Hi CJ Family!
As the summer draws to a close, I want to bring your attention to a video by Peg Smith, CEO of the American Camp Association. Peg talks with families about the “3 Cs- ” Confidence, Curiosity, and Character- the skills kids learn at camp that they take with them into the school year.
Please enjoy this short look at how we can keep the learnings of camp alive year-round!
http://www.acacamps.org/news/take-camp-skills-school
Until next time,
CJ Love
We respect every creature, even if they are slippery
We have our first guest blogger for our Now Is My Story blog. This post was written by one of our past campers, and CJ Staff Alum, Jessy Zich. Jessy has traveled the world following her passion for the environment and its creatures. She has shared her passion with many campers and staff at Camp Jorn, which we are grateful. This passion, she credits as being nurtured through attending CJ, has inspired her to continue to pass her knowledge and caring on to the future leaders of tomorrow. Enjoy
It is hard to imagine a time before cell phones, video games, the Internet and social networks. It’s hard to imagine such times, because it’s hard to believe that we ever survived without such devices, but we did. Today such forms of technology have taken over our lives and the way we live, in ways we probably never imagined possible. Worst of all, it is taking away the childhoods of many children.
Take your average American teenager, for example. They probably have a cell phone that is just as nice as the one their parents have. This average American child also spends about 40 to 50 hours a week on social networks, television and video games. In fact they have a whole social world at their fingertips and a whole made up self-image online. They may spend a little time outside at school recess, or sports functions. Depending on their neighborhood, they may not have access to parks and other areas of recreation. Some neighborhoods may be too dangerous, and others far out in the suburbs where parks are only accessible by car.
Of course this is not the case for every child, but studies are showing that the majority of our children are simply losing their childhood. Yes, they are being entirely robbed of building forts, getting scrapes on their legs, collecting bugs, and playing in the dirt! They are losing the best part of their years, years that are crucial for exploration, self-development, and building friendships.
One of the greatest losses with all of this is a child’s relationship with nature. Our children are becoming nature deficient as Richard Louv coins it, in Last Child Left in The Woods. Our kids can easily name every African mammal, but cannot name a single local mammal other than a squirrel. The childhood their parents had may be much different then their own. Simply put, when we had no reason to be inside, we weren’t. Not having a reason to stay inside, may be why being outdoors was a huge part of being a kid.
There are several ways in which parents can bring their children back to nature. Simply limiting the amount of time they use media devices, taking them to natural areas, going on camping trips, and sending them to outdoor camps.
Camps such as Camp Jorn YMCA, play a vital role in the development of children. It’s a real life, hands on, life changing experience. Campers grow as individuals, meet friends, learn about responsibility, and discover the world around them. For those kids lucky enough to experience Camp Jorn, they are able to see the northwoods, and live and become a part of it. Camp Jorn’s Environmental Program encourages children to take time to discover what the Northwoods has to offer. Campers are able to do a variety of activities, from nature hikes, canoeing to the island and looking for the resident bald eagle’s nest, learning outdoor survival, and looking for small creatures on the shores of Rest Lake.
Campers don’t have to be in Environmental class to experience nature. Courses and night hikes are offered for cabin activities as well. On trips, campers explore northern Wisconsin by foot or canoe. They learn how to look at maps, and become more aware of their surroundings. After a whole day of working together to get to their campsite and prepare dinner, they sleep under the stars. More than likely they are awakened by the cries of a common Loon on one of the many lakes in Vilas County. Last year some of our campers sat and watched as the Northern Lights flickered in green and red across the sky; they watched eagles soar, saw the milky way, helped make a fire, sailed across a lake and had days filled with laughter and happiness. Camp Jorn provides a positive adventurous experience for children and adults of all ages. We hope to see you there!
Making "campfire apple pie" for our LITE (Learn It This Evening) night
After each session of resident camp, we ask parents and kids to let us know how the Camp Jorn experience was for them. We are eager to hear about the things we can work on so that we can make the changes we need to make, and we also love to hear what we’re doing well so we can keep doing that!
We thought we’d send out a “feel-good” blog post today with some of the wonderful feedback we’ve heard from campers and their parents in the recent past.
Enjoy!
From Parents:
My daughter had a wonderful time and experience. She loved her time at camp and we hope she has the opportunity to participate in the future. Thanks to everyone for all of your efforts!
My daughter had such a good time she didn’t want to come home! She asked if she could go 2 weeks next summer! Way to go Camp Jorn! You guys rock!!! The lessons you teach the children are just phenomenal. My daughter not only learned to be independent, but she learned that having fun doesn’t have to include video games, iPods and cell phones. I LOVE the fact that you guys keep them busy all day long doing actual activities. I would recommend Camp Jorn to everyone I know that has a child. I LOVE you guys!!!
