Rockbrook has an amazing group of people working as cabin counselors, instructors and support staff. Working at summer camp means serving as mentors for the children at Rockbrook, learning and growing, and having a great time.
During the Spirit Fire that closed our recent Second Session, Tenisha was one of the first-year counselors who spoke about her experience on the staff at camp. She described her feelings as someone new to Rockbrook, and how the character of our camp community has affected her. We thought it was wonderful, and wanted to share it.
“Sitting at home and thinking about what I would do this summer, I knew I wanted to do something different, something new and extraordinary. I wanted something where I would make memories that I could reminisce about later, something that would teach me lifelong lessons, something that would teach me how to be a better person, but most of all I wanted something that had a positive environment where I could be happy.
After watching the camp videos over and over on the website, I knew I would find all those things at RBC. Seeing all the smiles and laughter, all the costumes and events cemented my decision to apply. When I spoke to Sophie on the phone I knew I made the right choice. Listening to her enthusiasm about camp, my first thought was she’s not real. There’s no way someone could be that excited about anything, but my second thought was that I have to see what sparked so much happiness and excitement.
From the moment I entered camp I was greeted with genuine welcome from the Directors and counselors I had never met before. Within the first week I had friends and by the third I knew I had found life long friendships. I remember one day I was walking down senior line being greeted by smiling faces and it wasn’t until I reached the end that I realized my cheeks were aching from smiling so much. I was genuinely happy. I realized that even though I reached the end of the senior line, I didn’t want to reach the end of my time at Rockbrook.
Rockbrook: where girls learn to grow. When I came here, I had no idea I would be one of those girls. With the help of the the Directors, my co-counselors, and other counselors who came to be close friends, I found that I grew into a Rockbrook girl who stops every chance she gets to take in nature and appreciate her, who laughs and smiles everyday because she’s surrounded by kindhearted people who care, who wakes up with a spider by her head and doesn’t panic but catches it and releases it outside, a girl who became a sponge wanting to soak up every song, every fact about the camp activities and traditions.
And most of all, thanks to Rockbrook, I became a girl who found her very own spirit fire that she had no idea she carried. It burns brighter than ever now. So thank you Rockbrook!”
I had an interesting conversation with a new counselor today. Actually, she was not completely new to Rockbrook, but rather an old camper who had this year become a counselor for the first time. She told me she had discovered “the secret to being a great counselor.” Naturally, I was intrigued, after all, we spend a full week training our counselors before the campers arrive. We talk about dozens of different topics that we know are important to life as a counselor, including health and safety issues, managing cabin social dynamics, special aspects about working with girls, how to teach an activity class, handling homesickness, and so forth. Out of all the content presented that week, I was eager to hear what she now believes is the “secret.”
She said, “You just have to enjoy being with your girls. You have to like them, even love them, and everything else follows from there.” Thinking about it later, there’s a lot of truth to that. Counselors who truly enjoy getting to know their campers, become good friends with them, care for them, are tuned into their needs, support them when they need encouragement, and can easily sympathize with them. When a counselor enjoys her campers’ company, she seeks them out and is quite naturally present to help when needed. With this kind of comfortable relationship, combined with good instincts, certainly some training, and common sense, counselors not only “supervise” well, they also find themselves enjoying their work, laughing and playing with the campers, and really embracing the camp community. And that feels really good. I think this young woman knew she was being a great counselor because both she and her campers were having such a great time. It might not be equally easy to love all of you campers, but that’s the secret to being a great camp counselor.
Mary Alice Martin has returned this summer to teach our girls Yoga. Held in the Hillside Lodge, which is one of the original stone lodges built in the 1920s, the classes have plenty of room to spread out their yoga mats on the hardwood floor. Mary Alice plays quiet, calming music to encourage relaxation while the girls stretch to warm up, and then introduces a series of yoga poses ranging from easy basic positions like the “Child’s Pose” to more complex examples like the “Side Crane” pose. She’ll also sometimes play a game she calls “Freeze Yoga,” where she plays more uptempo music, and when she stops it suddenly, the girls have to quickly perform a different yoga pose. That too is a lot of fun.
