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Monthly Archives: May 2015

Staff Spotlight 2015

At Robin Hood we pride ourselves on hiring the best staff in the business to make sure your most treasured possessions (those are your children), are taken care of.  Our staff is made up of educators, college athletes, coaches, artists, alumni and many other experts dedicated to the success of your camper’s summer.  Enjoy a sneak peak of this year’s staff below.  We can’t wait to see you all soon for the best summer of our lives!

melMel Cohn – Group Leader

Mel Cohn will be returning for her 12th summer at Robin Hood and we are thrilled she will be a group leader for another set of young ladies.  Mel just completed a semester abroad in Sydney, Australia which she calls “an experience of a lifetime”.  She is in her junior year at Davidson University in North Carolina where she is studying psychology with a focus on child development.  She is involved in social and philanthropic groups and participates in intramural basketball and softball too! Mel has a true sense of what camp is like and understands the difference between camper and counselor.  Not only is she excited for her 2015 group of campers, she is excited to continue to inspire her former campers who are currently on staff!  Mel’s connection to Camp Robin Hood and it’s traditions are what keep her returning.  She recently sent the following advice to her former campers:  “keep coming back, pass the traditions on and take in the magic for as many years as you possibly can. Trust me, you won’t regret it!”  We couldn’t agree more, Mel!  Welcome back!

bruceBruce Heald – Intensive Specialist (Watercolors)

Bruce is excited to be returning to camp as an alumni from the 1960’s!  Last summer, after paying a visit to The Realm, Bruce recalled great memories of being a crafts, pottery and music counselor and has decided to return for another summer, bringing his love of art to the campers of Robin Hood.  Bruce will be offering Water Color intensives during the first three weeks of the summer.  He currently lives in Meredith, NH and is a Professor of Philosophy and American History.  He has written a number of books on the History of New Hampshire and is an accomplished artist.  We are excited to have Bruce join our staff this summer to share his talents and stories from camp in the 60’s. Welcome back, Bruce!

 

abramAbram “AB” Fleming – Tennis

Abram “AB” Fleming is from the small down of Gas City, Indiana and is very excited to spend his first summer at Camp Robin Hood.  He just finished his sophomore year at Butler University where he is majoring in Marketing and Management Information Systems with the hopes of one day working for a professional sports team!  Next year at Butler University he’ll be a Resident Advisor and the Vice President of the club tennis team.  AB has been playing tennis for over 12 years and loves every second on the court.  He has participated in many tennis camps over the years and gives lessons to children of all ages and skill levels.  When he’s not playing tennis, he loves spending time with friends, listening to music, and reading.  He can’t wait to meet all of the kids at Robin Hood, making memories of a lifetime!  Welcome to The Realm, AB!

 

Mark Dezell – Group Leader/Lacrossemark

After spending a few weeks with us during the summer of 2014, Mark is excited to be coming back for his second year in The Realm.  As soon as “Lacrosse Mark” left last year, he immediately missed the New Hampshire air and the environment created by the staff and campers.  Mark will be joining us this year as a Group Leader, as well as a specialty counselor for the lacrosse program.  He is looking forward to bettering each and every player on an individual level and working with a team of young men in their day to day life at camp.  When asked about choosing to return for another summer, Mark wrote, “From the best staff in the world to the most energetic and enthusiastic campers, the Robin Hood family is unlike any other and I cannot wait to be apart of it!”  Welcome back!

What’s New at Camp Robin Hood

With winter behind us, we are ready to spring into Summer 2015 with some new and exciting additions to The Realm. We have just ordered flowers and finished the bunk 9 and 10 bathroom and shower remodel.  The new girls bunk at the top of the hill overlooking the lake is breathtaking! All of this work will help keep this amazing place alive and while most things remain the same, we are excited about the changes that continue to improve the facilities and life in The Realm.blog-2015-new-bunks-headlineWe are excited to announce that the old parking lot has been turned into a brand new quad for our campers to run, play, relax and create lasting memories in.  Remember the baseball field across the road?  The memories will always be there but we’ve turned that into a new lacrosse and football field.blog-2015-new-quadBut it’s not just bunks and grass we’re excited about… we’ve added 6 BRAND NEW KYPADS to the waterfront!  This cross between a kayak and a paddleboard has a seat and footwells and can be used either sitting OR standing.  This makes it safe and suitable for any child! We’ve also ordered SpikeBall for games in the quad or by the lodge.  Imagine Volleyball and 4 Square had a baby. That’s SpikeBall!blog-2015-new-games

