Camp Woodland Blog

I love summer camp themes. There I said it! My name is Lee and I love summer camp themes. I still remember the first camp I went to (so sadly not Woodland) and the theme was “Feeling Great in ’88!” They weren’t wrong, I felt great as a camper in 1988. I was ready to start out on an adventure and accomplish HUGE things. For example, I was going to be the confident girl (very shy at school) and the best at swimming (known for the belly flop at the local pool). Yes, I had lofty goals but I remember feeling GREAT trying to do all those things, and all the counselors trying so hard to teach me to dive off the swimming platform.

My personal favorite Summer Theme

This is why I love Summer Camp Themes – you get to imagine all the possibilities! Whether you Dare To Explore, All We Can Be, or Everything Clicks, this summer is all about testing your own potential and fulfilling goals. By the way, we are really really good at that at Camp Woodland for Girls. The coolest thing is that you may find you are not just learning new skills, but being the best person you can be. Therefore, this summer we want to celebrate your amazing achievements. When you return home at the end of camp, we want you to be excited and confident on how “Everything clicked 1-6”.

Last year’s summer theme “Where I Thrive in 1-5!”

P.S. There are all kinds of fun ways to check in what is happening at camp right now!

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Hilltop April Showers

Best Moments from Hilltop Summer 2015

Most proud:

Libby: when I did the correct canter; for a long time I wasn’t doing it right, but finally, I tried really hard and I felt very accomplished!

Tory: water-skiing! It is so fun…it is like standing on water!

Lou: I learned to trot by myself in riding

Rachel: when I got to canter for the first time while riding Henry

Ximena: I learned to trot by myself in riding

Dani: I made new friends

Best thing that happened to me at camp:

Libby: when all of my cabin mates took turns telling each other why they liked each other. It made me feel very special. I like spending time with my cabin during cabin night!

Tory: meeting friends and making memories

Lou: when we went to do the Aqua Tramp it was scary at first, but then it was a lot of fun when I tried it

Rachel: getting to live in Hilltop and meeting everyone in the cabin

Ximena: having this awesome cabin and going to the Aqua Tramp

Dani: I love all of the activities and the games!

The thing I learned most about myself:

Libby: I may be afraid to try things, but once I try, I’m not afraid anymore. For example, during Aqua Tramp, I was afraid to go on the Rave I finally did it, and it was FUN!

Tory: that I love Woodland and I have so much FUN! I can be crazy!

Lou: I am good at Arts & Crafts, Horseback Riding, and Riflery

Rachel: that I am a great friend and cabin mate

Ximena: that I am able to do things that I didn’t know I could do!

Dani: that I LOVE camp!

Starshine May Flowers

Best Moments from Starshine Summer 2015

Most proud:

Jae: I used to be afraid of tubing, but I tried it at camp, and I love it!

Jadyn: I got to make new friends and new memories

Paula: I passed 2 levels of water-skiing and earned Skipper in sailing

Cameron: passing my Blue Bowman in archery, which means I am one step closer to passing my Gold Archer

Sam: passing my Black Archer after trying for several weeks in archery

Amelia: learning how to water-ski

Sofia: learning to sail and passing levels in water-skiing

Best thing that happened to me at camp:

Jae: meeting all of the amazing people that I am now friends with!

Jadyn: I got to spend time with new “buds” and old ones

Paula: making a lot of new friends and having a lot of inside jokes

Cameron: meeting and becoming friends with new people

Sam: meeting all of my friends here that I know I will have for life

Amelia: meeting all of my new friends and creating stronger bonds with the old ones. I also like making so many more memories with my cabin!

Sofia: meeting new friends that will last forever!

The thing I learned most about myself:

Jae: to accept who I am even with the flaws I have

Jadyn: I can accomplish anything with my friends around

Paula: to be independent and solve problems by myself

Cameron: that it is OK to try new things and to be open to meeting new people

Sam: even though I can get annoyed sometimes, I usually keep my cool

Amelia: that I am up for trying new things and meeting new people!