This photograph of Sophia conveys beautifully the total delight of our giant water slide,”Big Samantha.” After crossing the dock on the far side of the lake, over the bridge near the waterfall, and climbing the tower steps, it’s a nice long ride down the slippery tarp material before being launched out into the lake. Some girls will hold their nose before hitting the water, and others just fist pump the air and scream their heads off! Either way, it’s a short swim to reach the ladders by the dock, and an easy walk back around to slide again. We open the water slide during both free swim periods (before lunch and dinner), giving all of the girls who passed their swim “demonstration,” even the smallest juniors, plenty of chances to take a ride. For some, that means multiple times each day!
I try not to talk about the weather much in these posts (After all, there are so many more interesting things going on!), but it has been a wonderful week with sunny warm days, the occasional afternoon thunderstorm, and cool evenings.
Finally, I wanted to highlight this photo taken down at the Rockbrook Rifle Range. I just love the smile, the pink hearing protection, the rifle named “Annie Oakley,” and the feeling of relaxed assurance it conveys. Learning to shoot a real .22 caliber rifle can be a little daunting, but these Rockbrook girls are taking to it wonderfully. Odds are you’ll be hearing about the bullseye club very soon.
Even when it seems like the walls are caving in, life can be a total blast. Below are 100 thoughts on how to turn a bad day into a good one. Our camp staff keeps these in their back pockets just in case. Lessons on life that apply!
1. If it seems like the sky is falling, catch it.
2. It’s not the number of zeros on your paycheck that makes you rich.
3. Knowing right from wrong is only half the battle.
4. A smile will do more for your face than any powder, shadow, or serum.
5. Stop signs exist for a reason (as do blinkers).
6. Ask people questions about themselves. They love it.
7. Before a dinner party, memorize at least three jokes.
8. You’re never too old to jump on a trampoline.
9. More than likely, the book is better than the movie.
10. Get to know your neighbors.
11. If you use the last of the toilet paper, change the roll.
12. Hold the door.
13. Admit when you’re wrong.
14. It’s rarely a good idea to cut your own hair.
15. Turn off the TV during dinner.
16. Punxsutawney Phil isn’t always right.
17. It’s better to laugh with, than to laugh at.
18. Stand for something.
19. Things don’t always have to make perfect sense to make perfect sense. Look at Dr. Suess.
20. Just because you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, it doesn’t mean you have to lay there all day.
21. Give your phone a break.
22. Sometimes, homemade pizza is just better.
23. Know your friend’s birthdays.
24. You can cheer on your own team without booing the opposition.
25. Know exactly which documents you need before you go to the DMV.
26. Don’t hit the snooze button more than twice in one morning.
27. Remember that you can choose to be your own worst critic or your own biggest fan. Try to find a balance between the two.
