Posts Tagged ‘nature awareness’
Monday, February 27th, 2012
Last week 10 of us ventured to Atlanta for the ACA National Conference. The overall theme of the conference
Jane Sanborn and her entourage!
was Convergence: Vision, Learning, Innovation. This was an exciting opportunity for our staff to continue our professional development as youth and outdoor educators and camp professionals. And it was a great week! Our very own Jane Sanborn was the conference program chair. She and the conference team lined up wonderful session and keynote speakers, fun night programs, and a variety of exhibitors for the exhibit hall. We were all able to go to a variety of educational sessions presented by child development and camp professionals – sessions that emphasized the importance of what we do best: provide exceptional outdoor experiences for children. We were able to network with other camp professionals. We left energized and motivated for the summer! It is fun for us to come back and share all that we have learned with each other and start incorporating new ideas into our summer and school weeks programs.
We had great keynote speakers including, Dr. Christine Carter (author of Raising Happiness), Richard Louv, Sanborn alum, Rod Lucero, and Niambi Jaha-Echols. Each speech was relevant to and encouraging of what we do at camp.
Dr. Carter started the week sharing the importance of teaching and cultivating life skills such as gratitude, kindness, and growth campers – all things that we know about and do at camp! Dr. Carter is a strong believer of Growth Mindset – the belief that someone is successful due to hard work and effort, as well as innate ability. At camp, it is important to us that campers are challenged to try new things and encouraged through the process. We believe that campers and staff can grow and learn from our trips and activities. Being able to try new things is one of the great things about camp and campers having the ability to choose their own trips and activities.
Richard Louv emphasized the role camps play in continuing to get children outside. In his speech he told us how he was jealous of his friend who left Kansas every summer to go to camp…specifically, his friend left Kansas and spent his summers at Sanborn. He spoke of the growing importance of camp and getting outside, as our world becomes more technology-driven.
Rod Lucero helped us better understand the importance of camps continuing the education from schools. Relevance, Rigor, and Relationships are the foundation of education, and according to Lucero, without them, reading, writing, and arithmetic don’t matter. At camp, we help make education relevant. The foundation of Sanborn is education. We continue to learn and pass our knowledge on to all Colorado Outdoor Education Center participants.
Niambi Jaha-Echols provided us with an inspiring and humorous closing session. According to Jaha-Echols, camp provides us the opportunities to transform into new beings – from caterpillars to butterflies. It is important to us that we provide campers with the space and support to understand and grow into the people they are supposed to be. We are lucky to have 6,000 acres, amazing counselors, and a great variety of trips and activities to help all campers grow as individuals into butterflies.
We look forward to continuing to share our learnings with you and incorporate them into our 2012 summer.
Tags: ACA, Benefits of nature, Benefits of Summer Camp, Children and Nature Network, Children in Nature, Christine Carter, colorado summer camp, Community building, Experiential Education, Friendship, impact of summer camp, life lessons, life skills, nature awareness, Niambi Jaha-Echols, Outdoor Education, richard louv, Rod Lucero, Sanborn Western Camps, Youth Development
Posted in American Camp Association, Benefits of Summer Camp, Children and Nature, Colorado Front Range Summer Camps, Colorado Outdoor Education Center, Education, Kids and Technology, Nature Activity, Outdoor Education, Professional Development, Sanborn Western Camps, Youth Development | No Comments »
Saturday, February 4th, 2012
As we are quickly nearing the weekend, I came across this Denver Post article that made me think about my plans for the next several days. David Brown writes about his family occasionally unplugging for the weekend. It is hard for many people to do – limiting their use of cell phones, not turning on the computer, avoid sitting in front of the television. Brown reveals the fun the family had playing games, laughing, telling stories – essentially spending time together.
We luck out living in Florissant; we have limited access to cell coverage and the outdoors are easily accessible. But even here, technology creeps in and takes hold. Just one more check of email, send a quick text, okay, maybe one more email. When looking at a screen, time disappears much too quickly.
Sledding is always fun, regardless of the amount of snow
Snow hit Colorado today. Some places more than others. I was just watching the news and saw a story about people enjoying sledding on their snow day. You could see the grass coming through the snow, but that didn’t stop these happy sledders from having some fun. This article has impeccable timing. The snow, or sun (depending on your location), or just a normal weekend is a perfect excuse to unplug for a day, or a couple of hours, and enjoy time with friends and family.
