Identity - Because of Summer Camp #7

Matt Wilfrid October 3, 2014

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher App

Camp Teaches Us About Our True Identity

Welcome back to the Podcast!

Looking to the finding of your identity we explore how camp can really be an excellent vessel for young people to find who they are.

This episode we welcome Paul “Blox” Denyer who is someone who has truly had camp influence where he is today in his profession as a plumber.

Camp allows us to find a blox says it “be ok with who you are” and ensure you are comfortable within your own skin. This comes through multiple facets such as the multitude and varying skill sets that we all get to try and attempt at camp, accompanied with role models who aren’t afraid to be wrong.

In many facets of society being a jack of all trades, or at least someone who is willing to give most things a shot, isn’t appreciated as greatly as it could be. Realistically there aren’t many places where young people can try a whole bunch of new skills without the fear of further judgement or consequences based on what they are doing. At camp kids are encouraged to try and make mistakes allowing them to explore new potential passions, thus truly enabling them potentially to find their own personal identity.

One of the main reasons that camp does this so successfully is by having goofy, mistake making role models for our young people. In many cases there is a sense of autonomy whereby the staff at camp allow kids to make mistakes because although campers respect the staff at camp, in many cases they don’t fear them, in fact, they feel supported by them.

With a community backing them and role models who are also actively learning and are vocal with their mistake making, how can camp not provide opportunities to try and better self identify?

Camp helped Blox realize its ok to be you, jump around and be silly use silly voices and focusing on whatever skill set is the one you want, what could camp do for the kids of next summer?

Have a great day!

Thanks for the podcast, friends!

-Arae

Tangible Take-Aways - Applying camp’s lessons to your life

Blox - Try to find one moment to compliment someone and try to help people be set on the right track.

Arae - Take a moment to reflect and do some gratitude journaling, write 5 things you are thankful for, 3 things you are proud of and one goal. Do this daily! Its good for you!

Iscus - Look through your social media, look at whether or not what you are posting is a true representation of who you are. See what your "Social Media Subtext" says about you!

Please feel free to comment below on how you did with our challenges. Good luck!

Your Hosts

Paul Denyer, Former Camp Site Manager, Plumber

Matt Honsberger, Co-Host - The Because of Summer Camp Podcast

Ian Paton, Co-Host - The Because of Summer Camp Podcast

Curiosity - Because of Summer Camp #6

Matt Wilfrid May 9, 2014

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher App

Camp Teaches Kids to be Curious!

It seems to be unanimous across of our hosts and guests today that curiosity goes past just the knowledge seeking aspect that it may initially be attributed to.

We are happy to welcome Kirsten “Firefly” Otis, the modern day Ms. Frizzle to discuss how camp allows for space and time for liberty to be taken about discovery. Camp allows for everyone to be wondering and have time to learn about what they want. At camp we intentionally use teachable moments and use whatever we are currently involved in to teach whatever lessons come upon us.

I think that curiosity is an excellent way to push against apathy in our young people. Apathy is the not doing of anything, or not having the motivation to act on anything. Curiosity, when harnessed, can truly awaken a passion. With encouragement and drive within an environment where curiosity is encouraged, young people try new things and discover their likes and dislikes. Being curious is all about finding out something new or pushing to explore and discover. This is how we think that camp helps our young people develop their passions.

Just today, even as a staff member, we discovered some baby painted turtles making their way towards the swamp and we stopped to observe and learn and discover. I think that the beauty of camp is that we don’t seek to crush curiosity and we look to help young people find out who they are, and encourage them to explore their interests!

We are so glad to have had this wonderful chat with modern day Ms. Frizzle, and all of the curiosity she brings to the table.

I’ll see you next time.

Thanks for the podcast, friends!
-Arae

Tangible Take-Aways - Applying camp’s lessons to your life

Firefly - Give yourself space in your life to look around and notice things. Walk a bit slower, look up, down and all around and ask yourself why things are how they are. If you want to go a step further, try using your other senses to discover more about the things that make your curious.

