Astronaut Susan J. Helms Visits Out of This World Summer Camp

RENO, Nev. — August 8, 2018 — Campers at Sierra Nevada Journeys’ space-themed summer camp, Out of This World, had a very special otherworldly guest visit them at Grizzly Creek Ranch in Portola, Calif. Astronaut Susan J. Helms, Lieutenant General, USAF, was the first woman to go where no woman had gone before – to live aboard the International Space Station and spent the morning with campers sharing her experiences in space.

In 1976, Helms broke barriers as part of the first Air Force Academy class to admit women. “Back in the 70’s the military was one of the places women could get equal pay for equal work,” said Helms. Her military career in aeronautics led to being selected for the astronaut program. During her career, Helms made five trips to space, including spending six months on the Space Station. Now, Helms spends her time encouraging young men and women to explore the science and technology fields.

“If you don’t feel like you have barriers, then what you can accomplish becomes ever so much more expansive,” said Helms. Her stories and can-do spirit that broke space barriers may have inspired some future astronauts and scientists.

About Helms’ Career

• Helms has logged 5,064 hours in space and holds the world record for the longest spacewalk.

• Her first mission was in January 1993, aboard STS-54 space shuttle Endeavour. The primary objective of this mission was to deploy a $200 million Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-F).

• Her second mission was aboard STS-64 in September 1994 as a flight engineer and the primary Remote Manipulator System (RMS) operator.

• From June 20 to July 7, 1996, aboard STS-78, Helms was the payload commander and flight engineer on the longest space shuttle mission to date. The mission included studies sponsored by 10 nations and five space agencies.

• Helms flew again aboard STS-101 in May 2000 and performed critical repairs to extend the life of the Functional Cargo Block (FGB) on the International Space Station.

• From March to August 2001, Helms became the first woman to live and serve aboard the International Space Station as a member of the Expedition-2 crew. Helms installed the Quest Joint Airlock to the Unity module using the newly installed Canadarm2. The crew welcomed a visiting Soyuz crew that included the first space tourist. Helms also performed a world record 8-hour, 56-minute spacewalk to install hardware to the external body of the laboratory module.

• After a 12-year career with NASA that included 211 days in space, Helms returned to the U.S. Air Force until retiring as a three-star general in 2014.

• In 2011, Helms was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Summer Camp Testimonials from Parents

“This has been such an amazing experience where my son has met new friends, learned a lot about science and nature, and has just had incredible amounts of fun. His very first year we had him go with his older brother which I thought would help since he didn’t know anyone but that was not needed he had a blast regardless. Each year he goes whether or not he has friends from home going as everyone is so wonderful. He is signed up for two weeks this summer and cannot wait!”

— Parent, Michelle Sanchez-Bickley

“He waited anxiously to be old enough for SNJ, and it has absolutely exceeded our expectations! Last year he attended two sessions. This year he’d like to stay ALL summer. Now his goal is to be old enough to be a counselor!”

— Parent, Carolyn Raydon

“My daughter will be returning for her 2nd year. Last year she wanted to try a horse camp in the wine country. What a disappointment. The cost was twice as much, and it didn’t compare to SNJ on any level; cleanliness, organization, communication with families, or fun! Why would we go anywhere else!?”

— Parent, Anonymous

“My child loved SNJ. He is a reserved kid and went to camp for the first time last year with a friend. But after camp, he said he wanted to go every year and it didn’t matter if a friend went with him. He was very comfortable and eager to sign up this year. It’s important to me that he felt welcomed and included as he’s not a self-promoting kind of guy; so this camp clearly has some good counselors!”

— Parent, Nanda

Sierra Nevada Journeys' Grizzly Creek Ranch Campus is ACA Accredited

“Sierra Nevada Journeys’ Grizzly Creek Ranch has been ACA accredited since 2011.”

For more than 50 years, the American Camp Association (ACA) has been offering many services to camps; one of which is an accreditation program. “The main purpose of the ACA-accreditation program is to educate camp owners and directors in the administration of key aspects of camp operation, particularly those related to program quality and the health and safety of campers and staff. The standards establish guidelines for needed policies, procedures, and practices. The camp, then, is responsible for the ongoing implementation of these policies.” (American Camp Association, n.d.)

