Exercise Boosts Brain Power!

If you are someone who exercises regularly, you know the feeling you get after a good workout.  You feel accomplished, energized and ready to take on the day.  There is no debating that regular exercise brings many health benefits, like weight control, lower blood pressure, skeletal health, psychological well-being and self-esteem.  But did you also know that physical activity leads to better learning.  Over the years, a number of scientists have shown the correlation between high standardized test scores and physical fitness scores (CA Dept. of Education study).   According to an International study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, children who get more exercise also tend to do better in school.  Regular exercise in gym class, or on the playground improves attention span, memory, and learning.  At the University of Illinois, Dr. Charles Hillman’s research shows that after a 30 minute stint on the treadmill, students actually do up to 10% better at problem solving.  “It’s good for attention, it’s good for how fast individuals process information, and how they perform on cognitive tasks” says Hillman.  Researcher, John Ratey, of the Harvard Medical School, says “Exercise makes our brain more ready to learn”.  

  

The connection between exercise and success in the classroom is not perfectly clear, but research shows a positive association.  That may be because physical activity improves blood flow to the brain, which increases brain function and improves concentration levels.  Increased blood and oxygen can also lower stress level and boost moods.  Becky Hashim, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the Children’s Hospital of Montefiore in New York City notes “It’s hard to tease apart the exact reason for this association.  It may be that the children are getting more oxygen”.  Our brain needs oxygen to think, and improved thinking enhances grades.    

Experts suggest children engage in some form of exercise every day.  The best part is that exercise is simply about moving your body.  So even if you are not interested in competitive sports or aren’t playing on a school team, you can still find some sort of activity to get you moving.  Your mind and body will benefit from taking a walk, riding a bike, throwing a Frisbee or dancing.  It does not have to be an organized activity, just something you find enjoyable and gets your heart pumping.  Being active will also help you sleep better, feel more energetic and decrease levels of stress.  Find a way to be active every day and set up a lifetime habit that will give your mind and body enormous benefits.    This past summer Iroquois Springs built a brand new fitness center complete with an aerobics studio, spin room, and cardio/weight room.  Campers enjoyed having this wonderful addition all summer long, and got into terrific shape.  Our fitness director, Tara did a fantastic job of getting both campers and staff active and fit throughout the summer.  

Career Lessons From Summer Camp

It's the time of year when students go back to school and begin a new semester with a spring in their step. The classroom chatter often focuses on vacations and summer adventures. I met with a group of moms recently who spoke about the wonderful summer camp experiences their kids had and my "aha moment" came when I realized that the classic kid summer camp lessons were also applicable in the career world for adults.

Even if you've never been to camp, or if it's been ages since you ate s'mores under the stars, you can apply these simple lessons to your career for better satisfaction and engagement.

Try Something New 
At summer camp you may have learned to shoot a bow and arrow or participated in a talent show for the very first time. Taking a chance to try something new at work will open up a wealth of opportunities in your career. Many professionals land terrific new roles because they expand their comfort zone and take a chance on something unique. You will never know if you don't try and that is the biggest risk of all. You have the power to ask for new projects, so be seen and heard and ask to try something new that appeals to you. Give yourself a new challenge or a stretch goal and see what happens.

Have Fun 

Whether summer camp was at an overnight retreat in the woods or a fire hydrant-turned -sprinkler in the inner city, kids are given the liberty to have fun in the summer. That carefree attitude is infectious but sadly, most professionals have lost the joie de vivre to authentically enjoy their workday. Even if your work is intense, take some time to savor what you are doing. Laugh and delight in the accomplishments you achieve. Give yourself permission to have a good day or a great day and approach it with a positive attitude and kid-like enthusiasm. Your behavior will be infectious and might cause a positive attitude domino effect in your organization at large.

