Have We Added Another Lost Generation?

• 
  Login with Facebook to see what your friends are reading
• Enable Social Reading
• i

Marc Joseph

Author; CEO/President and Founder, DollarDays International, Inc.

GET UPDATES FROM MARC JOSEPH

 

Like

66

Have We Added Another Lost Generation?

Posted: 04/11/2012 6:25 pm

React

InspiringMotivatingMovingScaryOutrageousAmazingInnovativeHelpful

Read more

Generation Z , Camps , Summer Camp , Youth And Technology , Impact News

SHARE THIS STORY

352

14

21

Get Impact Alerts

 Sign Up

Submit this story

"Generation Z" are our kids that have been born since the late 1990's. This generation has grown up with the World Wide Web and is highly connected because of the Internet. Instant messaging, text messaging, smartphones, tablet computers and social networking are part of their fiber. They have 24 hour access to the Internet with their mobile phones in their pockets. Besides being born into technology, this generation has a completely different outlook on life compared to previous generations because they were born into school shootings, the rise of global terrorism, climate change controversy, the housing bubble burst, the financial crisis and the weakening of America as a global superpower and the emergence of China and India as global economic superpowers.

This generation would rather text than talk. They prefer to communicate online, many times with friends they have not actually met. They don't spend much time outdoors, unless adults force them into an organized activity.

America needs to send all of these kids to camp this summer before this generation loses the values that have driven our country since the beginning. Summer camps have been a U.S. tradition for over 150 years according to PBS and Parenting. Back then before air conditioning was invented (living in Arizona, I can attest how important air conditioning has become), hot city summers were miserable and even unhealthy for children, so escaping to the country for a few weeks was the thing to do. Today, there are several other reasons why "Generation Z" must go to camp. They need to actually meet new people who are not part of their virtual world. Camp provides not only peers, but positive role models in counselors and those running camp projects. They need to learn risk taking by trying new things and challenging themselves with a new sport or swimming or obstacle courses. They need to learn creativity with crafts or dancing.

Today's camps are so different than the traditional camps for my generation. In addition to general camps, there are specialty camps -- sports camps like basketball or horseback riding; academic camps like biology or math; adventure camps like scuba diving or rock climbing; arts camps like theater or music; specialty interest camps for cooking or chess; religious camps and special needs camps.

Let's take a look at the special needs camps. Camp For All lists camps for Epilepsy, Cancer, Special Needs, Multiple Sclerosis, AIDS, Arthritis and many more. Most of these are nonprofit organizations that are helping a kid with a challenging illness or special need. Those kids that need to go these camps usually can't afford it because their families have spent so much already to keep their kid alive.

According to The Pew Research Center, the wealth gap between younger and older Americans has stretched to its widest margin on record. Americans 65 and older have average net worth 47 times those of people 35 and younger, who are most likely the parents of Generation Z. So we have a bunch of kids out there that just can't afford to go to camp, which means we as Americans are short changing this important generation.

The American Camp Association , the largest nonprofit organization for camps that include great camps like The Salvation Army camps, Girl Scout camps, Boy Scout camps, YMCA camps, 4H camps and many more; has an easy way for you to make a donation online to send underprivileged kids to camp.DollarDays.com on its Facebook page, sponsored by Dr. Pepper, is taking nominations of worthy camps to win products to help support their camps. The famous Hole in the Wall camps founded by the late great Paul Newman makes it easy to donate -- to help children with serious illnesses have a chance to simply be children.

In the evolution of life, it is time for the Baby Boomer Generation and Generation X to step up to make sure we do not lose this newest Generation Z to the virtual world. We need to get these kids out playing and communicating and winning and losing so they can take our place in getting this country back to leading the world in economic and ethical ways. Help send these kids to camp this summer.

Come Explore the World of Overnight Camp

If you have not already heard this from your child, you may be hearing it soon... I WANT TO GO TO OVERNIGHT CAMP!!!  


As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, kids are starting to talk about their summer plans.  On the school bus, the soccer field, at the neighborhood pool club, and at family barbecues, overnight camp is a much talked about topic.  Kids that are currently enrolled in day camp may be starting to express interest in looking at overnight camps for next summer.  It may even be the parents who feel it is time to initiate an overnight camp search.  So how does a family prepare for this exciting transition?  The gathering of camp information through word of mouth and camp referral agencies is the easy part.  In the blink of an eye, you can have a stack of camp packets complete with DVD’s on your coffee table to watch and enjoy.  With some planning, you can tour the camps that you are interested in and get a firsthand look at the camps in action.  But how do you know if your child is really ready?   They have an entire year to grow, mature and prepare; so the likelihood is that when the following summer arrives they will make a smooth transition to camp life.  But what if you need something more concrete….an actual sneak preview into the world of the camp you are considering.  Why not try a minicamp experience?  Camps may have different names for this experience, but they are all meant to accomplish the same goal….to introduce the wonderful world of overnight camp to first time campers.

At Camp Iroquois Springs, we refer to this experience as “Explorers”.  Future campers get a chance to explore what an Iroquois Springs camper enjoys each day throughout the summer.  Campers entering the 2nd through 5th grades for the coming school year are eligible to participate in our 2 day overnight camping experience, and get instantly transformed into an Iroquois Springs camper for life.  This program has been such a huge success because it gives campers and their parents a sense of security and confidence in both the camp and their child’s readiness for an overnight camp experience.  We love seeing how quickly our Explorers campers get right into camp life with enthusiasm for all the activities and making new friends.