I recognize the irony of writing this blog post and suggesting you read an article about unplugging. It is easy want to stay plugged-in when the temperature drops and snow starts falling. On the other hand, isn’t it more rewarding to unplug and reconnect with people instead? For me, I need these small reminders to turn off the computer, phone, television and enjoy what we have around us, even for just a little while.
Tags: Colorado snow, nature awareness, Outdoor Play, Sanborn Western Camps, Winter Activities
Posted in Children and Nature, Fun Activities, Kids and Technology, Nature Activity | No Comments »
Friday, September 16th, 2011
We just finished a great week with the 6th graders from Challenger Middle School. The students arrived Tuesday morning and jumped right into their outdoor ed experience with their first discovery group that afternoon – Setting the Mood. Led by trained facilitators, the students learned about using their 5 senses more, as well as about the High Trails sixth sense – Wonder. The students were split in half Tuesday evening – one group going to the hoedown (a fun and silly set of dances led by the High Trails staff) and the other went to the Interbarn our hands-on science center.
Students Arrival at High Trails
Wednesday morning was adventure-filled with the first themed discovery groups. Students learned about Homesteaders, Prospectors, Mountaineers, Innovators, and Woodsmen to name a few. After a delicious lunch, students headed back out for their second themed discovery group. Unfortunately, a little rain cancelled the cookouts, but everyone enjoyed burgers in the lodge followed by an entertaining skit night.
The groups made it out for all-days yesterday and lots of fun was had by all. The HTOEC staff expanded on the activities done during the shorter discovery groups – Cowboys see our working ranch, Innovators tried some solar cooking, Woodsmen go to the working sawmill, Explorers go to the Bat Caves, and Mountaineers rock scramble on several of the bluffs around the main property. To finish off the day, the students that went to the hoedown on Tuesday headed to the Interbarn, and the students from the Interbarn went to the hoedown.
After a great rock session this morning, students went for their last discovery group – Putting It All Together. The students seemed to enjoy their week and learn a lot of interesting facts about nature, themselves, and Colorado history. We had a lot of fun this week and hope the students enjoy the rest of the school year. We look forward to Mountain Ridge Middle School coming next week!
Tags: Challenger Middle School, Children in Nature, High Trails, High Trails Outdoor Education Center, nature awareness, Outdoor Education, Outdoor Fun, Youth Development
Posted in Children and Nature, Colorado Outdoor Education Center, Education, High Trails Outdoor Education Center, Outdoor Education | No Comments »
Thursday, July 28th, 2011
Camp is like a home away from home. Every year is full of fun, adventure, and excitement. I have been with the same group of girls that now feel like family; I can be as crazy as I want to around them. Camps is also the only time I really get out into nature and no amount of technology can compensate for living with nature.
The Warrior Dash
The warrior dash was such a blast! We had all these different teams and challenges that we had to complete. These are just some of the things we got to do. First we went to the warrior sing and had to make up a song for our team. Next I went to the 4-story treehouse and had to save “King Arthur” by choosing the right silver cup. We tossed shrunken heads (water balloons) back and forth in front of the lodge.
Hope Pohlman
Sanborn Camp is not about sitting around. Sanborn is about determination, courage, and responsibility. Sanborn is about getting in touch with nature, hiking the tallest mountains, riding a horse as fast as you can, and pushing yourself to the extreme! Sanborn is a new beginning and it never has an end. Sanborn camp is happiness, pure happiness.
Victoria Mak
In the world,
we get lost in the commonality
we forget to look for the beauty
we miss the glow of life
Then we come to nature and
we are afraid to look, love, listen
we are afraid that something might be perfect and true
we are terrified that something is real
That’s why together we can accept that
this might be what we’ve been searching for
this might open up our eyes to it all
Then we go back to the world
never to be the same.
S.S.