Make New Friends 
Sleepaway camp means unknown roommates and exposure to a new posse of people with whom you eat, play and coexist for an extended period of time. Take advantage of growing your personal and professional community with new people whenever you can and go beyond technology to meet with people in person. It can be really empowering to make new friends and enjoy their company beyond the networking frenzy of wanting information and job leads. Friends are to be cherished and appreciated. Call a dear friend you've lost touch with and reinstate your relationship -- you'll be glad you did.

Get Outside 
If your sunburn came from a fluorescent office bulb this summer, you need to get outside more. The beauty of camp is that kids enjoy the great outdoors, breathe the air and move their bodies. Adults need this too, and studies show that outdoor air and a little sunshine improves daily focus, memory and alertness. If your 3 p.m. slump usually sends you to the vending machine looking for a sugary snack, consider taking a brief walk outside to re-energize you for the rest of the day.

Mix Up Your Routine 
The beauty of camp is that it helps kids see life through a different lens. They can't rely on the routines they have at home and have to acculturate to a new structure -- like it or not. Think about how you can change your daily routine to get yourself out of a rut. Maybe you will work out at a different time of day or take a new route to work, eat something different for breakfast or meet with new colleagues for lunch. Variety is the spice of life and can infuse new energy into a tired routine that zaps your drive.

Take Time Off 
Kids recharge during summer vacation and they really appreciate the opportunity to just be kids. It's not a badge of honor to not take your allotted vacation time. Leonardo da Vinci said, "To remain constantly at work will cause you to lose power or judgment..." Time off is provided so you can rejuvenate and come back to work rested and more productive. You deserve the time off -- take it without regret and really try and unplug yourself from the tethers of technology that connect you to work.

The camp experience isn't just for kids anymore. Indiana business mogul, Mickey Maurer created Mickey's Camp in 2001, giving adults a chance to leave behind the daily pressure of work to explore new opportunities and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow grown-ups in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

Set in the idyllic Bradford Woods outdoor retreat center in Southern Indiana, women camp first, bunking in rustic cabins for three days and the men finish out the week in the same facility each August. The beauty of Mickey's Camp, in addition to the myriad of great activities and camaraderie for adults, is the philanthropic focus. This year campers raised more than $200,000, which was contributed to local charities of their choice. With fresh air, engaging activities and a lot of fun, Mickey's Camp adult campers got to unplug for a few days and pay-it-forward to those in need.

Never underestimate the power of a campfire and toasted marshmallows for kids and career- driven adults alike.

Caroline Dowd-Higgins authored the book "This Is Not the Career I Ordered" and maintains the career reinvention blog of the same name. She is the Director of Career & Professional Development and Adjunct Faculty at Indiana University Maurer School of Law and hosts the national CBS Radio Show Career Coach Caroline on Tuesdays at 5pm ET. Caroline also contributes to AOL Jobs, CNN Money, and More Magazine online.

Raising Responsible Children

I was folding laundry the other day, when my five year old expressed an interest in helping me out.  She actually wasn’t looking to assist me, but instead wanted to fold the three loads of laundry strewn all over the bed by herself.  She has watched me fold endless amounts of laundry, so the teaching part had already been done and she was ready to go.  My first thought was “absolutely not”, knowing that I would have to refold every item when she was done.  But after thinking about it a bit more, I changed my mind.  For one thing, I realized that she would not be volunteering her services forever.  But more importantly, I wanted her to feel good about herself for pitching in and having an accomplishment.  Letting her help out was hopefully a great beginning for her to become a responsible and confident person.  Let me add that she worked very hard to fold every single item with care and precision, and in the end, I did not have to do much refolding. 

This incident got me thinking about raising responsible children and how important it is for young people to be given chores and expectations in order to feel good about themselves and their contributions to the family.  It may seem insignificant to have a child make their bed, clean up their toys, take out the trash or feed the family dog, but I believe that having tasks to complete goes a long way in building character and a strong work ethic.  Raising responsible children is the main goal of many parents.  We all want our children to develop the skills necessary to be productive, healthy, competent and independent people. 