28. The check engine light in your car is not just a suggestion.
29. Never underestimate the power of a thank you note.
30. Your comfort zone is just a jumping off point.
31. Buy Girl Scout cookies.
32. Don’t put the carton of milk back in the fridge if it has anything less than a full glass in it.
33. Even if you don’t celebrate a particular holiday, respect those that do.
34. If your towel is wet, hang it up.
35. Every now and then, get a little dirt underneath your fingernails.
36. You’re going to end up with more Tupperware containers than you’ll have lids to fit them. That’s just how life goes.
37. It’s okay to tell someone if they have something in their teeth.
38. The best wedding guest is the one who dances her heart out when the music starts.
39. Everyone in life can be a teacher.
40. If you’ve laughed so hard that you’ve snorted, it’s been a good day.
41. Be patient with your friends around April 15th. Filing taxes can be stressful.
42. GPSs can make mistakes.
43. Appointment books are a lifesaver.
44. Take advantage of the library.
45. If someone needs an umbrella more than you, give them yours.
46. See the best in people
47. Never stop learning.
48. Set your clock ten minutes early.
49. Learn when to speak up and when to stay quiet.
50. Memorize the Pledge of Allegiance.
51. Leave a big tip.
52. Stay hydrated.
53. Be mindful of your internet presence.
54. Cherish family photo albums.
55. If you meet any couple married for more than 20 years, ask them the secret to love.
56. Spend time outside.
57. Always have an extra cup of sugar on hand for the neighbors.
58. The only way to tell if your sauce is any good is by tasting it yourself.
59. Keep snacks in your purse. Hunger is a grouchy mood’s best friend.
60. Invest time and energy into your relationships with your coworkers.
61. Sometimes, it’s more about the question than the answer.
62. Floss daily.
63. Tone and inflection matter to people’s feelings.
64. When sharing food, give your friend the last bite.
65. Even if someone is driving well below the speed limit, do not tailgate them.
66. Don’t keep tabs on every single debt you are owed.
67. Spend your lifetime believing that you are in the right place at the right time.
68. Every now and then, take out your headphones. Let everyone enjoy your music.
69. Be thankful for every candle on your birthday cake.
70. Never mind the naysayers.
71. Realize that you have a stroke of genius in you.
72. Take healthy risks daily.
73. If you’re walking outside on a cold day, keep a tissue in your pocket.
74. Be more than just how you look.
75. Keep a bowl of candy on your desk.
76. It’s never to late to learn how to swim.
77. If someone asks, “Can you do me a favor?” Say yes whenever possible.
78. Study history.
79. Don’t scratch mosquito bites,.
80. Make a wish on shooting stars, dandelion seeds, face-up pennies, eyelashes, and anytime a clock strikes 11:11.
81. Learn how to identify poison ivy.
82. Even if you don’t love the food, thank the host.
83. Create a bucket list.
84. Don’t always take fashion advice.
85. Always know the date.
86. Divide large projects into a series of smaller, more manageable tasks.
87. Tell loved ones how much they mean to you.
88. Not every flower needs to be picked.
89. Never consider loving chocolate a vice.
90. Invest in a First Aid Kit.
91. Roast a marshmallow every once in a while.
92. Surprise yourself.
93. Remain calm when you stain your shirt or jam the copier.
94. Be okay with mismatched socks.
95. Just because the sky is gray, it doesn’t mean you have to feel blue.
96. If you’re picking someone up at the airport, bring flowers.
97. Don’t ignore mold on food.
98. Laugh daily.
99. Go with your gut.
100. Take every bit of advice with a grain of salt.
Bathing suit season can bring quite a bit of anxiety into the worlds of our campers and staff members. We’re inundated with the idea that, before we slip into our bathing suit, our body needs to change- smaller, flatter, smoother. The truth is the only thing that needs to change this bathing suit season is our mindset. We all already posses a body beautiful enough to wear whatever we want, we just need let our mind in on this secret.
Notice What We Notice
We tend to have a complicated relationship with our mirror. Our blemishes and asymmetries are the first thing reflected back to us, while we rarely notice the beauty and functionality of our bodies. When we notice what we tend to focus on in the mirror, we can begin to change our entire worldview. Taking in more of the beauty of our natural image will serve us well during bathing suit season.
Think Through Our Thoughts
Our thought patterns are the true culprits that keep us out of our bathing suit. Reconsidering any of our self-limiting mindsets can train us to embrace our beautiful body as it is, just as it is. We can keep an eye on our thoughts when we find ourselves engaged with these restrictive mindsets:
Comparing- We’re only ever going to be ourselves (and isn’t that exciting because we are great!), so we might as well rock a bathing suit on the body we were born with!
All or nothing reasoning- The fun of life lies in between absolute perfection and total failure and not achieving the former does not not automatically make us the latter. Of course, we’re not perfect, but we are strong, beautiful, capable, and lovely!
Confusing feelings with facts- What we feel is not what we are. We may fixate on how we feel about our “flaws”, but this does not mean that we are flawed as a person.
Going overboard- It is so easy to take one small thought and allow it to spiral out of control. For example, we may try on a bathing suit this spring that fits a little snug. This does not indicate that we should never try on anything ever again and that we’re worthless, and that we should go ahead and cancel our beach trip and live in our sweatpants! (See? Our thoughts can get very big very fast!)
Watch What We’re Watching
Hollywood and glossy magazine ads can quickly negate any positive sense of self-worth that we work so hard to create and maintain. We can keep our own reality in check be recognizing the distortions in these images. With Photoshop, even the models in these photos don’t look like the models in these photos.
Perfect Our Perceptions
There’s a lot more to us as people than how we look. Our minds are sharp and we have so much to offer the world. We are not a number on a scale, the size of our jeans, or the laugh lines on our face.
Pack On The Positive
Let’s allow our minds to celebrate our bodies in all that they do for us. Thank goodness that we are healthy and strong enough to go for a swim in the first place!
Look At The Big Picture
Live boldly! How we look and feel in a bathing suit has very little to do with the quality of our lives. Outside ourselves exists a whole delightfully charming world just waiting to be explored and enjoyed. And oh how lovely that we can experience some of it in a bathing suit!
Being a great camp counselor means being aware of the needs your campers have, even when they don’t express them directly. It can mean knowing when to speak and when to listen. At times, camp life asks us staff to be quiet. Here are a few times when we best serve ourselves by staying silent.