Swimming
Grab your towel, grab your goggles, bring your smile, and run to the pool. Cruise down the slide, and splash in the water. There’s so much to do at the POOL! Paddle around in the blow-up tubes! Use the noodles as any sea creatures. Adventure through the whole pool, there’s so much to do! You can play in the pool or out of the slide. I love the swimming pool! My favorite thing is to hang out in the sun and talk to my friends! Mis loves to go down the slide on a sleeping pad because it goes so fast! Addie loves to go down on a tube! I love the pool! There’s so much to do!
Emily Driscoll
Tags: Benefits of Summer Camp, Camper Post, Colorado Camps, colorado summer camp, Friendship, High Trails, impact of summer camp, nature awareness, Outdoor Fun, Outdoor Play, Sanborn Western Camps, summer camp in Colorado
Posted in Benefits of Summer Camp, Children and Nature, From the Campers' Mouths, Fun Activities, Kids and Technology, Sanborn Western Camps, Summer Camp for Kids, summer camp in Colorado | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 26th, 2011
I was new at camp the year. When I came I was scared and got homesick. Then everything got better, everyone was really nice!! My counselors were nice too! One of my favorite activities is horseback riding! You get to learn how to put the saddle on and learn how to brush your horse. Skit night was fun. It’s where you and your cabin make up a skit and perform it and everybody at High Trails watches. I like singing songs here like “Rocky Mountain High.”
Katie Neal
High Trails is like a second family to me. We all come here from different parts of the county and come from different backgrounds. But once we are surrounded by all of these beautiful mountains and trees and nature, none of that matters. Every new person is welcomed with hugs and smiling faces. And old friends are never forgotten. You are never bored because there are a variety of things to do. You can horseback ride, mountain bike, technical rock climb, rock scramble, swim, arts and crafts, and much more! High Trails gives me something to look forward to every summer and when it is over I know there are more girls enjoying the Rocky Mountain High.
Mimi Chapman
High Trails at Sanborn Camps is a summer worth of fun. There is something for everyone. Horseback riding, drama, hiking, climbing, pottery, and so much more. Sanborn is a safe environment where kids can learn and grow in the outdoors. We welcome new campers with open arms. Sanborn has become a second home to some and hopefully to you too. Sanborn is an experience you do not want to miss. Have you ever heard the wind dance in the aspen leaves? Have you ever slept out under the stars? Have you climbed to the top of a mountain peak? Have you ever gone tubing down a river? We guarantee you will have a blast! Throughout the term you will learn new things, meet new people, and do things you may not have. I tried Sanborn and I know I am a better person for it. Sanborn is the camp to go to. We hope to see you here next summer!
Kate Ratliff
It’s only the first week of Sanborn, and I can already tell you that walking uphill is A LOT easier. I’m sure by the end I will have gained so much muscle! Hiking a mountain will be a breeze. Then I will spend more time actually seeing the beauty of the Rockies. The hills gently roll, and the mountains…Oh the mountains! Last year when I was hiking up Quandry we got up at 3 in the morning. I can tell you it was well worth the early rise. In the light of the moon, the dew on the pines sparkles and glistened. It was probably one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen.
Not using technology was hard at first, but when you get to know how many things you can do without it, it gets easier. There is so much to do here, you really don’t have time for technology. If there’s anything to be said of Sanborn, it’s that you never get bored!
At Sanborn there are 2 sections. One is Big Spring, where the boys live. And I live at High Trails with the girls. It actually makes camp more enjoyable to be separate, you spend less time worrying about looks and boys and more time enjoying the outdoor experience. There are coed events where you get to see the boys. Best of both worlds!
Coming to Sanborn is a wonderful experience, and the people you meet always become your friends. It’s like a family away from family. Cliques don’t exist here. Everyone is there to help you out. If I could spend every summer here, I would say yes without even batting an eye.
Jen
Tags: Benefits of Summer Camp, Big Spring Ranch for Boys, Camper Post, Children in Nature, colorado summer camp, Community building, Friendship, High Trails Ranch for Girls, impact of summer camp, nature awareness, Outdoor Fun, Sanborn Western Camps, summer camp for girls and boys, summer camp in Colorado, Youth Development
Posted in Benefits of Summer Camp, From the Campers' Mouths, Fun Activities, Kids and Technology, Sanborn Western Camps, Summer Camp for Kids, summer camp in Colorado | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011
Saturday, June 11, is National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day). The ACA is promoting the fourth annual GO Day in order to “encourage healthy, active outdoor fun” across the country. While there are a number of events taking place at different locations, we encourage you to create your own GO Day. The overall goal for the day is to reconnect youth with the outdoors.
