When I arrived at Merrowvista for a new summer, I was invited to share \u201ca moment of gratitude\u201d; this happens before each of our meals and is a time when an individual offers a thought which represents thankfulness, and likewise why we are appreciative.\u00a0 As an educator, I am struck by how often children and adolescents enlighten me.\u00a0 Truly, it is with deep gratitude that I receive a gift of wisdom from youth.\u00a0 I have spent the last few days at camp observing \u201ccampers-in-action\u201d; and as usual, what I have noticed in these wonderful people are admirable qualities that counsel me in \u201cBest Self\u201d living.\u00a0 Here\u2019s my \u201cshort list\u201d of distinctive attributes from my younger comrades\u2026<\/p>\n
ENCOURAGEMENT OF OTHERS.\u00a0 I sat in on an Outdoor Survival interest group in which the campers were learning how to make roping from dried milkweed stem.\u00a0 What a hefty and time-consuming task to produce anything remotely similar to cording for a rope from a thick segment of stalk!\u00a0 But there we sat, and a camper scooted herself over to me and said, \u201cDo you need some help?\u00a0 Sometimes people like help, but sometimes people need space to figure it out on our own.\u00a0 I will only help if you want it, but you should keep trying, too!\u201d\u00a0 How empowered I felt to keep diligent in my task.<\/p>\n
TRY TO BE BRAVE WHEN ATTEMPTING NEW ADVENTURES. \u00a0I sauntered on over to Base Camp, the hub for out of camp trips.\u00a0 A group of young Adventurers were compiling all necessary goods for an overnight campout:\u00a0 stuffing sleeping bags, organizing pots and pans for dinner over the campfire, lacing up hiking boots.\u00a0 I noticed two peers quietly chatting on the sidelines, one looking quite hesitant about the entire process which lay ahead.\u00a0 I tried with great care not to seem nosey, and at the same time could not help but overhear an exchange from one to the next, \u201cIt might be hard!\u00a0 But we need to TRY new things like this if we want to LEARN new things like this!!\u201d\u00a0 The response from the friend?\u00a0 A sweet grin and nod of agreement.<\/p>\n
MAKE AND KEEP FRIENDS.\u00a0 A camper mistook me for one of my dear camp friends as I walked up the path to the Farmhouse.\u00a0 I smiled as I thought of her.\u00a0 The camper and I went on to have a chat about HIS first friend at Merrowvista.\u00a0 He shared that when he arrived on Opening Day, he was so nervous; he had never come to a place where he knew \u201cNO ONE\u201d!\u00a0 He elaborated, \u201cBut then, when I was moving into my cabin, I saw this kid who looked kinda nice and he needed help with his stuff.\u00a0 So I took a deep breath, and asked him and he said, \u2018yeah!\u2019 so I helped him!!\u00a0 And now we eat, like, every meal together and have the same interest group and I think we may be friends forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
PLAY IS ESSENTIAL. \u00a0Yesterday our waterfront came alive under the sapphire sky as we celebrated Water Carnival!\u00a0 Games like \u201cGreased Watermelon\u201d and \u201cPudding Paddle Relay\u201d found us all cheering and laughing at our antics.\u00a0 \u201cWater Balloon Quidditch\u201d brought out our competitive sides, but in the end congratulatory fist bumps and bursting balloons resulted in a healthy torrent of squeals and giggles.<\/p>\n
Another day of living in a community committed to building a world of meaning and hope for children comes to a close.\u00a0 And, because of the joy and wonder they<\/em> bring to this collective, the children continue to teach us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When I arrived at Merrowvista for a new summer, I was invited to share \u201ca moment of gratitude\u201d; this happens before each of our meals and is a time when an individual offers a thought which represents thankfulness, and likewise why we are appreciative.\u00a0 As an educator, I am struck by how often children and adolescents enlighten me.\u00a0 Truly, it … <\/p>\n