Grit, Zest and Character… ALC Lessons!
We have read and re-read the interesting article in the New York Times by Paul Tough entitled “What if the Secret to Success Is Failure?” and we encourage all of you to take a moment to read it too.
It is a fascinating look into the age-old question of what leads to “the ‘good life’, a life that is not just only happy but also meaningful and fulfilling.” Parenting in 2011 is not an easy task and we begin this blog restating how much we admire parents, families and loving adults who join together to help shape young peoples’ lives! We respect and appreciate you all!
In the NYT’s article we found points that seem to sing ALC and ALC experiences as points such as how we present and perceive challenges faced by our children. Are we, as the article states living the “central paradox of contemporary parenting” by not only providing for our children but “protecting them from discomforts both large and small.” In doing so, have we taken some of the resilance and strength of self confidence and self knowledge that comes through facing difficult or different situations? Resilence, zest for life, perserveance, self control are all character traits that the author explores and links to the future success that we all want for our children – to be happy, independent and successful adults. The author and the educators profiled in the article claim that by eliminating challenge in our children’s lives we rob them of the chance to understand their abilities and to have experiences to reflect upon as new challenges arise in their lives.
And so we think of camp, residential camping and Alford Lake in particular. Yes, we are a summer camp and our days are first and foremost fun and happy! But thoughtful reflection of camp life includes the truth that coming to ALC does prove to be filled with challenges for our campers: can a young girl learn to live and thrive away from home for three weeks or perhaps a summer, can a middle school aged camper move away from fashion trends and wear a camp uniform and give up technologies such as cell phones, computers and Facebook for a few weeks and/or can a highschool aged camper face the daunting task of becoming a member of our rigorous Global Challenge Trips for a summer of exploration that involves physical and interpersonal challenges? Camp is full of days spent learning to experience life in a new environment, with new people and trying new things. When campers face personal challenges they are given the space, time and skills to discuss, process and find new avenues to “make another choice”. Here at Alford Lake Camp, we can learn to reflect and change, grow and learn!
We repeatedly hear from camp parents that their campers return home with renewed self-confidence and we know this is authentic pride in themselves for navigating the challenges, big and small, that summers at Alford Lake Camp provide. We are a camp that celebrates each individual, provides healthy and safe challenges that allow our campers to see themselves as they are: capable and energetic, thoughtful and kind. We are a camp where “Values Matter and People Thrive” because we allow our campers to meet and embrace challenging experiences that provide a lifetime of value.
Join us in this discussion! Do you agree that ALC provides campers with challenges both big and small? Do you believe in the value of these experiences? Have you found yourself, when faced with a difficult situation, reflecting back to a moment at ALC where you learned about yourself and your unique abilities?
Warmly,
Sue McMullan, Director
Betsy Brayley, Assistant Director
December 3rd, 2011 at 7:04 am
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December 5th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Yes, yes, yes to all of those questions! Whenever I’ve been trusted with a lot of responsibility or whenever I’m in a brand new social environment I think back to camp and how I was able to handle myself and learn from new experiences a counselor! ALC is such a safe place to challenge yourself and to make mistakes and learn– I believe so much in the value of embracing new challenges and in the value of camp!
December 11th, 2011 at 1:17 am
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April 9th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
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