I got to go to camp this weekend!

Since February, I have been chatting with Audrey “Sunshine” Monke, owner of Gold Arrow Camp and author of the new (and phenomenal!) book, Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults, about offering training to her camp staff prior to the summer sessions.  I had a feeling that being at camp would evoke nostalgia for the summers of my youth and knew from my conversations with ‘Sunshine’ that she and I are of similar minds when it comes to prioritizing social-emotional health in kiddos, but I never anticipated what a forward-thinking, child-centered, well-educated, relationship-building, warm, fun, all-around-awesome culture Gold Arrow Camp (GAC) would have.   I could have stayed all summer!

Here are some photos from my three days of pure air, pure dedication to kids, and pure joy, talking with the talented and diverse Gold Arrow Camp staff about anxiety in young people, understanding the differences between rude, mean and bullying behavior at camp, and how to use LSCI skills to relate, regulate, and respond effectively to challenging camper behavior.

Teaching GAC staff to look beyond surface behavior to understand the thoughts and feelings that drive challenging camper behaviors

 

 

Keynote at Big Campfire

All smiles with Sunshine & our newest books!  Check out Happy Campers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Game time! Loved playing this camp game that blends brain-aligned rhythms with focused attention and pure fun!

Making “Breathing Beads” to bring mindfulness skills to campers