Arae - Use curiosity as a tool to get to know someone better. Use visual cues like bracelets, jewelry, art in their houses or even their clothes, and ask questions about it. People love telling stories and it is one of the easiest ways to connect with people.

Iscus - Go to a crowded place where you can observe big groups of people (ex. the third floor balcony of a mall). Take a second to think about how each one of those people have a story, goals and dreams. It’s a good way to get out of your own little world once and awhile.

Please feel free to comment below on how you did with our challenges. Good luck!

Your Hosts

Kirsten Otis, Camp Staff, Educator and Outdoor Education Specialist - The Curious Firefly

Matt Honsberger, Co-Host - The Because of Summer Camp Podcast

Ian Paton, Co-Host - The Because of Summer Camp Podcast

Camaraderie - Because of Summer Camp #5

Matt Wilfrid May 1, 2014

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher App

Camp Teaches Kids About Camaraderie

“Camaraderie” was my word of the summer in 2013. In general, it is one of my most favourites.

Incase you aren’t familiar with it, here’s a definition from Apple’s Dictionary:

camaraderie, noun
mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together: a genuine camaraderie on the hockey team.

I came to really understand Camaraderie last summer at camp. A group of us were asked to assemble and set up the canoe docks that were stacked away for the winter. I wouldn’t say that any of us were "experts" at assembling this heavy steel structure, but, we’re camp people of course, so we are adaptable, clever and if not anything else, willing.

There are a ton of factors that into getting the docks together and placed safely, as we learned that day. Another thing that we learned that day was the beauty of tackling those factors together. It wasn’t easy, and that was important; It required multiple perspectives, which was important, and most of all, it required for us to be a cohesive, and adaptable team.

I’ll never forget that afternoon at camp. It could have just been meaningless grunt-work, but it so much more. Something that camp taught me that afternoon was through camaraderie, any task can become a relationship strengthening activity.

We were thrilled to have Mieke Barette from Camp Wenonah join us on the show to dive into why the lesson of camaraderie is something that she learned at summer camp, and is something that she uses regularly in her job in the Music Faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University.

I hope that you leave this podcast with a new found love for camaraderie. I would love to chat with you about it sometime!

Happy camping,
-Iscus

Tangible Take-Aways - Applying camp’s lessons to your life

Arae - Use a friend (perhaps the same friend from Episode 1) and get outside and share an experience together.

Iscus - Have a CRAZY camaradic experience! Use this list for inspiration: http://www.tickld.com/x/20-awesome-date-ideas-

Mieke - At least 3 times, offer people in your workplace a hand with one of their tasks. Remember that even the smallest, most “meaningless” tasks hold an opportunity for Camaraderie !

Please feel free to comment below on how you did with our challenges. Good luck!

Your Hosts

Mieke Barette, Outreach and Student Recruitment Coordinator At Wilfrid Laurier University & Camp Wenonah Staff Member

Matt Honsberger, Co-Host - The Because of Summer Camp Podcast

Ian Paton, Co-Host - The Because of Summer Camp Podcast

Self Awareness & Regulation - Because of Summer Camp #4

Matt Wilfrid April 23, 2014

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher App

Camp Teaches Kids Self Regulation and Awareness

Have you ever thought about how aware you are of yourself and your impact on your surroundings?

I want to share with you two things that really “grind my gears”. it’s really hard for me not to get angry when I see people littering or changing lanes without signalling (did your body just tense up too?). It’s even harder for me not to make a judgement about those people doing those actions. After years of getting irrationally mad and passing judgements, I’ve come to the conclusion that people who litter, and don’t signal when changing lanes aren’t doing it out of purposeful malice. They simply aren’t thinking about the environment or for the safety of other drivers are on the road. And really, I can only feel bad for those people that they didn’t learn the lesson of self awareness and regulation at camp! Yes, I realize that in itself is passing a judgement, just bear with me please.

