Preventing Bullying

Preventing Bullying

Most people have experienced or been witness to some type of bullying in their life. Bullying hurts and the memories of being bullied can last a lifetime. Bullying is a widespread and serious problem that has moved beyond the school playground in the form of verbal, social and physical harm, and into cyberspace through the internet or other digital technologies, to threaten, harass or torture someone. Many behaviors that seem harmless, such as teasing or excluding, can escalate into bullying. Stopbullying.gov defines bullying as a form of emotional or physical abuse that is deliberate, repeated and power imbalanced.

According to Kidshealth.org, 25% of public schools report that bullying among kids occurs on a daily or weekly basis and that 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied in the last year. Bullying has made national headlines, and our communities are taking a stance. On the Pacer Center’s Kids against Bullying website, celebrity Demi Lovato has written about her experience being bullied in middle school and how she is now a spokesperson to create a bullying prevention movement. Educators and parents are learning more than ever about identifying bullying and how to prevent it. The American Camp Association considers bullying prevention to be an issue of critical importance in promoting the health and safety of children at camp.

At camp Iroquois Springs, bullying is not tolerated. We have a No Bullying Policy that is strictly enforced, so that every camper and counselor feels safe and gets the most out of their summer camp experience. As part of our staff training, we hire an outside expert to conduct several workshops on bullying and ways to identify the different bullying behaviors of girls and boys. We provide our counselors the tools to identify the problem and then the skills to intervene appropriately. We know how important it is to set a tone that creates respect and accountability to one another. We create a positive and caring environment, with clear rules and expectations for behavior. Our goal is for every camper to feel at home, make friends, have fun, and not have to worry about incidents of bullying.

The value of being kind to one another is reinforced each and every day at camp. We are a community and learn from one another in everything we do. Rosie, our girls head counselor, ends each morning line up with “girls, don’t forget to be nice to each other today”. It’s a simple reminder that goes a long way. Bullying is less likely to occur when there are messages against it. And the messages don’t stop when the last bus pulls out of camp. We send our camp families the Iroquois Springs “Code of Conduct” on the Internet, for the safety and wellbeing of our campers beyond the camp’s gates. It’s our No Tolerance stance on cyberbullying behavior. Campers are expected to use good judgment when communicating on the internet or any other electronic device.

For anyone who has been bullied or witnessed someone else being bullied, here are some things you can do:

· Talk about it! You are not alone and, and no one deserves to be bullied.

· Talk to a trusted adult at home, school, or camp.

· Talk to a friend. They may have been through a similar experience.

· Develop Strategies for handling bullying.

· Stick up for yourself, and tell the bully to stop.

· Remain calm and walk away.

· Buddy up for safety. There is power in numbers, and the bully is less likely to approach a group.

· Gain Knowledge!

Find out about your school district’s policies and how they handle bullying situations. You don’t have to fight this battle on your own.

Let’s all work together to create schools, camps and neighborhoods that allow children to have fun, feel safe and enjoy life!

Preparing "First Time" Campers for Camp

Over the past 12 years, through my work at the American Camp Association - NY section and now at Camp Iroquois Springs, I have spoken to hundreds of parents interested in sending their children to summer camp. Parents who are new to the overnight camp experience, as well as those who were campers themselves. All with the same focus... to find the right summer camp to fit their child’s interests and needs, and to have their children experience all the wonderful and exciting things camp has to offer.

From reviewing camp materials, talking with camp directors, setting up home visits and tours, to speaking with other camp families... choosing a summer camp is a big decision. There are so many factors to consider. Where is it located? How many campers are there? Is it coed or brother / sister? What activities are offered? The list goes on. With so many incredible programs being offered, it’s a process that involves doing one’s homework. When you do find the right camp, it’s a great and exciting moment. It is also a moment when many families ask...”How do I best prepare my child (and myself) for their first overnight camp experience?”