A typical Sanborn GO Day
Our campers don’t arrive until Sunday, but we will spend the rest of the summer having GO Days. We have numerous traditional and non-traditional outdoor activities. We think that is part of what makes participating in GO Day so fun – you can do whatever you want, as long as it is outdoors!
The Big Spring staff returned from their overnights yesterday, and the High Trails staff returned today. They spent two days out of the trail learning different parts of the ranch, mastering how to cook excellent overnight food, and partaking in a variety of nature activities. Most importantly, all the staff are very excited to share their new knowledge with the campers in just a few days!
We would love to hear what activities you are doing for GO Day!
Tags: Benefits of nature, Benefits of Summer Camp, Children in Nature, colorado summer camp, Experiential Education, nature awareness, Outdoor Activities, Sanborn Western Camps, Take action, Youth Development
Posted in Children and Nature, Education, Fun Activities, Nature Activity, Outdoor Education, Parenting, Sanborn Western Camps | No Comments »
Friday, March 4th, 2011
We found a great article on the Children and Nature Network web site this morning: Why Kids Need Nature. At Sanborn we more than understand the value of kids spending time in nature, and we love being able to share more research about the importance of it with others.
I wonder what that tastes like?
Scholastic Parent and Child Magazine interviewed Richard Louv to gain more insight into why it is important for children’s well-being to spend time outdoors and how parents are able to expose their children to nature. Louv explains that time in nature can help fight obesity, depression, and ADD as well as help kids activate their brains (in a different way than school provides) and utilize all their senses. Including their sense of wonder which we emphasize in our summer camps and school weeks programs. It can be hard for parents and children to find the time and space to explore nature. Sports, clubs, meetings, homework all take time during already busy family schedules. Not many neighborhoods have the space for kids to run and play freely.
Louv explains that it is understandable that parents are hesitant to send their kids out to explore unsupervised, but that he finds more and more parents spending time outdoors with their children. We believe that not only kids benefit from nature, but adults as well! Louv states, ”Nature is good for everyone’s mental health.” It is fun for parents to get out with their children and go on scavenger hunts around the yard and neighborhood and take a break from work and for a hike in the woods. The more enthusiastic parents are, the more excited their children will be about their abilities to explore.
“Nature isn’t the problem; it’s the solution.” The Children and Nature Network recognizes the challenges parents may face taking the initiative to take their children outdoors and provide parents with local resources and ideas. We at Sanborn also try to provide resources and ideas for parents and children to reconnect with nature. Here are just a few:
Beyond 101 Nature Activities
New Adventures
Ariella and the Wild Animals
A Small Sounds Tapestry
Time for a Special Place
Tags: 101 Nature Activities, Benefits of nature, Children and Nature, Children in Nature, High Trails Outdoor Education Center, impact of summer camp, life skills, nature awareness, No Child Left Inside, Outdoor Activities, Outdoor Education, Outdoor Play, Parenting, Sanborn Western Camps, Winter Activities
Posted in Children and Nature, Education, Fun Activities, High Trails Outdoor Education Center, Nature Activity, Outdoor Education, Parenting, Sanborn Western Camps | No Comments »
Thursday, January 6th, 2011
Camps have known about the importance and power of play for a long time. As outdoor educators and youth development professionals we do all that we can to promote children’s use of imagination, creative play, developing relationships, understanding of self and others, self-esteem, and appreciation for the outdoors (to name a few).
Research has been done and published promoting these lessons and the chance for children to play and explore. The New York Times published an article today about efforts made to promote play. This article supports our parents’ efforts to encourage their children to use their imaginations, disengage from video games, computers, and TV. We have long recognized and try to share the importance of free play and getting kids outdoors as a way to take advantage of imaginative play. Children need recess, camp, time in the backyard to develop and refine the life and relationship skills that are hard to learn in the classroom or on the soccer team.
