Gratitude Revisited
I couldn’t let this year end without revisiting the theme of gratitude, which became an important focus this year for my family, for camp, and for me personally. While I have some free time over this holiday week, I want to refocus on gratitude and rededicate myself to some of my own gratitude practices, which…
READ MORE
That’s Why We’re Here!
We finally got out of our pajamas and headed to the ice rink late Christmas afternoon. My natives were restless, and although I would have loved to lounge the entire day away – maybe do a little reading and writing – I rallied with the kids and we went. After shelling out $100.24 for five…
READ MORE
Connection
Jack You are my best friend. We had fun together. I will miss you. I will talk to you in my prayers. I love you Jack. Love, John Countless times over the past week my throat has constricted and my eyes have filled with tears as I read about the children, families, and heroes of…
READ MORE
Good Gifts
The best thing you can give your children, next to good habits, are good memories. -Sydney Harris Our home is overrun with more electronic gadgets than there are people. And, with our kids beyond the age where they ask for small toys, it’s difficult to think of a gift that is remotely needed other than…
READ MORE
Book Review: How Children Succeed
“We think that even if your children have the academic skills they need – and we’re doing our best to make sure they do – if our young adults grow up and they don’t also have strong character skills, then they don’t have very much. Because we know that character is what keeps people happy…
READ MORE
Way Too Much of a Good Thing
Anyone who’s been reading my blog knows that I’m a big proponent of getting kids “unplugged.” I love that they get two weeks of tech free time to focus on face-to-face relationships while they’re at camp. Unfortunately, I think many of them fall back into their same tech habits, and those of their parents,…
READ MORE
Messages for an Anxious Camper
Check out more Summer Camp videos. “Children want to be independent, and they realize that they cannot be truly independent until they beat homesickness, even when they have a painful case of it.” –Michael Thompson, PhD., Homesick and Happy Messages for a Hesitant Camper Recently I spoke with a mom whose 11-year-old son is coming to…
READ MORE
Homesickness Help
Homesickness is an emotion that most campers feel to some degree at camp. Fortunately, in most cases, the fun and excitement of camp far outweigh any sad feelings. If this is your child’s first experience away from you for a significant period of time, we encourage you to read through the following recommendations. Homesickness Dos…
READ MORE
“Kidsickness”: Help for First Time Camp Parents
Who’s REALLY not ready for camp? Usually, parents say it’s their kid who’s not ready, but in my experience, the kids are raring to go, and it’s the parents who aren’t ready. After spending the last three decades at camp having fun with the campers, and talking to their anxious parents at home, I’m certain…
READ MORE
Get Unplugged
The January/February, 2011, issue of Stanford Magazine reported on research being done about the impact of time spent online (link to the article provided below). It gave me even more reasons to celebrate that Gold Arrow Camp gives kids an extended period of “unplugged” time. Researchers at Stanford (and I’m sure elsewhere) are investigating what…
READ MORE
Hand Written Letters
This week I’ve been going through the many boxes of letters, photos, and memorabilia which I have collected over my first four decades. It’s been a time-consuming task, but I’m trying to organize into a smaller number of boxes what has been accumulated over the first half of my life. What has struck me most…
READ MORE
Nature Pees and Lanyard Fishing Poles
Watching the campers construct fishing poles out of sticks and lanyard string, I had a revelation. Kids rarely get a chance to play like this any more. And, boy, are they good at it when they are given the opportunity! For the first time in many years, I went on a GAC backpacking trip last…
READ MORE