I love to hear the stories [my child] tells when she gets off the bus, and how excited she is to tell us. I think Camp Jorn’s staff is doing a wonderful job with these kids!
Camp was a great experience overall. It was my daughter’s first time and she will be back next year.
Keep up the good work. You can tell by the pictures that he is a happy kid while he is there.
Great camp- she had a fantastic time!
Everything was great, and the staff was awesome!
This was her first away from home resident camping experience. She had a wonderful time and was disappointed on Saturday morning when she had to board the bus to come home. Thanks to everyone for making her first experience an enjoyable one.
I was unsure at first about sending her for two weeks… BUT I must say your staff all around helped me be more comfortable with her gone. She had the best summer experience anyone could have ever given her. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.
This was the best experience for my daughter who left shy and reserved but returned full of life, independent and eager to make friends. Thank God for Camp Jorn!
The experience is better each and every time for my children and they are planning on attending next year already. Thank you for all that you do. You absolutely make a huge difference in the children’s lives.
Top notch! My kids loved it!
This has been an awesome experience for my son. I haven’t seen him this happy in a long time. He’s looking forward to being in camp next year. Thank you once again.
Great job… thanks for treating my daughter with kindness.
Everyone in our group grew personally from their CJ experience– thanks to the staff for a job well done!
From Kids:
What did you like best about camp? EVERYTHING!
I loved bonding with my fellow TEVA girls!
I loved the overnight camping, waterskiiing and sailing.
I like being away from my usual schedule and being able to do things that I wouldn’t be able to do at home
I liked meeting new people and learning how to make different crafts.
Friends, activities, FUN
I liked meeting new people and making friends, the beautiful scenery, and fun classes
Friendly people, my counselor, and I was busy all the time
I like being around kids my own age that treated me with respect. I LOVED horseback riding and water skiing.
I feel like I belong at CJ
Camp Jorn is changing lives! Tell us how it’s changed yours!
Hi CJ Family!
As we get closer to the most amazing summer of 2012, one of the things we think a lot about is the trips that all of our campers will go on!
Trips have always been an important part of the Camp Jorn experience. Canoe trips on our beautiful chain of lakes, hiking trips to the Bay, or even day trips on camp property are opportunities to grow and learn.
Some people really love trips. Some people get annoyed by the weather or the bugs. At Camp Jorn, we believe the great things about trips heavily outweigh the challenges!!
As a Camp Jorn camper, you will definitely get a chance to learn some true camping skills. Our staff are eager to teach CJ campers about things like how to set up a tent, how to gather different kinds of wood and start a campfire, how to cook a meal over a camp stove or fire, how to paddle a canoe or pack a backpack properly, and how to leave your campsite looking like no one was there. It’s the art of minimum impact camping, and we’re proud to show it off!
Usually, our younger cabins go on a “day trip,” or a short overnight trip close to camp as their first trip experience. Fox Island is a great place for these kinds of trips, as is the Bay, and even the athletic field in the middle of camp! Some of our younger cabin groups have even been known to set up a tent in their cabin! In any case, younger campers learn some of the basics about camping, and they play some fun games with their cabin in the process.
Older cabin groups go on a one or two night trip, and learn a bit more about what it takes to live in the wilderness for a short time. We are so proud watching these campers go out with their counselors and JCs in canoes or on a backpacking trail! Although sometimes it rains, or the mosquitoes come out to play, everyone who comes back from their trip can say “I did that!” These kids learn the value of working together to get where they want to go, provide their own meals, and get along in a small group. And they usually have a great time, and have some great stories to tell when they get back!!
TEVA campers go on a 3-4 night trip when they’re at camp. CITs are gone for 5-8 nights on a canoe or backpacking trip. The sense of self-confidence and accomplishment these leadership campers gain while on this trips is clearly evident when they get back into camp. And the close-knit feeling of the group is a bond that can’t be broken- ask any of the TEVAs and CITs you know!!
Not only do trips help increase self-esteem and bring a group closer together, but research shows that trips help kids learn self-efficacy, or the concept that we can control our own functioning, and the events that affect our lives. Check out this link for an excellent article on this concept.
I especially like this excerpt from the article: “An individual’s positive judgment based on their efficacy promotes active involvement in activities and contributes to the growth of competencies needed in that activity.” In other words, the self-efficacy learned on the trail carries over in a positive way into the life of the child outside of camp.
Let us know your thoughts on trips! We’d love to hear what trips you’ve been on, what you learned from them, and encouraging words for our campers who have not yet experienced a trip!
I know, it’s crazy, right? Learning is what you have to do the rest of the year at school!! Camp is all about fun, activities, and friends, not learning!!
Hate to break it to you, but there’s actually a LOT of learning going on at Camp! But don’t worry, it’s only the FUN kind you don’t even notice.
Check it out- you’re really learning all these great things!
And…
Feel free to comment and share some of the things you’ve learned at camp.
Now is my Story 