Sofia: I learned more about who I am

Keep reading, this is still the Camp Woodland Blog.   I had a great opportunity to attend the 2016 American Camp Association Midstates Conference in Illinois. It is an annual training opportunity for over 700 camp professionals from various midwest states to learn and keep making camp experiences great for campers, staff, alumni, and parents! It is an energizing weekend where I could learn and immediately add techniques and activities to my toolbox: from a new simple camp game to learning new techniques to build engaging staff training activities.

Susan, Joanne, and myself having a little fun before learning new things 🙂

I also got to be “Michael Brandweined”. Ah, yes, I totally pulled a Calvin Hobbs and verbed a person’s name. But I believe Michael has earned the right to be verbed. Michael Brandwein is an internationally recognized expert on management, communication, leadership, team-building, and customer service. Anyone who produced and performed with Jim Henson’s Muppets has got my attention!

But I digress from my story……Michael was one of the Keynote speakers of the conference, and he talked about the vision of camp and our professional responsibility to camp. He first had us fill in the blanks:

We teach skills for life in a safe, fun, loving place!

Simple but deep statement and then followed up by getting the whole audience to repeat after him:

“We are the in the business of Construction and we build great kids!”

I heard it the first time and thought yup, that is exactly right, Camp Woodland is in the business of Construction, and we definitely specialize in building great kids. Then we (the audience of 700 camp professionals) were asked again, what is our business and the response got louder, “We are in the business of construction and we build great kids!!” I was now in a room with fully engaged directors and staff who are in the business of construction. There is nothing better than being in a room of 700 energized camp representatives!

The lightbulb was now blinking in my brain – Michael you have my attention, but how do we build great kids? Then there it was, as if Michael and I were having a one on one conversation, he took his vision to the next level. (Ps. this is what he is internationally known for).

Michael continued, we build great kids by developing a nurturing, positive environment for them to learn in. I am paraphrasing of course because Michael is a genius at articulating a big vision, and I am still learning this technique. So instead I will give you the example that he used of an adult/counselor reacting to a child/camper using his vision in the following themes:

• Problem solving: “We’ve got a problem, this is a good one! How can we solve this? What our options??”
• Team Work: “Let’s try to do this together”
• Persistence: “Let’s try again. This is a hard one!”
• The Mantra: “We can do hard things”

Wow! As I am writing this down, I am thinking, I am going to try this as a parenting technique too. Sure enough, instead of accusing my children or negatively anchoring on the problem of spilling milk or not sharing or not listening (we have all been there), I changed my tone and redirected. The outcome was miraculous!

Maddie (frustrated 4 year old): I spilled my milk – everywhere!

Me (in a happier tone): Oops! We have got a problem, this is a good one! How can we solve this? What our options??”

Maddie: Well Mommy, I think I can clean it up but I can’t reach the paper towels.

Me: Let’s try to do this together. I will get you the paper towel if you wipe the milk

Maddie: Thank you for helping me. I really didn’t mean to spill my milk

Me: We can do hard things Maddie girl!

Micheal ended his presentation with this statement, “What they “see” is how they will “be”. It’s true, children of any age want to emulate what they see in their life. They are demanding tools to learn to be “grownups”. So by training our counselors to focus on a solution instead of the problem, they can provide campers the tools to be caring, do hard things and be great grownups!

Camp Woodland is proud to be in the business of construction!

Parents, I am so glad we are partnering with you in the business of Construction and specializing in building great kids! Our goal as camp professionals is to build a positive, nurturing environment where we teach skills for life in a safe, fun, loving place!

I am truly greatful to be part of the team Where Everything Clicks in 1-6!

Me and my family!

