Archive for category overnight camp
Summer Camp: a Different Way to Be Connected!
Posted by centauri in articles about summer camp, Arts Camps, Ontario Camps, overnight camp, teen camp on July 19, 2010
There’s a new challenge facing overnight camps these days. For our teens, it’s harder than ever before to leave behind their technologies, and immerse themselves in social interactions that are ‘face to face’ rather than over the internet. The average teen in North America sends and receives 200 text messages a day, something they can’t do at camp. They are constantly in touch with the mini-dramas occurring in the lives of their friends – who has split up with who, and which friends are arguing. ‘Turning off’ this constant barrage of ‘issues’ in their peer groups is a challenge when they come to overnight camp.
So what can we do to help, as camp directors, camp staff, parents and guardians? The direct social interaction that camp offers is more important than ever before. All we can do is reassure our kids that their friends will still be there when they get home. And hope that social media and text messaging do not become a reason for them to lose out on all the fabulous experiences that sleep-over camp can offer.
Any thoughts from our families? Please share them. We often hear kids tell us it’s hard to be away from the mini-dramas they share in on Facebook. But sleep-over camp can offer so much more than a summer spend interacting online. When I watch our campers share together in an arts workshop, an important group discussion, a night star-gazing, a moment celebrating new achievements, or a meal of singing and dancing together… well, you get the idea.
Julie
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT CENTAURI ARTS CAMP…
Posted by centauri in Arts Camps, arts programs, Centauri Summer Arts Camp., overnight camp on April 5, 2010
All the quotations below are taken from notes received in the last few months. We’re removed names and identifying features to ensure privacy.
FROM PARENTS…
“Thank you so much for providing such a wonderful camp. My kids can’t stop talking about you: the other campers, the counsellors, the kitchen staff, in other words everyone and everything at Centauri. Thank you for taking such good care of them. I think you guy are doing such a wonderful thing, having this camp for creative kids. It is such an accepting and warm place, which is not found everywhere. I can tell you guys love what you do and it shows in the program you run.”
“My husband and I wanted to compliment and thank you as directors of this fabulous arts camp! Our daughter attended this summer and it was her first time away from home at an overnight camp. We wanted to let you know how very impressed we were with the camp overall and specifically how pleased we were with the dance program she participated in. The demonstration for the parents was marvellous – how creative and imaginative these young people are and how enthusiastic are their counsellors!”
“My child’s camp experience was a major turning point – from an awkward grade 9 kid who felt under confident and excluded, to a happy and gregarious 15 year old… we were assured this was the experience of many of your campers at this crucial, challenging age. We cannot tell you how absolutely thrilled we are. You, the counsellors and administrators should be very proud to run the camp that you do. You are positively touching many young lives. It takes a village to raise a child, and Centauri is part of our village.”
FROM GROWN UP CAMPERS…
“Without this camp I would not be who I am today and for that I am eternally grateful. Also I’ve met so many fantastic people through Centauri that it’s hard to think of where I’d be without them. Centauri also helped me develop all the artistic habits I love. If it weren’t for camp I wouldn’t be a filmmaker and I wouldn’t be going to Sheridan next year. If it weren’t for camp I wouldn’t be as skilled in acting and improvisation. If I didn’t go to camp I wouldn’t know how to fight with swords! (All right, that last one might not be quite so crucial to my future but…it was still super awesome!)”
“I just recieved your newsletter and I have to say that I am so excited to hear from you guys and see what the camp is up to these days. Centauri was honestly one of my best experiences I think I’ve ever had. I had such a fun time there, and I made so many friends. It truly was a place where I felt 100% myself. Both you and Craig played such an integral role in making my camp experience an amazing one. So, before I tell you what I’m up to, I just want to say a big THANK YOU.”
“Centauri changed my life, I would never be who I am today without it. I never, ever would have thought I would be able to do anything like the Inspiration Challenge as an LIT, or take a dance class for the first time in ten years, or sing a solo, or write a poem and share it with the entire camp, but I did all of these things at Centauri. When faced with fears and challenges in my life now, I can think back to how loved and accepted I felt at camp. Going to Centauri was truly
one of the best things that ever happened in my life, it showed me that there are people in the world who are kind and accepting, no matter what.”
We love receiving feedback about camp! Feel free to email us at info@centauriartscamp.com
These testimonials are printed in our March Newsletter, along with lots of other great camp news.
Go to www.centauriartscamp.com/blog/?p=125
New Articles about summer camp.
Posted by centauri in articles about summer camp, camp counselor, Centauri Summer Arts Camp., overnight camp on January 27, 2009
Julie has posted 2 new articles on our web site at
http://www.centauri.on.ca/articles/arts_articles.htm
The first article is Overnight camp: The seven best ways to prepare your child.
giving new camp parents some great tips on how to help with overnight camp transition.
The second article is “It’s Not a Real Job!” How Camp Counselling Prepares you for the Real World
giving a great argument why being a camp counsellor is the perfect way to learn skills for jobs in the “real world”