Resilience

In our second week of camp, I marvel at the growth in our camper community. While the first few days of camp are sometimes marked by moments of uncertainty and adjustment, those days are building character and teaching resilience in our campers. The second week of camp is marked by a community of strong, resilient campers who have been able to get past emotions of sadness, discomfort or social awkwardness of camp to embrace a new, confident and stronger version of themselves.

One of the most valuable character traits that our children can develop at summer camp is resilience. The ability to overcome failure and recover quickly from difficult situations is an invaluable skill that our children need to face an unsure future. Summer camp is the best place for our children to gain experience and build coping skills. Campers’ lives are changed from the challenges they face at camp…everything from conquering the Crow’s Nest, to asking a girl or boy to dance at square dance, to sleeping under the stars, or learning how to get along with a new group of peers or ask for help, even taking a manageable amount of risks without a parent following after you. Camp fosters resilience, “the capacity to rise above difficult circumstances, allowing our children to exist in this less-than-perfect world, while moving forward with optimism and confidence,” says Kenneth Ginsburg, MD.

Studies show that to build resilience in children, parents need to practice letting go — which you have done by sending your children to Highlander this session. Because Highlander creates a family where children are supported by nurturing adults, we are committed to helping campers develop grit and resilience skills. As your children are given the freedom to encounter success and failure on their own, in a safe environment where they can learn from their experiences, they are better able to focus on the effort instead of the “win.” This session, they are all winners because of how they have embraced camp and grown in their cabin groups. I am so proud of each and every one of them!

Favorite Details of the Day

• Reflect at the Rock: Spencer talked to us today about the roles we play at camp. We aren’t just campers and counselors, we are mentors, students, listeners, confidants and friends. Think about others around you and seek to fill the role that helps others succeed at camp.
• Meals: Breakfast this morning was biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, oatmeal, grits and fruit bar. For lunch we had chicken quesadillas, black beans and corn, chips, salsa, guacamole and salad bar. For dinner, we had spaghetti with meat sauce, roasted broccoli, garlic bread and caesar salad. All of camp started the Gus’ cheer again tonight, and Bryan agreed to another trip to the candy and soda shack we affectionately call Gus’.
  Weather: We had another gorgeous day on Old Forge! The temperatures were mild today and only got up to the mid 70’s. There was the most delightful breeze in the air today. It was truly perfect weather!
• EP: We had our last square dance of the session. I can’t believe it! It was so much fun to gather together on the land sports field for a night of dancing, singing and laughing with our friends.