Many experts say that giving children chores is a great way to start.  Marty Rossman, associate professor of family education at the University of Minnesota, finds that the best predictor of a child’s success – defined as not using drugs, quality relationships, finishing education, and getting started in a career – is that they begin helping with chores at age 3 or 4.  Chores make children active members of a family and help children develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments.  According to Janis Keyser, coauthor of “Becoming the Parent You Want to Be”, the strategy of giving children family responsibilities works because it gives them a sense of belonging to a team and being a contributing member of that team.  

  

Giving children responsibilities goes beyond household chores.  Responsibility means doing what needs to be done to take care of yourself, your family, your friends, and the greater community.  Teaching young children things like dressing themselves, brushing their teeth, and focusing on their schoolwork (and then giving them the space to do it) will build self-confidence.  Children who are proud of the work they have done will be more willing to take on new challenges as they grow.  It is so tempting to take over and do everything for our children, but it is doing them a disservice.  Even when you sense they are going to make a mistake…let them.  Teach children that mistakes are an opportunity to learn.  Making mistakes and working out problems is how we learn how to make better choices.  When you let children do things for themselves, they feel confident and important, and learn to be independent and responsible. 

And remember through it all…praise their work and tell them you value what they did.  We all want to be appreciated for helping out and for a job well done.  I will tell you that my daughter and I now have regular folding sessions (she allows me to fold along with her) and it’s time well spent.  

Why Can’t School be More Like Camp?

Yesterday, my fourth grade son came home from school downcast.  It’s his third week at a new school, and I had encouraged him to find a friend or two to invite over to swim.   He had asked two boys for their phone numbers, and the boys had said they were “adopted brothers” and written down a fake phone number before getting in different cars to go home.  My heart broke for my son.

My dream is for my kids to attend a school they love as much as they love camp.   But for that to happen, schools need to have a different culture and focus.  Here are my ideas on how teachers can make schools communities where kids thrive both academically and socially.

Focus on Relationships, Team Building & Goal Setting

The first day of school would start with the teacher leading the students in team building activities and giving them ample opportunities to get to know each other.  Kids would be paired and grouped in different ways to make sure that everyone learns each others’ names.  New kids would be warmly welcomed by returning kids.

Kids would share their goals for the year and what’s important to them.  They would also learn about each others’ talents and interests.    This conversation would be on-going throughout the year to give kids the chance to share with and encourage each other as they learn new things.

In all my years of parenting my five kids through school, only rarely have teachers taken the first day to help kids get to know each other really well.   My 5^th grade son’s teacher this year did a great job with this by having the kids play “Human Bingo” and also making “Shields.”  Bravo!

At camp, the entire first day is all about meeting and getting to know each other and sharing.   Kids are welcomed into their camp “family.”  At camp, a child would never be sitting alone eating lunch – or anywhere else.   At school, that should never happen either.   There needs to be the social safety net of a culture that is inclusive of all kids, even the new ones, and that doesn’t allow kids to “fall through the cracks” and be alone and lonely.

Foster Social Skills

If we are so uber-focused on academics, we forget that the social experience at school is equally, if not more, important to our kids’ development.  According to Dr. Christine Carter, “…a new study , which followed nearly 1,000 people over 32 years, makes it abundantly clear that preparing kids for academic success does not necessarily lead to happiness. You know what does predict happiness in adulthood, according to the study? Friendship. When kids have a lot of friends in childhood and adolescence, they tend to grow up to be happy adults.”
-Dr. Christine Carter, “3 Essential School Supplies”

We all know intuitively that this is true.  I remember much more about who my friends were during a certain time of my schooling than I remember about the course work.  Schools need to make it a priority to help kids foster good social skills.  Discussing and teaching skills like how to be a good friend and how to handle conflict are critically important.   I love Big Sibling programs at schools, where older students who are good role models are paired with younger kids to welcome them, help them get assimilated, and model good relationship skills.