Though it may seem early in the year to start thinking about preparing your child for camp, there are some things you can do now to help make the transition from home to camp an easier one.p home visits and tours, to speaking with other camp families… choosing a summer camp is a big decision. There are so many factors to consider. Where is it located? How many campers are there? Is it coed or brother/sister? What activities are offered? The list goes on. With so many incredible programs being offered, it’s a process that involves doing one’s homework. When you do find the right camp, it’s a great and exciting moment. It is also a moment when many families ask...”How do I best prepare my child (and myself) for their first overnight camp experience?”


Plan Sleepovers

If your child has not slept out of the house, now is the time to set up some sleepover dates. Have your child sleep at a friend or family’s house over the next few months to help them gain confidence in being away from home. A successful sleepover will help them feel more independent and may lessen any fears about being away from you and home when camp time rolls around.

Practice “Personal Care” Skills

Children attending overnight camp should be able to dress themselves, shower, brush their teeth and take care of their living space. In addition, they should be able to master simple skills around mealtime. Practice making good food choices, pouring milk on their cereal, or cutting a piece of chicken. For young campers, this may be the first time they are doing some of these things independently. Though help is always available from staff, preparing campers to be more independent will help them feel more confident in their ability to take care of themselves.

Meet Other Campers

Many camps offer new camper orientation prior to the start of camp (Iroquois Springs New Family Orientation is being held on May 20th!!!). These orientations are a great opportunity to meet other new camp families, some camp staff, and to see some familiar faces when getting on the camp bus. If your family is not able to attend these gatherings, it may be helpful to ask the camp about new camp families that live in your area, so you can arrange your own get together. It’s a great way to feel connected before even arriving at camp.

Listen

Though not every new camper is nervous about going to overnight camp, some children may express anxiety and trepidation about being away from you and home. Nervousness about going to camp for the first time is common and expected. What will the day be like? Will I make friends? What if I can’t fall asleep? Listen and acknowledge their concerns and let them know you understand what they are feeling. Then… be sure to let them know how proud and confident you are in them and how great they are going to do. Reassure them that there are people at camp who will help them with any problems they have and let them know who those people are.

Get Familiar with the Camp Routine

Watch the DVD and review all camp materials. Campers who are familiar with a typical day at camp will feel less anxious about the unknown. Talk about all the wonderful and exciting activities and events they will be doing, and all the incredible people they are going to meet.

Prepare Together

Go shopping together for camp clothing and supplies. Though you have a camp list to go by, get your child involved in some of the decision making and planning in what goes to camp. Have them choose a favorite stuffed animal to bring to camp along with photos of family and friends.

We hope this is an exciting time in your family’s life and one you will look back on with appreciation and pride. We are so excited for our new Iroquois Springs families to join us for summer 2012!!! Call us with any questions or concerns and enjoy your months leading up to camp!

Cooking at the "Kitchen Stadium"

Cooking at the “Kitchen Stadium”

Here at camp, we are constantly thinking of new ideas and activities

to add to our already wonderful schedule. Two summers ago, we hit the jackpot when we introduced “Kitchen Stadium”. Our cooking program has given campers the opportunity to be in the kitchen, participating in an activity that is fun, delicious, and teaches skills that will last a lifetime.

There are so many positives that come out of a cooking experience:

Cooking allows us to experiment and use our creativity. This past summer, we incorporated a “cook-off” style activity as part of color war. It was a lot of fun to see the creativity of the teams. Cooking also helps us learn about nutrition and healthy eating. With childhood obesity being at an all-time high in the United States, and the easy availability of processed foods, it's beneficial to introduce children to cooking with natural ingredients. Healthy eating habits children pick up at an early age will help them maintain a healthy lifestyle through the years. There is even a chance that they will try new foods they previously refused if they have a hand in the preparations. Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, and author of more than 25 books on nutrition and healthy cooking, says that “cooking with children can get them interested in trying healthy foods they might normally turn up their noses at”. At “Kitchen Stadium” we enjoy a good cookie or brownie, but our recipes go beyond the typical deserts kids love. We have made world class guacamole, quesadillas, and yogurt parfaits.

