Overnight Camp Changes Lives. Here’s 6 Reasons Why: Camp = Astounding Self Growth Young people grow more in 2 weeks away from home than the rest of the year combined. They learn independence and self-awareness. They discover new interests, and strengths they never knew they had. They figure out who they are, and who they [...]
It may seem strange, but because Centauri Arts Camp is located in the Niagara Region and not up North, families don’t expect us to have access to a whole lot of nature here. That couldn’t be further from the truth! This morning as I headed to breakfast, there were over 200 tree swallows sitting on [...]
Most of our blogs are about campers (of course). But now, it’s the parents’ turn. Day 1 Drop your child off at Centauri. Let’s face it, this person is one of the most precious (perhaps THE most precious) person in your life – so don’t just drop them off. Bring them to camp, and meet [...]
In times past, it was usual for families to be ‘extended’. Young people were more likely to experience closeness to - and respect for - family members of different ages. Today, many youth live on the other side of the world from grandparents, uncles and aunts. Meanwhile, families are smaller - meaning that children are [...]
I had a surprise in the office this morning. A parent called out of the blue to tell us what a difference we had made in her daughter’s life. She said that years ago, her daughter attended a traditional camp, but as a child with a creative spirit and a keen interest in drama, she [...]
Recently I came across a terrific book about summer camp by bestselling author and speaker, Michael Thompson, entitled, ‘Homesick and Happy’, Thompson argues that in today’s world, when many parents consider it unsafe even to let their child walk to school by themselves, overnight camp has never been more important. Children are rarely away from [...]
It's the middle of the summer now, and we have a little tradition at Centauri Arts Camp: for one day, half way through the season, regular activities are suspended. We take off to a water park for the afternoon, and conclude the day with a concert! Our special day began with a pyjama breakfast, and [...]
This year saw the publication, in England, of a fascinating book about childhood - KITH, by Jay Griffiths. In this book the author asserts that children in today's developed societies are unhappier, more anxious, more prone to suicidal thoughts and generally less emotionally healthy than their counterparts in other parts of the world and certainly [...]
At Centauri Arts Camp, writers spend 4 hours a day focused on their own work and share their pieces with other writers every day. No wonder many of us feel our most creative under the Centauri Poet Tree! Inspiration and time to write are harder to find when we’re not at camp, but there are [...]
A great summer camp comes into existence the week or two before campers arrive... right? WRONG! Exceptional summer camps are 12-month operations, and Centauri Arts Camp is no exception. What we do to make camp the best it can be is pretty obvious during the summer months... walk on to camp at any time in [...]