Everything I Needed to Know - I Learned at Summer Camp!

Robert Fulghum wrote a great book several years ago and reminded us that essential life lessons start early. Far be it for me to disagree with a master - a positive kindergarten experience does last a lifetime - but in terms of pleasure, pain and life lessons, summer camp is not far behind!

Life Lesson Number 1 - The Right Knot Can Tie It All Together! Okay, I was at Boy Scout Camp with my son and Boy Scouts do love their knots. As an observer, however, I want to remind you that focusing on fundamentals gives the learner a solid foundation on which to grow. My son was industriously working on mastering the basic Square Knot and on some simple splices but older scouts used knots this summer to fasten sails, climb mountains and even to provide assistance during search and rescue efforts. There are frustrations and hurdles to be crossed when learning fundamentals but the payoff is big!

Life Lesson Number 2 - Camp Food is Good Food! A camp chef has a big job to do - and limited resources to do it with. No one, however, ever goes away hungry! There are, I believe, a couple of secrets to the attraction of camp food. First of all, anyone who has ever gone to camp knows that you are functioning at one speed - fast and furious. A whole day of running around in the hot sun gives everyone an honest appetite that makes nutrition an essential part of the day. It also does not hurt that at summer camp someone, usually, is cooking and cleaning for you. There is nothing more welcoming than the sound of the dinner bell at summer camp. Someone remembers that I am hungry and I need fed! Thank you, Camp Chefs.

Life Lesson Number 3 - Big Things Do Come in Small Packages! Okay, this one isn't as fun as it sounds. Sometimes small tasks get bigger as we unpack them. Mastering this lesson is one that will give you the power to unlock the mystery of Algebra, Physics, Literature.....the list goes on. Alex and I were at a beautiful summer camp located at Lake Coeure D'Alene, Idaho. On paper, the camp was small. C0mpact, we thought. Well, we were surprised to actually get there and see the real camp - doesn't look like a big camp on paper but it is built on a Mountain! There was a reason that the classes were at the top of the mountain and the dining hall at the bottom! We needed some motivation to make it to the top - and all the way back to the bottom. Sometimes even the simplest task can get too big for us to grasp. If it seems like it is too big to be tackled, take a break, get some perspective and a fresh breath. Coming at an issue with a new perspective can make all of the difference.

Life Lesson Number 4 - Create Campfire Moments! Picture this - a sunset view of beautiful Lake Coeure D'Alene, a few last boaters sailing by, an open air stage and a roaring campfire. Nothing wraps up a day of summer camp better than a camp fire. Good friends, a little music, a few jokes maybe a s'more or two thrown in. A camp fire. In our everyday lives we need to inject a few of these camp fire moments. Rest, relax and restore. As a learning coach there will be many days when you are running on high - and the small things are all looming large - take a moment to appreciate your child, the gifts education in the home and parental involvement bring to your live and to your child's. And have a s'more.

Life Lesson Number 5 - Just Paddle the Boat! Okay, one more camp story. It was a amazing experience. Thursday night - almost the end of the week - and we were checking out the War Canoes and planning a paddling trip across the lake! Two war canoes, six adults, and 18 scouts paddling 5.8 miles. At the end of our excursion we set up shelters using tarps and slept outside in our sleeping bags. I think I cheated by putting my toothbrush in my pocket. The next morning we broke camp at 4:30 am and paddled back across the lake. The Lake was beautiful. The sky was clear blue. The canoes were massive - and amazing. This was a once in a lifetime experience. A once in a lifetime experience that came with some cost. Once you got in the boat, you had to paddle. Believe it or not, there were a few of us, that weren't sure that we could paddle the boat all the way across the lake. If we hadn't, the cost would have been tremendous. Participating - and finishing this trip was an amazing experience and achievement. Appreciate great opportunities. Use them, learn from them and grow from them! The other lesson here is that it is good to be part of a team. Knowing who your team it - and how to use them - will change the experience of being a Learning Coach from a good one to a great one!

Summer camp - a good thing! Time with your child and making yourself an important part of the learning process - a great one. Enjoy your summer - and get ready for a fantastic fall.