Grace cares for 4- and 2-legged friends

This person mentioned that Harvard was launching a project to “Make Caring Common”.  Through an article online, I discovered that intent of this project is to “help educators, parents, and communities raise children who are caring, responsible to their communities, and committed to justice.  Leading colleges and universities are joining together to reshape the college admissions process and promote concern for others and the common good.” (Click here to read more…)

Sam promotes respect for the outdoors and nature

The first thing that crossed my mind when I read this post-conference is that any student who has “camp counselor” on her resume, should automatically rocket to the top of the college application pile!  At Camp Woodland, we are all about caring and being responsible to our community.  Because caring for one another is so important, we build the foundation for this to happen starting on the very first day campers arrive.

Sara instills confidence at the Ropes Course

Counselors are key to helping cabins create a contract that encompasses ideals to live by such as respect, honesty, enthusiasm (and FUN!).  We honor this pact and the family (community) we will become through a special Cabin Unity Campfire.  We revisit this contract often throughout the summer to stay true to the promise we made to each other.  Caring for the common good of others is definitely a common practice at camp!

Once in college, there is a lot of pressure for students to pursue an internship as a stepping stone to get into graduate school or to land a job post-graduation.  Returning to camp summer after summer can be a challenging decision for staff to make because it doesn’t seem possible that such a “fun” job can prepare someone for the real world.

Sofia teaches teamwork in dance class

What is interesting to note; however, is that the skills that are at the top of the list for job success include creativity, flexibility/adaptability, initiative, teamwork, leadership, responsibility, critical thinking, and problem solving…just to name a FEW!  These are the skills that will help you to get a job, keep a job, and advance in your career.  While it may be compelling to consider an internship or other job preparation this summer, working at camp provides specific training and experience in these very same competencies!

 Katelyn guides campers to

Are there skills/experiences are you hoping to obtain through  internship opportunities that we could help you cultivate at camp?  There are many leadership roles at Camp Woodland…we would be happy to see if there is something that would help you on your path to your desired career goals!

Pot-O-Gold at the End of the Rainbow

2016 CIT’s Here We Come!

I am really proud of:

Ana: passing my advanced in tennis and kneeling in riflery

Claire: knowing that I only have 10 more qualifiers until I am kneeling in riflery

Sarah: going to camp exchange for riflery and passing my crop in riding

Lydia: passing out of swim lessons

Sofi: being skipper again after capsizing

Andrea: swimming my laps to Cathy’s

Katie: passing my black archer shooting at 30 yd

Betsy: passing from 20 yd to 30 yd in archery; being able to do water stuff after my knee healed

Jenna: fighting my fear of the top bunk

Susan: passing from level 4 in swimming to level 6 in six weeks

Gigi: going to a TP exchange

Canoe Trip

The thing I learned the most about myself this summer:

Ana: to have more self confidence and to be who I am

Claire: to be more self confident about myself because I know that no one will judge me

Sarah: friendship is one of the most special bonds ever

Lydia: I can be outgoing if I try

Sofi: even though you may be getting through a hard time, you still have to have fun

Andrea: the things I am capable of doing

Katie: I may not think so sometimes, but I really enjoy spending time with people

Betsy: I hate crutches(!!!) and that I can rely on my friends more than I thought and don’t have to keep everything a secret

Jenna: I love to comfort people

Susan: that I have worth and to value myself as I do others

Gigi: that there is always going to be one person that you just don’t get along with

Swimming at TP

The best thing that happened to me at camp:

Ana: making really good friends and spending time with them

Claire: learning survival skills in canoeing

Sarah: coming to camp and seeing my best friends

Lydia: spending time with the whole cabin and getting to know them

Sofi: to have the best cabin I could ever ask for

Andrea: being with my friends and cabin

Katie: meeting new people

Betsy: spending a month and a half with the best people in the world

Jenna: seeing all my friends

Susan: being in Tamarack with all of my close friends

Gigi: meeting all these amazing people

Thank you Natalie, Raquel, and Allison!!