The standards address all aspects of the camp operation and are organized into six categories:

1. Site – Food service, maintenance

2. Transportation – Drivers, vehicle safety

3. Health and Wellness – Medication distribution, staff qualifications

4. Operational Management – Safety regulations, emergency communication systems

5. Human Resources - Staff training, supervision ratios

6. Program Activities – Aquatics, trips, horseback riding

This is just a sample of the specifics covered in each category.

How does a camp become accredited? First, the camp submits an initial application. The director(s) then attend (or take the online version) a standards course. They review and evaluate each area of camp according to the standards using the ACA’s Accreditation Process Guide. The directors prepare documents and written materials required by the standards. ACA trained visitors then visit the camp for a day during the camp season. They observe camp and work with the directors to determine compliance with the standards. To maintain accreditation, the camp must demonstrate ongoing compliance by submitting an annual narrative report (Annual Accreditation Report) and hosting ACA visitors at least once every five years.

There are many benefits to being accredited. All accredited camps are listed on the ACA Camp Database, which is a valuable resource for the public to use in selecting a camp that meets industry and government standards and regulations. There are endless resources available for camp staff. The ACA offers the monthly magazine, “Camping Magazine”, national and local conferences, round-the-clock support during the summer season via the Crisis Hotline, and research on camp practices conducted with experts in the field (American Academy of Pediatrics and American Red Cross).  It is a great way to connect with others in the industry regarding new training and program ideas or new challenges camps face. The website offers specifics on state-by-state regulations and lists local authorities who can help ensure legislative compliance. “The American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation process has grown to keep pace with changes in the camp industry, expectations of the public, and the challenges of operating a business in today’s highly regulated society” (American Camp Association, n.d.)

Sierra Nevada Journeys' Grizzly Creek Ranch has been accredited since 2011. Our Campus Executive Director, Program Director and Director of Operations diligently maintain this accreditation and use the standards as a means to establish best practices for all our programs.

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References

American Camp Association.  (n.d.)  American Camp Association accreditation…tell me more.  Retrieved from http://www.acacamps.org/sites/default/files/page_documents/membership/Accreditation-Tell-Me-More.pdf

American Camp Association (n.d)  Accreditation. Retrieved from http://www.acacamps.org/staff-professionals/accreditation-standards/accreditation

How Children Develop Independence at Summer Camp

Camp is a place where kids can develop who they are and grow more independent. They can manage choices and decisions in a safe, nurturing environment and develop new interests. “Camp is the perfect place for kids to practice making decisions for themselves without parents and teachers guiding every move,” (Rockbrook Camp for Girls, n.d.). They can explore their own identities and develop a deeper sense of self.

Let’s explore some of the ways campers develop independence at SNJ:

Getting along with a new group of peers.
Because SNJ places tremendous focus on building community, campers learn to support others who are trying new things. Also, the pressures of who they are at school or home tend to fall away and they can really discover who they are. The quest for self-discovery in a strong community leads campers to have a peeked interest in their peers, which creates deep, lasting friendships. Many of our campers exchange email addresses or become friends on Facebook so they can stay connected during the school year. They leave camp with a peer support system that stays strong all year long!
  
Camp is a place to take manageable risks.
Parents want their children to develop a “can do” attitude. That can only be done if they are faced with challenges they can complete. SNJ has plenty of age and skill-level appropriate challenges for our campers to conquer every day. For some of our campers, they feel comfortable stepping out of their comfort zone because of the peer and counselor support they receive at SNJ. For some, being in a new setting (our remote 1,500 acres of yellow pine forest) helps them feel relaxed and readies them to try new things. We also seize every opportunity to celebrate successes, big and small!

They are responsible for their own needs.
At camp, campers do things for themselves. When it’s time to go swimming, they gather their bathing suit, towel, sunscreen and goggles. When swimming is over, they take those things back to the cabins. When they feel responsibilities are delegated to them regarding things like hygiene, getting ready and eating meals, they rise to meet them. Of course, the staff are always there if they need help, and asking for help also builds independence.  
   