On this episode of The Because of Summer Camp Podcast, we are excited to welcome Jocelyn “Etsy” Lewis to the podcast to discuss how camp can teach kids to understand themselves and realize their potential impact on the world. A big part of Etsy’s life is working to facilitate an intentional community in downtown Windsor for women in transition.

Tune in to hear lots of stories about how camp can teach kids about being responsible for their own behaviour and responding to their limits in a healthy and happy way.

Thanks for listening!

-Iscus

Tangible Take-Aways - Applying camp’s lessons to your life

Iscus - The Apple Theory. An exercise in self regulation. Before you unconsciously snack, check if you are really hungry. Think about your most favourite fruit or vegetable, if you really want to eat, then eat that! If you don't want that fruit or vegetable, than you probably don't need to be eating in that moment!

Arae - When in a conversation or a group meeting and you have an idea that you think is really good, let it go by for a bit and let other's get their points in. It allows for you to take a second to appreciate others and realize that if your idea is important enough, there will be a chance to share it later.

Etsy - Identify a physical/mental/emotional/spiritual need that you have and start a new habit that will keep one of those needs on track.

Please feel free to comment below on how you did with our challenges. Good luck!

Your Hosts

Jocelyn "Etsy" Lewis, - Intentional Living Community in Windsor, Ontario

Matt Honsberger, Co-Host - The Because of Summer Camp Podcast

Ian Paton, Co-Host - The Because of Summer Camp Podcast

Community - Because of Summer Camp #3

Matt Wilfrid April 9, 2014

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher App

Camp teaches kids the value of community.

Welcome, friends, to the third episode of The Because of Summer Camp Podcast.

This episode, we are happy to welcome Natasha “Plinko” Dunn to the show. Plinko works on a daily basis in the “real world” to build community as a elementary school teacher. Today, we discuss some of the skills and ideas that summer camp has helped develop Plinko into THE community building wizard.

At camp, staff and campers are put into a place and are required to live and function together. It’s only natural that there are challenges and difficulties that they are bound to come up against.

But worry not! Camp staff are invested in the campers, and are taking time to get to know each of the campers for who they really are. Throughout a week at camp, counsellors and leadership team members each make the conscious effort to maintain a healthy relationship with all of the people around them. With this type of support system, it only makes sense that camp is probably the strongest community I have ever been a part of. Ever since I was a wee one, just an eight year old, I remember observing how camp community functioned and made so much more sense than many of the other communities I had been a part of. The empowering proponent of emotional safety that really only does come from a healthy community is so very inspiring and I truly think that is why camp staff come back year after year to work harder than anywhere else on the planet.

We truly think that camp has the power to help inspire the community builders of tomorrow!

If you have any questions or comments or ideas please contact us and let us know!

Until next time,

-Arae

Tangible Take-Aways - Applying camp’s lessons to your life

Iscus - Draw a community mind map on a white board, write down each community you have been a part of and how each of these communities have helped you and supported you throughout your life.

Arae - Reflect on what community means to you and try to find some media that articulates your idea of community and then share it in the comments below. Look for a ted talk, a blog post, anything that speaks to your idea of community

Natasha - Create a positive culture in your workplace through praising other people, and why you are praising them. Think to Michael Brandwein’s Describe label praise concept, labeling things we appreciate is much more important than just saying “thats awesome high five!!!”

DLP - Describe the action, Label the quality that it shows, Praise the action

Please feel free to comment below on how you did with our challenges. Good luck!

Your Hosts

Natasha Dunn, Elementary School Teacher - MsDunnOnline.ca, http://therookieteacher.ca/

Matt Honsberger, Co-Host - The Because of Summer Camp Podcast

Ian Paton, Co-Host - The Because of Summer Camp Podcast

Grit and Resilience - Because of Summer Camp #2

Matt Wilfrid April 7, 2014

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher App

Camp teaches kids grit and resilience.