When We’re In The Mud
Anytime we find ourselves engaged in a nasty conversation, we should shut our mouths. Gossip and cruel words about the character, clothing, or personality of anyone else adds no value to our own lives. In fact, those powerful words do quite the opposite. At these times, we can open our mouths only to stand for the hard right against the easy wrong.
When We’re Learning
Teachers come in many forms- bosses, children, friends, books, newspapers, animals, moments, and, of course, teachers. When life is presenting us with a lesson we should work to keep our mouths closed. We can listen and observe, and allow our minds time to process the experience before we jump in with our own opinions.
When a Friend Comes To Us
Often times, we just want to help. When a friend or loved one comes to us with an issue, our first instinct is to problem solve. We, initially, must resist this urge. Let’s give our friends the time and space they need to explore their troubles from multiple angles. Instead of talking, we can listen, nod, empathize, and speak only when our loved one elicits our help. Mostly though, in this moment, they are searching for a listening ear.
When Good Things Are Happening Without Us
This shut-our-mouths moment is crucial for those of us who work with children. We want to facilitate conflict management, encourage healthy risk-taking, and manage our children’s choices so that they will make the right ones. Of course, we need to model best behaviors and teach our children healthy and wholesome ways to live their lives. After this, we can take a step back now and then. We’ll be amazed at how well children can manage their own arguments and how gracefully they can implement the lessons we’ve passed on to them. Practice makes perfect. Let them practice without us every once in a while.
When People Are Watching Us
…and we’re watched more than we realize. What we say helps those around us determine who we are as a person. If what you are about to say may speak negatively about your character: keep it to yourself.
When Life Is Good
Sometimes we talk over our own bliss. Allotting ourselves just a few moments of quiet observation each day can help us see how beautiful our lives really are.
Whether we have children or not, we are always in a position to change the world. Every day, we can choose to engage in ways that can inspire a younger generation. A few small changes in our own lives can make a world of difference to the girls who look up to us. We can teach the girls in our lives to take themselves seriously while continuing to navigate through a fun, playful life full of meaning and love.
Ignore More Mirrors
The time we spend plucking, primping, analyzing, pulling, highlighting, and altering our appearance in front of a mirror speaks volumes to our daughters. Learning to appreciate our own natural image will help our daughters understand the beauty in who they are- just as they are.
Read More Books
Engaging ourselves intellectually and emotionally through literature encourages our daughters to do the same. Books allow us to travel to exotic places and meet new people. More than that, however, books introduced us to topics and emotions that we may not ever experience through everyday living. With every page we turn, our daughters watch us elevate our worldview and sense of self-worth.
Explore Government
Becoming politically informed isn’t about conflict, left-wing versus right-wing, it’s about community. Demonstrating to our daughters that we know and care about politics puts into place a lesson in altruism- people and things exist beyond our own social circles and we should care about them.
Find A New Hobby
Learn a language, take a cooking class, start fishing, or camping, or painting, or playing tennis. Do something new, anything new. We help to open the world up for our daughters when we move beyond our own comfort zone.
Compliment Beyond Clothes
Move away from compliments that highlight physical appearance- that cute bow, those beautiful curls, new shoes. We can value our daughters with praise founded on their intellectual accomplishments, conversation style, and athletic or artistic feats. We can help our daughters move away from a life of being pretty and into to a life of doing good.
Calculate Tip Without a Calculator
More women than ever are moving into the math and science sectors of the workforce. Practicing mental math in front of our daughters make numbers and logic commonplace. Long division is nothing to be scared of!
Get Angry
Get angry. It’s not an emotion we should hide from our daughters. Things will upset us. We can let our daughters watch us experience anger without any shame or guilt attached to the emotion. We can also demonstrate to them how to process anger in a healthy, productive way.
Laugh
Laugh daily and laugh loudly. We can bring joy into our own lives by teaching our daughters that life is funny and lovely. Shining bright and living hard not only lightens up our own path, but may even illuminate the way for those following in our footsteps.
You can apply these anytime! Whether it’s working at camp or living your broader life, you can make a difference.
Beautiful people have a way of moving about the world- there is just something about them. We all stop and take notice. Beauty transcends hair, clothes, or posture. In fact, it has entirely nothing to do with physical appearance. When we meet a truly beautiful person, we recognize them right away and they inspire us to become the best version of ourselves.
