Reading At Camp

We all know reading is important, so what better way to encourage kids to understand that than to have their greatest role models (you) read stories aloud to them in such a special place (camp). In order to optimize learning and motivation for reading, it is important to practice reading aloud to children.

• ·   Reading builds listening skills and increases children’s attention span as they learn to concentrate at length to stories.
• ·   It expands children’s schema for things they know. Reading books opens up a child’s world giving them an opportunity to learn information.
• ·   Listening to stories has a direct impact on children’s reading and writing success.
• ·   It provides a model for children and motivates them to become readers and lifelong learners.
• ·   Reading children’s stories to our campers provides the best opportunities for “teachable moments”

There is so much more info out there about the importance of reading, especially in the summer.

Challenge: Name a favorite children’s book to read to your campers and explain why.

Prize: If TEN people comment on this blog, I will post a video of me reading “Scardy Squirrel”

Bullying Article

This is an article I found on the ACA website (www.acacamps.org) about bullying. Bullying happens at camp, whether we admit it or not. Every year there are a handful of our campers that do not come back to camp because of bullying.


Challenge: Read the Article (http://www.acacamps.org/bullying/bullying-prevention) and answer the following questions. This is a long article, and I understand that a lot of you do have more reading to do than you ever want to for school. But bullying is important. Please read it, or at least skim through it or bookmark it on your computer.

• What are you personally going to do at camp this summer to help prevent bullying?
• What are some suggestions you have that we can do as a whole at camp to prevent bullying?

Prize (to everybody that reads & responds) A Handmade Squirrel Friendship Bracelet.

Websites to Explore

If you haven't noticed, we have the most amazing network of resources available for camp ideas right in front of us... the internet! There are tons of great websites out there to explore and help us make camp the best ever. These websites might have song lyrics, games to play, crafts to make, or maybe articles to read - all beneficial to you working at camp.


The Challenge (TWO PARTS): 
1. Choose ONE camp related website that you enjoy. Post the link. Also include something specific that you have found on this website to help you at camp or that you are planning to use this summer.
2. Click on the previous posts' website and explore. Find something you like on that website that you find useful to you and camp.


Prize to the first TWO posts: A set of Camp Seafarer (Y camp in N. Carolina) Silly Bandz


Since whoever posts first needs a website to explore (part 2), a website that I enjoy is http://www.animatedknots.com/indexclimbing.php I found this website specifically helpful before Belay Training last year when I wanted to refresh my memory on how to tie our climbing knot (Double Figure 8 Loop). This website gives excellent, step-by-step clear directions and video on how to tie many useful knots.

The Girl Scout Mission Statement

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Challenge: 2 parts.

Part 1: Describe a specific camp activity that teaches campers one or more of the above. 

Part 2: How do you as a staff member know if you have reached your goal - how can you measure a camper's success (increasing one of the above mission statement parts) in that specific activity?

Prize (first 3 posts): A photograph of an adorable little puppy named Zima

Mid States 2012 Yellow Cards

For those of you at Mid States you know that there were a bunch of yellow cards that helped us network and meet new people. They had some relevant to Mid States information and some just fun camp info on them. I typed them all. They are on my website.


https://sites.google.com/site/squirrelswebsite/home/mid-states-2012-yellow-cards 


Challenge: What is your favorite card and why?


Prize: A Super Cool Specially Squirrel Made Paper Airplane guaranteed to look cool and maybe fly will go to the first person to post.

Goal Setting

We all claim that camp has changed us for the better and helped us become who we are today. Camp continues to do this for all staff and campers, and many times it starts with goal setting. What do you want to get out of camp this summer? What do you hope your campers get out of camp this summer? How do you or other people help your growing and learning at camp? These are all questions to keep in mind as we enter into the summer.


Challenge: What is a personal goal you have for this summer?


Prize goes to the first FOUR posts: A Girl Scout Cookie Scented Stick-On & an unsolved logic puzzle.

Leadership Quote

Another opportunity to win a Super Cool Squirrel-Colored Dinosaur Picture!! The task? 


What does this quote mean to you and how does it apply to you at camp?


For those of you that it is not working to leave a comment, my suggestion is to create a free google account. If that still does not work, feel free to email or fb msg me your responses (you can still win the prize!) and I will post them on the blog.

Mid States Camping Conference

WOO-HOO!!!

CAMP IS ALMOST HERE!! FOURTEEN WEEKS UNTIL THE FIRST CAMPERS ARRIVE!!! :0)

Mid States Camping Conference was GREAT!! I hope everybody had a wonderful experience (first time for many of you) and attended lots of educational sessions that we can incorporate at camp this summer.

I have started typing the yellow cards and those will be posted on this blog shortly!

Just like last summer, I will try to update this blog every week. And as many of you know, I LOVE participation. So please, write lots and lots of comments. Tell me what you think - I want to know! The feedback on this blog will definitely make a difference in planning for the summer.

Okay, let's begin. This first "question" is for those of you that went to Mid States.

Choose one of the sessions that you went to that you really enjoyed. Tell us what it was about and how you plan on using the information you learned at camp this summer.

Ready, begin.

First person to answer will be mailed a super cool dinosaur picture colored by me.