Central Park hosted the Ultimate Block Party in October to promote the importance of play in children’s lives. While the party’s over, the Web site provides additional resources and research for parents. Just looking at the number of sponsors and endorsements the group received was inspiring for me to see the number of people and organizations that support the movement to get children playing.
Throughout the past year we have shared ideas and benefits of creative and imaginative play with our readers. As I searched our archives and reread what we’ve written, I realized that I couldn’t share every post that we’ve written, so I tried to limit the links (as hard as it was). These are just a few links to check out some of our ideas for helping children and parents helping their children get back to unstructured (while supervised) play: Snowy Day Activities, Bring on the Sunscreen,Parent Lessons from Camp, Go Play Outdoors, Hooray for the Wild Child, More Play, Time for a Special Place, Adventures with the 5 Senses, and Reconnect With Your Sense of Wonder. Sometimes children just need props to get their creative juices flowing and other times we try to provide limited guidance to help children feel comfortable with the idea of free play.
With greater recognition, support, and effort we can all help children reconnect with their childhood and enjoy playing again.
Tags: Benefits of nature, Benefits of Summer Camp, Children in Nature, Community building, Friendship, Imaginary Play, impact of summer camp, life lessons, life skills, nature awareness, Outdoor Activities, Outdoor Fun, Outdoor Play, Parenting, Sanborn Western Camps, Winter Activities, Youth Development
Posted in Benefits of Summer Camp, Children and Nature, Education, Fun Activities, Nature Activity, Nature Stories, Parenting, Sanborn Western Camps, Summer Camp for Kids, summer camp in Colorado | No Comments »
Friday, November 12th, 2010
We had a lot of fun with the 6th graders from Challenger Middle School! This morning the staff went to the cabins to help the students pack and clean before breakfast. They did a great job cleaning! We enjoyed a hot breakfast before heading out for the morning.
The students are on our big rocks right now for a closing session. On Tuesday, the students wrote quotes about what they were thinking and feeling in their special spots. This morning, the High Trails staff is reading about 20 of those quotes on the rocks. It is chilly again this morning, but the sun is shining and we have a great view of Pikes Peak!
After the closing session the students will head out on their last discovery group, Putting It All Together. Similar to Setting the Mood, everyone does the same discovery group, but in the smaller groups. The staff has activities planned to wrap up the week and the students have time to return to their special spots to reflect on what they have learned and goals they want to set for when they return home. Everyone seems excited to share their stories and adventures from the week with their friends and family who weren’t here this week.
The group from Challenger has been a lot of fun to have around. We hope they have a great fall and are able to remember their highlights from their time at High Trails. The 6th graders we have spent time with this fall truly embraced their time in nature and took advantage of their outdoor education experience. They came together as teams from the middle school and seemed to return to school as a stronger community. We have had a great season with District 20 6th graders and look forward to seeing some of the same teachers and high school students next fall!
Tags: Benefits of nature, Challenger Middle School, Children in Nature, Community building, Friendship, High Trails Outdoor Education Center, nature awareness, Outdoor Education, Youth Development
Posted in Children and Nature, Education, High Trails Outdoor Education Center | No Comments »
Friday, November 5th, 2010
It is another beautiful day here at High Trails. The High Trails staff helped the students pack and clean the cabins this morning before breakfast. The cabins look great!
The students are down on the big rocks for a closing session. While in their special spots on Tuesday the students wrote quotes about their goals and what they were feeling about being here. The staff are reading about 20 of those quotes right now on the rocks. The students will then go back to their special spots during their last discovery group, Putting It All Together. Similar to Setting the Mood, the students all do the same discovery group, but in their smaller groups.
We have had a great time with this group of 6th graders from Discovery Canyon Campus! It is rewarding for us to see students excited about nature and ready to learn in this wonderful outdoor classroom. It is even better when they want to take their learnings home to share with their friends and family who were not here with them this week. We hope the students have a great fall and it would be fun to see them back as high school counselors!
Tags: Benefits of nature, Children in Nature, Community building, Discovery Canyon Campus, Friendship, High Trails Outdoor Education Center, life lessons, nature awareness, Outdoor Education, Youth Development
Posted in Children and Nature, Education, High Trails Outdoor Education Center, Nature Activity, Outdoor Education | No Comments »
