Today is the American Camp Association’s National Camp Kindness Day! This is a day highlighting the practice of purposeful kindness that happens every day at American camps. At Camp Highlander, we are proud of the intentional way we seek to teach kindness through our cabin unit and family environment that engages each camper in simple, repeatable life-skills that they will continue in their daily lives when they return home.
When Bryan and I set out to hire out staff for the summer of 2019, our number one priority when hiring staff was to hire kindness. We believe that children learn to practice kindness when they are surrounded by supportive, compassionate and patient adults who are kind to them through the successes and failures that they experience every day at camp. We are so proud of our kind, loving staff who pour out their heart and soul into the cabin that they lead or the activity they teach to ensure that we practice kindness every day at Camp Highlander.
The best part of hiring kindness is that it spreads kindness. Our campers are learning by the example of their counselors what it means to be kind to others. While we know there is no perfect formula to make everyone be kind, we are committed to teaching them that kindness is the most valued currency we can use at camp, and we get more when we give it away!
Loving the people we live with can sometimes be hard. Cabinmates see us at our best and at our worst, and we sometimes wish they didn’t know us that well. What makes camp wonderful is our ability to see the good and the bad and still give one another grace, forgiveness, and second, third, fourth and fifth chances. This is a rare gift that the world does not offer, but at camp, we don’t give up. We keep trying, keep loving, keep believing and keep showing kindness until eventually campers know…Highlander really is A Place Like No Other.
Favorite Details of the Day
- Reflect at the Rock: Jen talked about how Camp Highlander was like Disneyworld. She made the comparison that like Disney, we have magical fun, friendly people and make wonderful memories. The staff at Disney share a moment with a child when they take a photo with a character or wish a child happy birthday, but the relationships formed at camp are more than a moment, they last a lifetime.
- Meals: Breakfast was cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs and fruit bar. Lunch was chicken parmesan sandwiches with caesar salad. Dinner was steak fajitas,fajita veggies, homemade guacamole, chips and queso and salad bar.
- EP: Square Dance
- Weather: We had rain most of the day, but it cleared up in the late afternoon. The rain brought cool temperatures, which we are LOVING so much!
Today was the first day of the session where the rain stayed around for a little longer than we wanted it to. I was so proud of our campers who were determined that the rain would not slow them down, get them down or prevent them from enjoying every moment of camp. I give thanks as I see the staff rise above the rain and entertain the campers with spontaneity, creativity and enthusiasm that is certain to leave an impact on the hearts of everyone around them.
Everywhere I turned today, I saw the kindness through the rain - campers huddled together under one umbrella, someone holding the door for those seeking shelter in the rain and even an invitation to join in on the puddle stomping, so no one was left out of the fun. As far as I’m concerned, if we are talking kindness, let it rain!
Tags
About Melissa Fitzgerald