Read on as we put our finger on exactly what makes a beautiful person beautiful.
1. They Are A Bright Spot. Beautiful people leave you feeling refreshed. A beautiful person understands how to energize, support, encourage, and love the people around them. You can count on a beautiful person to laugh at your jokes, answer your calls, ask engaging questions, notice your haircut, and provide inspiring advice.
2. They Listen. Often times, we listen to others as a stepping stone on which to place our own story or experience. As others speak, we cognitively calculate our next words. A beautiful person truly listens for the sake of understanding. A beautiful person approaches conversations as an opportunity to strengthen her connections and relationships. She turns off her own mental chatter and wraps herself up in the moment.
3. Their Lips Turn Up. Beautiful people smile, simple as that. Throughout the day, a beautiful person’s lips are busy smiling, laughing, and singing the praises of the world.
4. They Bring Out The Good. Beautiful people take refuge in the happiness of others. They posses a desire to help others experience joy. You can count on a beautiful person to be your biggest cheerleader.
5. They Compliment. A beautiful person takes the time to highlight the beauty in others. They seamlessly elevate people’s sense of self-worth simply by complimenting the world as they see fit. They don’t worry about being too over-the-top.
6. They Notice The Little Things. A beautiful person fills her day with beautiful moments. She doesn’t limit herself by only celebrating the “big” moments in life- promotions, holidays, proposals. She rejoices everyday- green lights, blue skies, funny jokes.
7. They Understand The Spotlight. And when to share it. A beautiful person can read a crowd. She knows when to take the lead and she understands when to pull back. Sharing credit and praise makes a beautiful person feel fulfilled.
8. They Understand That A Hard Life Is An Interesting Life. She knows that life is full of speed bumps and set backs. A beautiful person doesn’t shy away from dissenters. She realizes instead that life will throw you a punch now and then to keep you on your toes. A beautiful person understands that a life that lacks troubles and stresses is a life that lacks color and excitement.
9. They Are True To Themselves. We spend most of the day speaking to ourselves. Our inner dialogue guides our day, it directs our actions. A beautiful person takes ownership of her inner voice and directs in a way that feeds her soul. Beautiful people have fine-tuned their self-critique to a brief experience with the intent to improve. Other than that, beautiful people treat themselves kindly. After a quick analysis, they let missteps and mistakes go and engage in gentle and encouraging self-talk.
10. They Understand Beauty. A beautiful person looks beyond the size of her jeans, the hue of her lips, and the length of her hair. Beauty, as understood by beautiful people, is not something you see, it’s something you feel. A life spent engaged in meaningful, uplifting activities trumps a life spent in front of the mirror.
And camp is where we see it, and experience for ourselves. Our best selves blossom with caring camp counselors, caring camp friends, and a caring community. So much beauty!
Get ready to start gabbing! The moment you become interested, you’ll help kids feel more interesting. These good conversation starters are sure to get any child’s inner chatter box talking. Some are funny, and others just get you thinking. Even if you don’t work at camp as a counselor, use these topics during long car rides, for dinner table discussions, as sleep-over games, or anytime you want to have a good belly laugh with the kids (and teens!) in your life. Just start asking. You’ve got to start the convo. But once you do, watch the conversation unfold!
1. If you could make up a brand new school subject, what would it be? 2. Can you remember a time when you laughed so hard you snorted? 3. Make up a new holiday. 4. What is you favorite letter of the alphabet? Why? 5. If someone gave you $50 dollars what would you do with it? 6. Would you rather eat your least favorite vegetable or have extra homework? 7. When you are sad how do you make yourself feel better? 8. Would you rather pack your lunch or buy from the cafeteria? 9. What is your favorite day of the week? 10. What is the best way to eat an Oreo?
11. What do you normally do during recess? 12. Which state shape do you like the best? 13. Do you have a favorite place in your town? 14. Would you rather scream or whisper? 15. Would you rather take a picture or be in the picture? 16. When you play tic-tac-toe, do you choose to be Xs or Os? 17. When you’re waiting for something, how do you pass the time? 18. What is your favorite chore? 19. If you could do one thing, everyday, for the rest of your life, what would it be? 20. Once you lie down in bed, how long does it take you to fall asleep?
21. If you had a robot for one day what would you ask it to do? 22. What is your favorite thing about yourself? 23. How do you make friends? 24. What’s your favorite thing to do on a snow day?