Camp helps kids find balance in their lives.
At SNJ, campers have a jam packed schedule, from heading off to morning activities, signing up for camper’s choice activity blocks, practicing their skit for the last night campfire, to gearing up for a game of capture the flag. They know their schedule and responsibilities and this helps them feel in control. Because we build a strong community, campers also learn to balance the different personalities and backgrounds of their fellow campers in a respectful manner. These skills will help them be independent in their young adult lives.

It can certainly be difficult for parents to send their child away to camp, but there are so many opportunities for growth during their time away, like developing independence. Upon returning home, parents will notice changes in their campers that make it worth what can be some challenging days apart. Through every step of their camp experience, our campers are guided by highly trained and qualified staff. These individuals are not quite seen as teachers, but not quite seen as peers. They strike an important balance in between that allows them to support our campers while fostering their independence.

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References

Borelli, L.  (2013).  How summer camp helps develop your child’s mental health and resilience.  Retrieved from http://www.medicaldaily.com/how-summer-camp-helps-develop-your-childs-mental-health-and-resilience-246970

NYMetro Parents.  (2013)  How camp helps kids gain confidence and independence.  Retrieved from http://www.nymetroparents.com/article/how-summer-camp-helps-kids-grow-in-confidence-and-independence

Rockbrook Camp for Girls.  (n.d.).  Why camp is great for children.  http://www.rockbrookcamp.com/parents/children-camp-great/

How Do Children Benefit From a Summer Camp Experience?

How do children benefit from a summer camp experience? If you ask campers or their parents/guardians, you would surely get an array of answers. But they would all fall under one of two categories – developing activity skills or life skills. How they really benefit in one (or both) of these ways comes down to one thing: the STAFF. These individuals instruct archery, have toothbrush parties, sing songs, make sure the pickiest eater is full after breakfast, supervise cabin clean up, care for bumps and bruises, and search for a backpack left in the woods on a hike. And the role goes on and on! How does the staff wear so many “hats” that help campers attain the many benefits of camp? It’s pretty simple – effective training AND the internal motivation that is found within people who have a true passion for providing youth with a transformative experience!

Staff training is as diverse as the many hats they wear. They are trained on “hard skills” such as archery, lifeguarding, ropes course facilitation, age group characteristics and risk management. They are trained on “soft skills” such as debriefing, positive behavior reinforcement, homesickness and sense of place.  We place a high value community building and train on this as well. One way we do this is by modeling it throughout our staff training. We create goals for the summer, do daily debriefs, share our successes and fears as we try new activities, find our commonalities and celebrate our differences, and have fun and create memories together. All of these staff skills contribute to the camper experience. Let’s take a look at a few!

Archery is often something new to many campers (and something our returners want to improve on each summer). Our staff is trained in the “hard skills” – safety, equipment use and storage, history of the sport and proper technique. They can help a first-time archer understand the basics or offer advice to an experienced archer on how to sharpen their aim. Enter the “softer skills”.  The activity is set up to be non-competitive to remove some of the pressures campers might face with things like school academics and sports. Campers are encouraged to set personal goals, but there are no stressful contests. This set-up is intentional to help build confidence. Staff is also very intentional about celebrating successes. “Success” takes on many meanings at camp – it could mean hitting the bull eyes, or hitting the target, or trying archery even though the camper was nervous about it, or learning about the history of the sport. Whatever it is, we are purposeful about having campers vocalize and appreciate these successes, which build confidence. If a camper doesn’t meet their goal initially, camp is a safe space to learn about perseverance and process the emotions that sometimes come with facing a setback. Establishing community early on creates a supportive environment for campers during challenging times and one where their peers can offer support and share any similar experiences they have had.

