“Fun” is one of the world’s most overused words.
While one person may use it to describe a life changing event like a wedding, another may use it to describe the cool hoodie they just bought online.
Teachers try all the time to make learning “fun,” but for many of our kids… especially as they get older, it’s the kind of fun that feels like playing a board game in a cage.
Coaches try to make skill development “fun,” but for many kids, the pressure of performance or screaming sideline parents, or an aggressive opposing coach can shift the experience from “fun” to most certainly “NOT fun.”
Clubs and after-school activities may be “fun”, but they are short in duration and always wedged in between other responsibilities resulting in a limited opportunity to build relationships/connections.
Most parents work to make family time “fun,” but this kind of fun may only complete one piece of a child’s developing ego. As parents we know that our job isn’t just to make today fun, but to build heathy and capable humans who can thrive in the world without us. If home is the only place kids have fun, there will be a problem.
As a camp professionals we are in the business of “fun” and I’m on a mission to better describe/define the kind of “fun” we have here at Camp.
So…When I think of the kind of “fun” we have at Camp I think of….
- Rolling laughter with friends that seems to continue indefinitely.
- Dancing like no one is watching with other people who, not only are watching but are dancing the same way.
- Playing with inspirational role models who are genuinely excited to play with you.
- Having autonomy in decision making and support in problem solving leading to independence and a clearer sense of self (having confidence feels FUN!)
- Trying things you always wanted to try and trying things you never even thought about before (tug’o’ war in Jell-o anyone?)
- Surprising yourself with new passions and interests (I didn’t think I’d like that but I DO!).
- Feeling capable to do things you never thought you could do (build a shelf in woodworking, climb a mountain, dance on a stage)
- Freedom to be lighthearted without pressure of performance… for extended periods of time…. like hours, days even weeks.
- Being surrounded by people who root for you, and who are ALL-IN for your success.
- Participating in creative and compelling ways to fill in the downtime.
- Feeling like a smile on your face is well received and mirrored by those around you (not in a creepy way).
- Seeing all stakeholders want to participate in the fun the same way. Leaders get messy, wear costumes and experience the genuine joy other participants do.
This is core memory making fun.
This is the kind of fun that our kids will tell their kids and grandkids about.
At Everwood, our community protects this kind of fun with everything thing we are. And while it can’t always be sunshine and rainbows, we structure supports for all our community members to ensure that hard moments are met with compassion and empathy. This kind of human social/emotional safety net means that facing challenges will mean positive growth… and guess what… growing in positive ways feels… (you guessed it..) FUN!
In this sometimes not-so-fun grown-up world, we can still give our kids what their childhood is entitled to.
Our kids deserve to have this kind of fun. Our kids deserve Camp.