25. If you could design a zoo, which animal would you have the most of? 26. If you could change one thing about your room what would it be? 27. Do you like riding in the car? 28. When you woke up this morning what was the first thing that you thought about? 29. Do you normally do chores and homework right away or do you wait until the last minute? 30. Would you rather take a shower or a bath?
31. If your parents told you that you could have dessert for breakfast what would you eat? 32. What’s the silliest thing you can think to do with a paper plate? 33. Do you think it’s important to pay attention every single second when you’re at school? 34. What’s the best smell you’ve ever smelled? 35. Make up a new sport. 36. Do you have to use your eraser a lot at school? 37. Have you ever fallen asleep when you didn’t mean to? 38. How many books do you have in your room? 39. Would you ever wear your clothes inside-out at school? 40. Can you remember a time when you made someone smile?
41. How old were you when you learned to tie your shoes? 42. Do you think you could go an entire day without talking? 43. If you could turn one room of your house into a giant trampoline which one would it be? 44. Have you ever told a small fib so as not to hurt someone’s feelings? 45. Are you good at tongue twisters? 46. Do you have the same first name as anyone else at your school? Do you like that? 47. Do you like to look at a clock or do you prefer not knowing what time it is? 48. What’s your favorite joke? 49. Who do you talk to the most on the phone? 50. What’s your favorite radio station?
51. Do you prefer animated movies or films with real actors/ actresses? 52. Would you rather watch a movie with no sound or listen to a radio program with no image? 53. If you had the opportunity to visit the moon for a day, would you? 54. Describe your perfect cookie. 55. If you could put frosting on any food in the world what would it be? 56. If you became President of the United States, what would you do? 57. When was the last time you helped your parents without being asked? 58. If your favorite toy could talk, what would it say? 59. What would you do if you found the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow? 60. Make up a song about your favorite teacher.
61. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, which one would you choose? 62. What makes someone a good friend? 63. When was the last time you received a letter in the mail? 64. What is the longest word you know how to spell? 65. What are the two largest numbers that you can add together in your head? 66. What would you do if it started raining ice cream sundaes? 67. When was the last time you gave someone a high-five? 68. What is one thing that you don’t know how to do, but you wish you did? 69. How would you feel if, for one day, you were the parent and your mom and dad were the kids? 70. Do you think that kids should be able to choose what they learn at school?
71. Do you prefer games with cards or dice? 72. Can you remember the silliest thing you’ve ever said? 73. Have you ever played an April Fool’s joke on anyone? How did they react? 74. What would you do if you accidentally dropped your ice cream cone on the ground? 75. Do you get more excited on your own birthday or on your best friend’s birthday? 76. If you could trade places with anyone for one day, who would it be? 77. Create a new cereal flavor. 78. Pick one fruit to combine with one vegetable to make a “fruitable”. 79. When you think about your day tomorrow, which part of it makes you the most excited? 80. Why is your favorite color your favorite?
81. Can you remember a time when you had a really good day? 82. Do you think it would be fun to be famous? 83. In your town, do you have more sunny days or more rainy days? 84. Do you like to visit the library? 85. Do you have a favorite word to say? 86. Do you think it would be fun to have a hippopotamus living in your house? 87. If someone gave you a blank piece of paper, what would you do with it? 88. If you design your own playground, what kinds of things would you want to play on? 89. If you could have a class pet, what would it be? 90. What is the quickest way to make someone smile?
91. How did you learn that your least favorite food was your least favorite food? 92. If someone wrote an article about you in your school’s newspaper, what would you want them to say? 93. What do you think would happen if you had to go to school on Saturdays? 94. When was the last time you told someone “Thank You”? 95. Have you ever taught anyone how to do something? 96. What is something that you think kids understand, but adults do not? 97. Do you like to get your face painted? 98. Describe what you see when you look outside your bedroom window at home. 99. Do you like how old you are now or do you wish you were older or younger? 100. If you were going to bury a time capsule, what would you put in it? 101. What is your favorite question to ask your friends?
Open any glossy magazine cover this month and you’ll notice no shortage of party planning advice- Seven Simple Steps to a Perfect Holiday Party!, Party Planning on a Budget!, This Holiday’s Hottest Party Playlists!, Perfect Party Dresses! Oh my!
Today, we present to you party planning advice from a muddy-sneakered, wide-grinned, sun-soaked Rockbrook Girl.
If a summer camp camper or Rockbrook counselor were to take the lead on a holiday party advice article, here’s what she might say….
