to katie: about camp

Hey Katie! I hope you're having a fabulous time already at camp!

One of the reasons I loved camp as a kid is because you get to "try out" different parts of yourself if you want to.

The people at camp do not all already know who you are - they do not already have expectations of how you will behave. So that means that you can try out being a little different than you usually are when you're at camp, and find out if you like being that way!

Like for example, LEADERSHIP.

Groups of kids usually end up following a leader. What I mean by "a leader" is: the kid who makes the final decision about what the group does. The leader may not always come up with the great idea of what to do next, but the group usually does the activity that the leader is suggesting.

So if you're normally a follower, camp is a good place to practice being a leader. Here is one leadership tip: if you want to convince a group to do a certain activity, figure out who else wants to do it, and go along with them - then they feel supported. For example, let's say Hannah wants to go swimming and Miley wants to go do arts and crafts, and you would rather go swimming too. Then you could say "Hannah, I like your idea to go swimming." It doesn't always have to be your idea!

And if you're normally a leader, camp is a good place to practice being a follower. Following is going along with what the group wants to do, and being cheerful, even if it's not your favorite choice. Here's a tip about following: sometimes being happy is more about choosing to enjoy yourself no matter what you're doing, and less about doing what you want to do. You can't always do the thing you want to do, but you can always try to enjoy yourself while you're there!

When you get to be an adult, both skills come in handy at work (leading and following), so it's a good thing to be a good leader and a good follower!

For another example, TALKING vs LISTENING

Most people are either talkers or listeners, but it's really better if you practice doing both. If you're only a talker, then other people get to hear your stories, but sometimes you don't get to know other people very well. If you're only a listener, then you get to know other people well, but they don't get to know you very well.

If you are usually a talker, camp is a great place to practice listening. For example, if someone else is telling a story, ask a question to encourage them to tell more detail. Or if someone wants to do something, ask them why they want to do that thing to try to understand what they like and don't like.

If you are usually a listener, camp is a great place to practice talking. For example, if nobody in the group is talking, you can tell a funny story. Or if someone else is telling a story, you can let them know why you thought their story was interesting. Or if the group is making a decision about what to do, you can say why you want to do a certain thing instead of just saying what you want to do.

Just like with leading and following, when you're an adult, you will need both skills, talking and listening, and in order to be good at your job. Plus, good friends do both: talk and listen.

So this year at camp, think about if there is something you would like to practice, and then practice it!

Sometimes people get stuck being the same way all the time, always doing the same things, because they never have a good place to practice doing something different. Camp is a great great place to practice doing something different, so don't let this chance pass you by!

I love you very much, and hope you have a wonderful wonderful time at camp!!

Love,
Aunt Angie