变得更好,我们也期待着下次的夏令营能够看到他更大更强的改变!