It is often difficult to describe the atmosphere at camp to someone who has never experienced it firsthand.
This video is from the website for The Fun Theory, an initiative sponsored by Volkswagen to put fun into what is usually mundane. I would like to think that this is very similar to what we do at camp – we do our best to put a spark of fun, excitement, and wonder into each and every day, no matter what we are doing.
Christmas is just 19 days away!
Here are the top ten reasons you should celebrate with us at Santa’s Workshop:
10) While your kids are being “elves for the day”, you can finish your Christmas shopping or wrapping without worrying about prying eyes.
9) Your kids will learn some fun new crafting techniques.
8 ) We take care of lunch.
7) Your child will spend a wonderful day with friends and role models.
6) We support an environmentally responsible holiday by using recycled materials for gift wrapping.
5) No crafting mess at your house!
4) We’ll get your kids into the holiday spirit – even if there isn’t any snow!
3) We take care of snacks.
2) It’s FUN!
And finally, our number one reason to register for Santa’s Workshop…
1) Your child will experience the joy of giving gifts that he or she has made by hand.
Don’t miss out on this chance to be “elf for a day”! Register now by calling (613) 464-2468 or visit us online at http://www.maplekeydaycamp.com/registration/index.html
I just finished reading a very interesting article in the most recent issue of Camp Business Magazine called “Competition Conundrum”. It discusses the role of competition in today’s camps and schools.
Competition has received a lot of “bad press” in the last few years. We’ve all heard the horror stories of screaming coaches and parents, stressed out and overly aggressive kids, and a “winning at all costs” mentality. But is that what competition is really supposed to be about?
Dr. Chris Thurber, a clinical psychologist, camp training expert, and author of the article, doesn’t think so. He believes that the healthy kind of competition will:
Children who experience healthy competition (or what Thurber calls “Cooperative Competition”) receive many benefits. They learn to recognize how their individual behavior contributes to the team effort, and share mutual respect with their competitors.
The main message of Thurber’s article is how we, as camp staff, can frame a game or activity to be competitive without hurting performance or self-esteem.
Our Colour War activities at the end of each week are an excellent example of this. Each colour war, we have a few staff members who play on each team, rather than leading activities. The main role of these staff is to model good sportsmanship. Trash-talking, and negative talk of any kind are NEVER allowed.
When points are awarded for each challenge, they are awarded individually – that way, each team is rewarded for what they, as a team, accomplished – without direct comparison.
Finally, our Colour Wars always conclude with a celebration of both teams accomplishments, and the winning team gives a big cheer for the others’ efforts. The rewards are shared equally among all participants.
“It’s not whether you win or lose – it’s how adults frame the game.” – Dr. Chris Thurber
Today Maple Key Day Camp held its first ever PA day camp. We had a small but enthusiastic group, including returning campers from the summer as well as a whole birthday party! It’s amazing to see how quickly new friendships develop, even over the course of just one day. So glad we get to do it all again in two weeks!
Is this sushi, or a yummy dessert? Look closely!
Don’t miss out on your chance to be elf-for-a-day!
Santa’s Workshop will be Maple Key Day Camp’s last event for 2009, and we are going out with a bang!
I don’t want to ruin the surprise for the recipients of the gifts your little elves will be making, but here are some of the techniques & materials we will be using:
In addition to our gift-making, we will also save time for other sorts of merriment:
Before my memory starts to (or continues to!) become foggy since the summer, I thought now would be a fun time to list some of my favorite moments from camp.
What are your favorite memories? Tell us!
I took this photo of our road last week.
Fall has arrived already! It’s hard to believe that our first summer season of camp ended just a little less than three months ago.
Luckily there is still lots to look forward to! Mike and I are keeping busy preparing for our fall programs. The PA day camp schedule is now complete, and I am gathering lots of project ideas for Santa’s Workshop (sneak peak coming soon!). Mike attended a networking event today and came back with lots of great ideas.
We are offering a special deal if you register for both PA day camps and Santa’s Workshop – register by October 31 and pay only $120.
Camp friends!
One of the most important goals of MKDC is to foster self-confidence in our campers. Helping them to build healthy relationships with each other is a key ingredient.
At school, children are separated by grade, and in many cases have been with the same students since the beginning of the school careers. This often means that their social lives are built on maintaining existing relationships, and they may not have much experience with making new friends.
At camp, our campers are coming to us from a much wider area – we even have campers who spend their school year overseas! – so your child will have the opportunity to meet other children who are not already part of their existing social circle. (There’s nothing more heart-warming than watching two little girls who hit it off the year before doing a slow-motion run towards each other when they meet again at camp!)
It isn’t enough, however, that other children are simply THERE. Our schedule is designed to help foster and develop these new friendships. For example:
With the necessary skills in hand and a safe environment to practice in, any child can make friends at MKDC!
Thank you once again for an amazing time this summer. I feel so very lucky to have the opportunity to work with such an energetic, caring staff and such good-natured, fun-loving campers. We all had a great time!
It’s time to start thinking ahead to what’s next for Maple Key. Of course, we have big plans for Summer 2010, but who wants to wait that long?
We are currently putting together plans for some Saturday workshops, as well as PA day camps for the fall of 2009. Check out the workshop page for details!