We are very excited to welcome Adam “Taps” Brown to the show this week. Ian and I met Adam during his time working as the Co-Director at the Cairn Family of Camps. If you know Adam, you know that he is one of the most intentional teachers and leaders out there. Yes, he has a ton of hard skills, but it’s how he applies them and better yet, how he teaches them that makes him brilliant. His determination to better both himself and other people around him is why he is the perfect person to talk about grit and resilience with us today.

Camp and life are tough, but the environment totally affects our experience of not only what “tough” means but how we respond to the things that are “tough”. In my opinion, camp is “tough” in the best kind of way. At camp, we encourage kids to create a lifestyle of exploring their physical, mental and even spiritual comfort zones. Does the outside world do this? Absolutely it does! However, the difference between camp and elsewhere lies in the focus that we take in nurturing those who are ready to explore their limits. I hesitate to use the phrase that we “take time” to foster resilience, because that implies that we are inconveniencing our regular lives to do so. At camp, we DON’T “take time” to help kids build grit and resilience, we DO embrace a lifestyle of growing together and making each other aware of our growth. I recognize that I live a life of many privileges, but when even my life gets tough, I know that I can draw on my experience of perseverance at camp to realize that I can in fact be resilient. Because of Summer Camp, I have grit.

Until next week!

-Iscus

Tangible Take-Aways - Applying camp’s lessons to your life

Adam - Take a few situations that were hard and reflect on the following questions: Why was it hard? How did I get through it? How do I feel about myself for getting through it?

Iscus - Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers - A brilliant way to think about resilience

Arae - Think about other people that are facing challenges in their lives and find a way to be on the journey with them to help them recognize their resilience.

Please feel free to comment below on how you did with our challenges. Good luck!

Your Hosts

Adam Brown, Director of Challenge Course Client Services - Adventureworks! Associates, Inc.

Matt Honsberger, Co-Host - The Because of Summer Camp Podcast

Ian Paton, Co-Host - The Because of Summer Camp Podcast

Initiative - Because of Summer Camp #1

Matt Wilfrid March 18, 2014

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Stitcher App

Camp teaches kids initiative.

Welcome, friends, to the first episode of The Because of Summer Camp show.

First of all, we need to express are extremely grateful we are to you for taking the time to visit us and listen to the podcast. Whether you are a long-time summer camper, a parent of a camper or someone who is interested in this summer camp “thing”, you are welcome here and we are forever grateful for you.

This episode, we decided to start things off with a bang by bringing on The CampHacker himself, Travis “Zoic” Allison to talk about his experience with initiative at camp. For those of you who know Travis, you will know that he lives and breathes initiative. From his photography, to his multiple projects with CampHacker.TV, Travis is always busy taking the things he is passionate about and making that his life’s work. In his words, “no one had ever done a podcast about summer camp before, so I just did it”.

Just do it. It’s not just a dated slogan.

One of the best things about camp (one of the many best things), is that whether you are a camper, staff member, or alumni, camp can always find a way to highlight the skills you tell you about how good you are at them. Every day that a person spends at camp, the more empowered they become to take the initiative to share their gifts. When kids feel empowered, they feel driven to add our passions and skills into our lives. Imagine a world where kids are acting on the things they are truly passionate about. Pretty great, eh? Come and see it in action at camp.

We hope you enjoy the show!

Tangible Take-Aways - Applying camp’s lessons to your life

Iscus - Make a list of the things you are passionate about and find a way to integrate one of those passions into your daily work.

Arae - Take the initiative to actually catch up with someone you really care about. Don’t just say, “we should hang out sometime!” Set a date, and do it!

Zoic - Learn something that will take your knowledge one step deeper. Don’t forget to “consume less and create more” by not just consuming knowledge, but applying it!

Please feel free to comment below on how you did with our challenges. Good luck!