As parents, we can appre

ciate the valuable skills gained (without even realizing it) when in the kitchen, such as reading recipes, measuring ingredients, and following directions. It's great that something so fun can reinforce lessons in science, language, math and creativity. Children also feel a sense of accomplishment and boost in self-esteem when contributing to the family meal. Think back to when your kids were toddler

s and they served up culinary masterpieces from their toy kitchen, or brought you a mud-cake they created in the backyard. It felt good to provide you with something they made and hear how wonderful you thought it tasted.

Cooking together also builds a sense of family

and closeness. At camp with your friends, or at home with siblings, cooking involves working together as a team. It's a great time to bond and create memories that last a lifetime. There is nothing my kids love more than pulling their chairs up to the kitchen counter and helping make breakfast on the weekends. Everyone has a job to do, from measuring and mixing to cooking and serving. They seem to appreciate the finished product a whole lot more than when I pop frozen waffles in the toaster or pour a bowl of cereal during the school week. It may require a bit more patience and clean up, but it's a nice moment to have and one that I hope they continue when they are grown and have their own families.

We can't wait for Summer 2012 and getting back to Kitchen Stadium with new and exciting recipe ideas!!! We are also thinking of “kicking it up a notch” and creating our very own vegetable garden where we can grow and pick our own fresh vegetables and herbs to cook with – we will keep you posted on this as well.

“In the kitchen, we can be creative, and if the turnout isn't what we wanted, it's no big deal – it's only food and it might still taste great. It's the idea that you are cooking together and sharing with someone the result of your hard work and creativity. Every time I cook, I'm making new memories and learning valuable skills that will last a lifetime”. Rachael Ray (taken from the Yum-O! Organization web site).

Unplugging in 2012!

Unplugging in 2012!

Happy New Year! We hope that 2012 is off to a great start. If you have made any New Year’s resolutions, we hope they are going strong. For a lot of us, we focus on going to the gym more often, eating healthier, getting more sleep, kicking bad habits, or improving overall well being. Maybe we resolve to read more and watch TV less, take up a new hobby, or strengthen our connection with friends and family. This last resolution brings up an interesting dilemma as we enter the year 2012. How do we “unplug” (from time to time) from the digital world we live in, so we can improve our relationships?

We are lucky to have such advanced technology, and the ease of giving and receiving information with the touch of a button. We are connected to valuable news that broadens our knowle

dge. We can communicate with friends and family that live in distant places. And we can connect with groups that share similar interests and goals. There are great advantages to having the use of computers, laptops, cellphones, BlackBerrys, iPhones, iPads, Facebook, and Twitter. But here is the catch….are we replacing time spent with real people for those we communicate with online?

Michele Borba, an internationally recognized author on children, teens and parenting, wrote, “While a digital world may enhance our children’s cognitive growth, it does little to affect their moral, social and emotional development”. Are we spending more time on Facebook than face to face with the people we love? Her findings were that “the average American eight to 18 years old is now plugged in to some kind of digital media seven and a half hours a day”. In that time, our children are connecting with friends, but are they really feeling a sense of true connection when using digital media? What’s missing is the face-to-face interaction we learn so much from, like facial reactions, body language and emotions. So how do we strengthen our family connections, and have a bit of shared quality time?

A great way for families to connect face to face, without constant distractions, is to ban all digital media from the dinner table. Mealtime is a great time to catch up and talk face-to-face, without the rings, beeps and tones of phones, all drawing our attention away from the people who are right there within our reach. It may be brief, but it can be a valuable time spent together. When we are engaged in a true conversation, we observe facial reactions and see emotions. That is one of the things that make summer camp so unique in today’s world. We are unplugged. With the exception of an iPod (music only), electronics are not allowed at camp. Campers and staff are tuned in to one another. It’s a refreshing break from the world around us. It adds value to our friendships and feeling connected.

If you are trying to “unplug”, or take on any new beginning…good luck and enjoy the journey.