Camp is definitely a place for campers to build social skills, especially in their cabin group. There will be some “hard skills” involved with the cabin group – daily cabin clean-up jobs and times where the cabin group is responsible for set-up or clean-up in the dining hall. They will have to exercise their “soft skills” such as cooperation and working together to complete such tasks. There could also be disagreements that arise. This is common when any group spends a lot of time together and conflict is an important part of even the most successful communities. The key aspect is teaching campers how to respectfully address disagreements, such as deciding what to do for the final night skit performance. Staff will use and model the skills they learned in training to help the campers resolve disagreements in an appropriate manner and learn ways to be respectful of other campers whose opinions may differ from their own. Doing activities such as icebreakers, a community contract, teambuilding activities, and nightly debriefs builds a strong community that helps campers successfully build social skills and develop an understanding of one another.  

These are just a few ways staff training skills are utilized during the summer. As a camper, my favorite memories weren’t of what we did, but of who I was with. My counselors helped me feel confident, face challenges, and connect with my peers in a way I didn’t experience in day-to-day life. Camp and its activities will certainly continue to change over time, but at the core of every successful camp will be the people who genuinely feel fortunate to wake up and do their job every day. That will remain unchanged.

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References

Rockbrook Camp for Girls.  (n.d.).  Why camp is great for children.  http://www.rockbrookcamp.com/parents/children-camp-great/

Benefits of Summer Camp for Youth of All Ages

Youth of all ages benefit from camp. “For years, campers' parents have reported that when their children return home from camp they are more caring, understand the importance of giving, are more equipped to stand up for what they know is right, and are willing to be more responsible,” (American Camp Association, n.d.).  However, camps that serve a vast age range (ages 7 – 17) must recognize the developmental differences of these ages and plan their programming accordingly.

Like most camps, Sierra Nevada Journeys groups campers by age when determining cabin assignments. This helps campers achieve the skills stated above.

Become more caring.
Children of similar ages are often going through similar experiences at home, school and developmentally. These similarities help spark sharing, caring and empathy among campers in the cabin group. They can also learn more strategies from their peers on how to celebrate successes and cope with challenges, which makes them more caring individuals.

Understand the importance of giving.
“Giving” means different things to different ages. For younger campers, it may mean actually sharing a stuffed animal or a pair of scissors with someone in their group. For older campers, it may mean listening to a friend in need or stepping back in order to let someone else shine (without being prompted to do so by an adult).

More equipped to stand up for what they know is right.
Younger campers are very dependent on their family to establish ground rules that determine how they view “right vs. wrong”. As they grow, they seek some adult guidance until eventually they spend more time with friends and this influences their values. When campers are grouped with their peers, staff can offer more effective support and strategies.

Willing to be more responsible.
It can be a lot of responsibility for an 8-year-old to get all the things they need together to go take a shower. Counselors can assist by having posters on the cabin wall indicating what they need to bring and giving a friendly remind. As the week goes on, the counselors might challenge the campers to do this on their own without reminders, hence increasing their responsibility. A 14-year-old is more likely to be able to gather their belongings to head to the shower with little reminders / instruction. This would not be a challenge for them. With older campers, counselors can create age appropriate challenges, like completing a service project that will benefit the camp and future campers.

At SNJ, the campers travel to most activities with their cabin groups. The staff is trained to accommodate differences in skill level at each activity, but we place high value in our campers spending most of their day with their peers. However, we also value being a large community so all campers do interact throughout the week: at meal times, large group activities and evening programs. It is great to watch a group of campers ranging in age from 8 – 17 go out to complete a counselor hunt and rally around their team when we gather together to share results. Those campers have a shared experience and are likely to be found sitting together at meals or signing up for the same “free choice” block to see each other again.

It is very important that our staff understand age group characteristics in terms of the camper’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development and thus this is a key component of staff training.  We also discuss how their independence develops with age as this impacts the relationships they have with the adults in their lives, including camp counselors.  Although it is essential that staff understand this and use it to develop an appropriate curriculum, it is most important that they are always thinking about the uniqueness of every child.  Meeting each child where they are, despite his/her age, and setting them up to be successful and challenged is the ultimate goal of the camp experience.

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References

American Camp Association.  (n.d.)  Benefits of camp.  Retrieved from http://www.acacamps.org/campers-families/because-camp/benefits-camp

Coutellier, C.  (2007).  Camp is for the camper.  Martinsville, IN;  American Camp Association.