 

 

Family Camp at Camp Robin Hood

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Family Camp is more than just a weekend away. It’s an opportunity to create lasting memories with family and friends and enjoy many of the traditions and activities of Camp Robin Hood over a long-weekend on beautiful Lake Ossipee. There are so many reasons why Family Camp at Robin Hood is the only way to spend your family vacation!  Great food, fun activities, starry nights and campfires are just some of the reasons to visit us in The Realm.

Here are the Top 5 Reasons to Attend Family Camp 2015…

5. The FOOD!  Lobster by the Lake anyone? Counselors are on hand to help supervise your children.  We have a Parent’s Night Out during family camp where your kids will be off doing evening activities and you’ll be able to create your own CRH memories.

4. Everyone’s a camper during Family Camp!  Activities available include: all water front activities, GaGa, Spinning, Biking, Horseback Riding, Tennis, Riflery, Archery, Arts & Crafts, Woodshop, Ceramics and various Team Sports.  Learn about what’s offered at camp HERE.

3. Chuck will be there! 2015 marks Chuck’s 50th summer at Camp Robin Hood, making him the longest running member of our incredible staff.  Read his thoughts on The Realm HERE.

2. Looking into summer camp for 2016? Families can introduce overnight camp through a fun family vacation.  And unlike the Griswalds, this “park” is open!

And the #1 reason to attend Family Camp 2015 is…

You can invite your friends!  You do not have to have a current camper nor do you need to be a Robin Hood alumnus to participate in Family Camp. What is better than that!  Share your Robin Hood experience and let others experience the “magic in the trees”.

Fill out our Family Camp Reservation Form to reserve your place in Family Camp and ask any questions you might have.  Campers who are currently enrolled in the 2015 season are FREE. Visit our website for more information.

Social Skills Learned At Camp

Sharing is caring, which is why when we come across an article that helps answer the question, “Why send a child to summer camp?” we want to share it with all of you! It’s really quite simple. There is a real need for children to gain valuable life-skills outside of our homes and classrooms.  We can no longer rely solely on what our parent’s taught us or what our children are learning in school as the sources of educating youth. Times certainly have changed and raising kids is not an easy task. After all, children spend most of their time in school focusing on standardized testing and more time in front of screens when they are outside of school. This article, The Ultimate 21st Century Skills Learning Environment, highlights the benefits of summer camp as a solution to these very real 21st century problems. Add it to the list of reasons why camping is so important today!

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It used to be so easy. Mom was home, and kids wanted to play outside, as we only had seven channels on the television (and no central air). Boy, how times have changed. Technological advances have profoundly affected life, as we know it, including how we raise our children.

Most families rely on two sources for child rearing, (1) What we as parents teach our children at home, and (2) what educators teach our children in school. But there is a third, very important arena that many parents do not consider: What is taught to our children when we, the parents, aren’t with them, when they are away from us and away from school. This is when they are actually most able and willing to learn. This is where the camp experience comes into play!

PROBLEM: Too Much Technology Consumption

Technology is a drug, and we parents are the drug pushers. While parents recognize the inherent issues, the majority of American families do not institute (or uphold) rules to govern their children’s technology consumption. It’s right in front of our eyes- the two year old scrolling through Mom’s iPhone, kids who can’t ride in a car for more than 2 minutes without a movie playing or a handheld electronic device, and older children addicted to violent video games. Most parents give their children these technological gadgets thinking that it relaxes them, when in fact they are being greatly STIMULATED, suppressing their capability to control their emotions (self-regulate). Today’s children are less able to cope with challenging situations, as most lack resiliency and patience. Kindergarten teachers tell us how their students are no longer able to build large-scale projects, as they get frustrated and quit.

