"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares." -- Henri Nouwen
What helps a person feel socially well varies from person to person, but for many, friendships and a sense of strong community are core components of feeling socially well. That is why we here at CAN developed a list of not only the basic needs we strive to help our students and families meet, but a list of foundational needs, a term we coined to touch on the social-emotional well-being needs everyone should have met in addition to their physical needs.
One of the core elements of our programs is relationship building. When we truly and genuinely invest in one another, approaching our relationships with honesty, grace, compassion, mutual respect, and support, we are role modeling the world we want to see for ourselves and for everyone who comes through our doors.
Developing a stronger sense of social wellness at CAN is not only about talking with our students about what they want and deserve out of the relationships in their lives (though very important), but it is also about showing them with our actions what healthy relationships and communities look like.
As we start to think about saying goodbye to the campers and ending summer camp, take a moment to pause and reflect on your experience this summer. What are some ways you feel you have successfully role modeled healthy relationships? What have you learned about healthy relationships from your campers?
Highlights
Lemonade Day was a success!
Announcements
TWO more weeks of summer camp left?! Do a self-check in! How are you doing? Start thinking about how you want to say goodbye to the campers at the end of the summer - I can't believe it's that time already.
August 2-6: Wrap-Up Week
This final week, even though there will not be any campers, is an important week! Staff can plan to sort and organize leftover bin supplies, clean community spaces and prepare them for After School Programs, reflect and share stories from summer camp for future newsletters, write mini-camper bios for future adults working with the students and/or letters to teachers sharing what the campers did over the summer and advocating on their behalf so they start out on the right foot in the fall, and complete a survey with specific, anonymous feedback on the summer camp training and summer camp experience.
Exit Interviews & End of Camp Survey
Keep an eye out for more communications about scheduling your exit interview and completing an end of camp survey in the coming weeks.
Tips & Tidbits
This Week's Strive to Thrive Theme
Social Wellness
Mindfulness Focus: Kindness Buddy, Gratitude, Asking for Help, Kindness Buddy II
Thematic Projects: Social Puzzle, Those Shoes, Boundaries and Consent, Alter Ego
Non-thematic activities with Daily Discoveries:
Hickory Dickory Dock!
Climate Change
Beach Ball Bonanza
Food Web Fun
Hot or Cold
Connecting the Food System
Telephone Story
Eco-Hunt
A Look-back at Orientation Topics
Educational Summer Camp Overview 2021
Why Wellness?
How to Read & Interpret Lessons
Tips for Lesson Delivery & Classroom Management
Student-Centered Learning
Understanding Student Behaviors
Access Your Online Training Materials
Access The Orientation Materials
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Thanks for reading! If you have any questions or comments (or highlights, announcements, etc.), please email Katie at klampen@canwashtenaw.org.