A line from our camp song says, “I sure did learn much more here than I ever did at school.”    Unfortunately, it’s true.  In two weeks of camp, kids learn more about being a good friend than many do in all of their years at school.  Schools need to spend some time on fostering good social skills in our kids.

Hands-On, Active Learning by Doing

If school were more like camp, hands-on activities would far out-number multiple-choice tests.  The information that really “sticks” is the stuff we do, so why is so much time spent on memorizing things that are forgotten within days?

If school were more like camp, students would spend less time sitting at a desk quietly working by themselves on a work sheet and more time practicing teamwork and collaboration, working on science projects and presentations, acting out a book they are reading, and building their creativity and problem-solving skills.

Students would be encouraged to delve deeply into topics that interest them, regardless of what’s on the list of standards.

A Positive Culture

If school were more like camp, teachers would be trained to create a fun, warm, and inviting place as much as they are trained to teach math skills.   They would learn how to find what is special and unique about each of their students and help their students feel valued and included.

Teachers would check in with each student, every day, asking how they’re doing and providing support if they are struggling.

Kids would be excited to get to school, and teachers would greet each student with a smile and a high five, hug, handshake, or fist bump.

If school were more like camp, kids would be cheering for and supporting each other as they learn new skills.   Kids would celebrate each others’ successes by making daily “WOW” announcements and leaving encouraging notes.  For kids who are struggling in some area, supportive peers would provide guidance and encouragement.  Kids would openly talk about their areas of strength and weakness and support each other in improving.

Core Subjects Plus “Free Choice” Learning & Pursuit of Passions

At camp, we require that kids participate in certain activities, even if they’re a little scared.   We know that they benefit immensely from challenging themselves and building new skills.  But we also allow kids to pursue activities that they are passionate about.  What if school could be the same way?  Kids would be required to learn specific skills, of course, just like they are now.  But they would also have more free choice options to pursue things they’re passionate about.  Aspiring writers could have their own blog.  Future doctors could do extra science research and experiments.   If we showed more respect for kids’ interests and desires and let them spend more time on things that they are passionate and excited about, school would be a much happier place for them.

And so, I end where I began.  Schools could learn a lot from summer camps.  Many people, especially those who never attended camp, don’t understand why kids love camp so much.  Even kids who don’t like school.

There are lessons we camp people can teach if schools will listen.

School has Started - Stay in Touch with Your Camp Friends

Staying in Touch…...All Year Long!

The school year has officially started!  The sunscreen and bathing suits have been replaced with backpacks and school supplies, and campers are back to being students once again. 

The start of the school year is often filled with mixed emotions.  There is the excitement of getting ready to enter a new grade, shop for the items on our back to school supply list, meet new teachers, get reacquainted with school friends, and prepare for the academic and social opportunities the school year has to offer.   But it also can bring a sense of longing for days at camp and the friends we made.  Camp friends are friends for life. They are the friends that know our dreams, our strengths, our shortcomings, and through it all love us unconditionally.  School may signify a time to move on from our summer routine, but we can never move on from our camp friends and the bonds we created. 

So how do we stay in touch with friends that are not part of our day to day interactions, especially when schedules are jam packed with school work and extracurricular activities???

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, we can easily keep in contact with friends around the corner or across the country.  For young people with a cell phone or internet access, it’s as simple as sending a text or email.  There is also Facebook, Skype or video conferencing to catch up on all the happenings of the school year and to reminisce about days at camp.  In addition to seeing friends online, try to plan an actual face to face get together with friends that live nearby, or attend the reunion your camp organizes.  Reunions are a great way to bring summer memories back to life no matter what the season.  For younger campers who may not have an email address or internet access, encourage them to go the “old fashion” route and pick up the phone or write a letter (with an actual stamp on it to be delivered by the postal service).  There is nothing better than hearing a friend’s voice or opening the mailbox and receiving a hand written letter from a friend.   

     

But no matter how you stay in touch, remember to keep close contact with your camp friends until the summer rolls around again.  It will be here before you know it and we can’t wait.

Have a happy and easy start to the school year.