Parents can’t figure out how to mitigate it technology consumption. They often choose to avoid negative interactions, since they have so little time with their children to begin with. But when summer comes around and school obligations end, the opportunity is out there for a digital detox in the sun, dirt and sweat of summer camp- the only place that kids give up their phones, xBoxes, TVs, computers and THANK YOU for it!

In an unplugged environment, camp helps children develop emotional self-control, allowing them to find connections within themselves- a vital part of growing up. Camp also provides a unique environment for kids to learn how to share, co-create and collaborate with one another, developing friendship skills along the way.

PROBLEM: 21st Century Skills NOT Taught in School

“21st Century Skills” are defined as the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to be competitive in the modern day workforce. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (p21.org) is a non-profit organization based in Washington D.C. which is comprised of some of the biggest, most successful businesses in the USA. The p21 organization researched and compiled a list of the specific skills that these companies seek in their new hires. The answers were not the “3 R’s” which our schools focus on, but “the 3 C’s”:

  1.  Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
  2.  Creativity & Innovation
  3.  Communication & Collaboration

They also listed the following life skills as most important for their new employees:

  • Flexibility & Adaptability
  • Initiative & Self Direction
  • Social & Cross-Cultural Skills
  • Productivity & Accountability
  • Leadership & Responsibility

Unfortunately, the wonderful teachers in our schools focus a major portion of their classroom time on preparation for standardized tests. The newest educational reform uses a term called “Depth of Knowledge” (DOK) which measures the process of transferring and applying knowledge to different situations. While this is a step in the right direction, the new Core Curriculum does not measure collaboration, creativity, initiative, leadership or responsibility- skills that are taught extensively at summer camp. The teachers that work for me in the summer say that they WISH their classrooms could be more like summer camp. While working at camp, they tell me, “Now THIS is why I became a teacher”.

SOLUTION: Children’s Summer Camp

Below is a typical camp experience, acknowledging 21st Century Life Skills:

  • Parents sign up their children for summer camp, children anticipate it for the upcoming months, having inner-conversations, keeping their emotions in check, and imagining what it will be like. (self-control, emotional control, self-distraction).
  • Children take the bus or get dropped off at camp, breaking free of their parents and embarking on exciting new experiences (independence, initiative, courage, optimism).
  • Children become part of a group/bunk at camp, sharing responsibilities and working together, all while being a good person. (teamwork, responsibility, accountability, integrity)
  • Children participate in activities throughout their day, including swim, athletics, arts and adventure. They try new things, listen to the staff members, and push themselves and their peers to new heights (aspiration, curiosity, respect, leadership).
  • Children experience the ups and downs of making and keeping friendships (integrity, communication, adaptability, patience).

Camp is the ultimate “depth of knowledge” environment for teaching 21st Century Life Skills. We see it every day in the growth of our campers (and staff), and more and more camps are doing the research to actually prove it!

At my camp, we survey campers during their final week of camp with us, and ask them questions based on the growth of the Life Skills we focus on. When asked last summer how their Teamwork skills changed at camp, 63.3% said they increased some, I am sure”, and 33% said they increased a lot, I am sure”- a 96% reported increase!

We also surveyed PARENTS, and 81% reported seeing an increase in their children’s Teamwork skills at home, in regards to an improvement in interpersonal skills, ability to effectively communicate, cooperation, collaboration, leadership, and supporting/helping others. The results were similarly positive for the other character skills measured.

Like a life-skills multi-vitamin, summer camp is supplement for modern society. In a world where parents battle for their children’s attention from video screens, and school teachers focus on teaching for the tests, summer camp provides a wonderfully unique environment for learning the skills that parents and future employers yearn for our children to develop- skills of character, skills for life!

You can read the original article HERE. Andy Pritikin is the Owner/Director of Liberty Lake Day Camp in Mansfield Township, NJ and the President of the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey.LibertyLakeDayCamp.com, ACA-NYNJ.org