Dear Rockbrook Girl, Let’s talk food. What should I serve? Hors D’oeuvres? Scallops wrapped in bacon? Artichoke dip? I need advice on menu planning. Yours, Munchies
Dear Munchies,
Keep things simple and fun! Old standbys like s’mores, GORP, puppy chow, and drippy ice cream cones are great. It’s always a good idea to roast your party food over an open fire- hotdogs, banana boats, tin-foil pancakes. Of course, milk and cookies are a huge hit!
Yours,
Rockbrook Girl
Dear Rockbrook Girl, I’m looking for good conversations starters for my holiday party. Any suggestions? Yours, Chatty Kathy
Dear Chatty,
Great question! It’s a wonderful idea to ask your guests about themselves. It will make everyone at your party feel comfortable and supported. Make sure to listen actively and the conversation will get rolling in no time. Here are a few of my favorites:
Tell me about the last book you read?
I heard you can divide two three-digit numbers in your head! How do you do that?
What makes you laugh?
If you couldn’t watch television, how would you spend your time?
Do you have any pets?
Yours,
Rockbrook Girl
Dear Rockbrook Girl, What should I wear at my party? I hear so much about holiday fashion these days, I just don’t know what’s trendy. Yours, Trendy Wendy
Dear Trendy,
Well, red and white are always in fashion! My advise is this, dress for function. Ensure that you are warm, cozy and comfortable while hosting for the holidays. Anything that you can jump, swim, roll, giggle, zoom, run, swing, stretch, and dance in is a must. It’s not at all about how you look, it’s all about how you feel!
Yours,
Rockbrook Girl
Dear Rockbrook Girl, I’m wondering about presents. Should I ask my guests to bring gifts to my party? Yours, Wrapped Up
Dear Wrapped,
I love this question! By inviting guests to your party, you’ve automatically asked them to bring gifts to share with everyone! Each and every one of your guests has something beautiful to share with the world; they have their own unique set of talents and traits that are- are you ready?- GIFTS! At your party, instead of requesting that your guests offer up something synthetic just ask them to bring themselves- perfect and priceless.
Stephen Wallace’s article Always Thank the Bus Driver featured in the American Camping Magazine’s May/June 2011 issue inspired our plans for this weekend. Wallace claims that camp teaches us to “thank the bus driver”. It’s all about appreciation and gratitude. Why wait for camp to cultivate a greater sense of gratitude?
This weekend, let’s appreciate this wonderful life that we are living by giving thanks! Here’s a few suggestions how:
1. No Mirrors
Challenge yourself to go through the weekend without looking in a mirror. You’ll have more time to thank your body for all it does and less time to analyze everything you’d like to “change” or “improve” about it. Your body allows you to jump, sing, clap, dance, and play! Let’s appreciate it!
2. Stop, Drop, and Roll
This famous fire safety tip works well to cultivate our sense of gratitude. When you have a quiet moment this weekend, Stop what you’re doing for a moment. Drop all the thoughts and to-do lists running through your mind. Roll through all the people you know. Who has gone out of their way to help you recently? I bet the list is longer than you might have guessed. Thank goodness for all the people who care for us! And for staff, there camp counselor resources are a great reminder.
3. Both Sides Now
The famous Joni Mitchell song Both Sides Now is a beautiful example of perspective. The song begins with Mitchell singing about clouds. In her younger years, Mitchell’s imagination saw angel’s hair and ice cream cones in the shapes formed by the sky. In adulthood, Mitchell was annoyed by clouds. They snowed and rained and got in the way of her plans. It’s so easy to let life lose it’s luster. With a subtle shift in perspective, life doesn’t have to seem quite so tough.
4. Share Yourself with the World
The word “donate” is not necessarily synonymous with the word “money”. Giving of ourselves can enhance our appreciation of not only what we have but who we are. What do you share to the world? Are you a great listener? A fabulous joke teller? A beautiful singer? An excellent gardener? Your talents are your gifts- give them away this weekend. And as a superstar camp counselor!
5. Look Up, Down, Sideways, and Byways
There’s a whole world out there to explore! Look beyond yourself and leave no stone un-turned.
6. Overestimate
“Overestimate” people’s abilities and capacity for compassion and they will rise to the occasion. At camp we say, it’s way more fun to think the best of people!
Let this Saturday be better than your Friday and worse than you Sunday. With a little effort and practice, camp life and regular life can just keep getting better and better.
