The Developing Brains of Boys

Having just returned from Kansas City and Lawrence, I wanted to offer a big thanks to Dr. Tina Bryson for sharing her research on child development.  As you may know, Chippewa hosted Tina in several cities to discuss her research as described in her best-selling book The Whole-Brain Child, sharing insight for our Chippewa families, alumni and friends of camp.  I'm excited to say that we will continue to partner with Tina.

This Spring, we traveled to Chicago, Houston, LA, Kansas City and Lawrence with Tina and we'll look to hit other cities in the Fall and into 2013.  Tina's information has been wonderfully received and most importantly, she is a big believer in Chippewa.  Thanks Tina!

PS-  Don't forget to check our new "Events" page to see where the next great Chippewa event will be!

P.S. - Letters Home

I ran across this book on Amazon the other day and thought it looked funny, both from a parent's perspective and from the camp director's perspective. The editors have published actual letters home from different camps. It might be worth a quick look...and laugh.

Take a look on Amazon : P. S. - I Hate It Here

PS - I love it here at Chippewa!

Last Child in the Woods, Part II

Last December, I recommended that parents pick up a copy of Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. The book asserts that children today do not spend enough time outdoors, leading to what he calls "nature deficit disorder." I recently came across an interview with Mr. Louv in which he shared this interesting thought:

"But most of all, I think our plugged-in kids, who spend so much time in front of the TV and computer screen, are missing out on many chances to feel a sense of wonder. What I'd really like to communicate to fellow parents is that we shouldn't think about a child's experience in nature as an extracurricular activity but as a vital element for a healthy child's development. That's what the new research strongly suggests."

Perhaps the reason that overnight camps are largely found in wilderness settings is an inherent understanding of this need. Beyond the sense of wonder, the benefits of a wilderness setting can be seen daily around a camp.

"The Dangerous Book for Boys"

On a recent trip to the bookstore, I ran across the book I had heard so much about: The Dangerous Book for Boys. After flipping through the book, stopping at a few pages about knot tying and even grammar, it became obvious that the book's popularity is rooted in the same principles that are at work at Chippewa.

Undoubtedly much has changed since camp began in 1935 and certainly boys have changed to some degree during that time. Whether due to societal shifts or technology, the culture in which children find themselves today is vastly different than that of 1935. However, many of our cultural values have remain unchanged.

During staff orientation, I spend time discussing the many notions about the current generation of campers. Many of these notions are readily evident when the boys arrive camp. Despite this, I conclude with an important thought: boys today, in this wilderness environment that we call camp, are little changed from the boys in 1935. Thus, the same values that we found so relevant then, are equally as relevant now. Values like self-reliance, teamwork, and discipline are inherent in our natural surroundings and achieved in the cabin group, on the activity front and through meaningful friendships. Camp Chippewa continues to thrive because of our steadfast belief in these values.

No Electric Outlets Around Here

A fellow camp director recently recommended a book by Richard Louv called Last Child in the Woods. Mr Louv is an advocate for children finding experiences in the outdoors and he links many of today's childhood difficulties to the absence of nature in childrens' lives. On one of the early pages he has included a quote from a fourth grader:

"I like to play indoors better 'cause that's where all the electric outlets are."

I can't wait to get back to camp.