When we started this program back in 2009, we knew what a great addition it would be to families searching for a overnight camp.  For the past three summers, we have had 90% of our Explorers campers enroll as full time Iroquois Springs campers.  We have noticed that Explorers campers have a quick adjustment to camp life, having had the minicamp experience the previous summer.  As one of our Explorers families from last summer puts it, “it’s a great window into the world of overnight camp without having to make a long term commitment.  It helped my son, who was on the fence about going to camp, see that he was ready for this experience and can’t wait for this summer when he returns as a full time camper”.

To learn more about Explorers 2012 check out our online flyer for all the exciting details.  This program is limited to 24 girls and 24 boys, so sign up today.  We can’t wait to introduce you and your family to the world of camping at Iroquois Springs!

Celebrate Earth Day!

On April 22, more than one billion people around the globe will participate in Earth Day 2012. Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the earth’s natural environment. It’s about uniting voices in support of a healthy planet. The first Earth day was held on April 22, 1970. People all over the country made promises to help the environment.

Since then the basic message of the day is the same, but it has evolved to become an international holiday, with several environmental groups now participating in Earth Week. During this week, these groups host programs that educate their communities about the different aspects of how to take better care of the earth.

Earth Day is celebrated with acts of service to the earth, including planting trees, picking up roadside trash, and conducting recycling and conservation programs. It’s about ordinary people doing extraordinary things to help the planet. At Camp Iroquois Springs, we show our appreciation for the environment in the everyday recycling of paper, cardboard and batteries used at camp. We also have our campers practice ways of taking care of the earth; like last summer when our CIT’s planted a garden for the Rock Hill community. This year at camp, we will be planting a vegetable and herb garden, and can’t wait to use what we grow in recipes at Kitchen Stadium. In addition to what we give to the environment, we also have the opportunity to raise awareness of our camp setting by incorporating a nature scavenger hunt as part of Tribal games, where we search for various objects in nature. Our children are the leaders of the future, and it’s important that they are educated and engaged in environmental issues that can

make a big difference for the planet.

So what can you do to make a difference and join in on April 22 (and throughout the year) to show how important the environment is to you?

Consider some of these ideas…

-Recycle: Every bottle and can used is waste that just sits at the local dump if we don’t recycle.

-Use reusable water bottles and containers.

-Plant a tree...it’s good for the air.

-Reduce Electricity: Shut off lights, computers and televisions when not in use.

-Conserve Water: Shut the water off when brushing your teeth. Take less time in the shower.

-Use Public Transportation: Take the bus or railroad (instead of commuting by car) to decrease air pollution.

-Choose products that are not over packaged.

-Pay bills online.

-Don’t rinse: Skip rinsing dishes before using your dishwasher and save up to 20 gallons of water each load.

-Change to compact fluorescent bulbs.

When it comes to “going green”, there is no shortage of ways in which you can change your life and help the environment. It does not have to be a grand gesture, or major change in lifestyle to make a difference. There are dozens of small changes you can do every day to save energy and keep the world cleaner and greener.

The Benefits of Excercise

Young children crave physical activity, it comes naturally. They don’t think about making time to exercise, they get it on a daily basis just by being kids. If you ever watch children at the playground, they are in constant motion. They don’t walk around, they run. Where adults often have to motivate themselves to get to the gym, or tennis court, or bicycle trail…children want and desire to move around. If only we could bottle that natural energy and have it for a lifetime? But the reality is that it may not last throughout the tween years and it’s important that we teach children the value and benefits of including healthy exercise into their lives. Outdoor games and workout routines can be the tools that instill a lasting love of exercise. So be it on the soccer field, dance class, or just
playing tag at recess, there are endless opportunities for kids to be involved in and enjoy physical activity.

The percentage of overweight and obese kids and teens has more than doubled over the past 30 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reports that approximately 17% of children ages 2 to 19 are obese. Although many factors contribute to this epidemic, children are becoming more sedentary. With today’s technology, it may be more challenging to get kids away from video games and online activities. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average child is watching about 3 hours of television a day, and spends 5 ½ hours on all screen media combined. These statistics alone are great motivators to get moving.

The many benefits of being physically active include greater confidence, more energy, a stronger immune system, improved sleep, better memory, lower body fat, stronger bone and muscle structure and an overall better outlook on life. Rae Pica, a movement education specialist and the author of “A Running Start: How Play, Physical Activity, and Free Time Create a Successful Child”, notes that “activity and movement helps kids develop not only their bodies, but also their brains, their ability to learn, and their social skills. It impacts the whole child”

For these reasons and more, here at camp we want to encourage kids to do a variety of physical activities to improve their endurance, strength and flexibility. A few years ago we introduced a fitness program that got our campers and staff moving and improving their physical strength. Its success inspired us to create a new studio space, dedicated to a fitness program complete with Pilates, Spinning, and Cardio & Weight Training. To get the most out of this program, we have a staff of fitness experts, including a speed and agility staff person, to guide us in having fun while learning a healthy lifestyle.

We have confidence that our new fitness program and studio will instill a love of exercise and most importantly improve overall health. We also believe that our campers will have an edge on The American Heart Association’s recommendation that children engage in at least 60 minutes of exercise every day. But don’t wait for the summer, start now… get out there, get moving and have fun!