How Summer Camp Teaches Social Skills

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When I talk to new families about Camp Akeela, I’m often asked, “How do you teach social skills”? I think what they want to know is, “Who’s curriculum are you using”, or “What is the structure of your social skills groups”? We believe those questions don’t necessarily get to the root of what we’re doing at Akeela.

As a school counselor, I spent years leading “social skills groups” in my Middle School office with kids (many with a diagnosis of ASD or NVLD) who needed more social support. I believe the students enjoyed their time with me and their peers and they certainly had an opportunity to practice socializing with students who were in their grade. But, I’m not sure how well those learned skills really translated back to the field, the lunchroom, the class. What was really missing, were chances to give my students feedback in the moment and then an opportunity to practice using the advice I could give.

Social Skills at Camp Akeela

Camp – ANY good camp – allows for that. Camp provides kids with an opportunity to live with other children their age. They have to work on compromise, sharing, respecting the time and boundaries of their peers. If they’re at the right camp for them, they are meeting other children who want to connect with them and get to know them. The camp community allows campers to practice social skills. At an overnight camp that practice is 24/7 and includes less structured time in the bunk, meals and evening times.

At Akeela – this is our focus. When we created Akeela in 2008, we were intentional about creating as many opportunities as possible for children to connect, have fun AND get constant and consistent feedback from both staff and peers 24/7. They can then practice making use of the feedback they’re getting over and over while they’re at camp. THIS type of teaching is what “sticks” – it’s what transfers back to home and school and extracurriculars. Are “social skills groups” helpful? Sure. But camp is even MORE helpful – especially when the camp is specifically designed to provide kids with an opportunity to focus on their peer relationships and then practice making those connections even stronger. That’s what we do at Akeela.

Camp Akeela Summer 2019 Slideshows!

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The holiday season is a great time to be together with family and to reflect on the past year. As we do so, we are very grateful for our Akeela community. Nothing brightens a cold winter day more than thinking about all of the warmth, joy, laughter and friendship we feel and see all around us throughout the summer at camp.

We hope that these slideshows remind you of your great memories from camp. Enjoy!

Akeela Vermont Session 1

Akeela Vermont Session 2

Akeela Wisconsin Session 1

Akeela Wisconsin Session 2

Camp Akeela Wisconsin Fall 2019 News

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The latest edition of the Akeela WI Circular is here!

In this edition of our newsletter:

  • Notes from Mike and Kristin
  • Program updates for 10th grade campers!
  • POISE-a-thon recap
  • Fall birthdays for campers and staff
  • Welcoming Arlo & Simon Trimble!
  • Upcoming Akeela travel plans (with camper reunion date!)
  • Re-enrollment reminder and early bird discount
  • Summer highlights from Akeela and Beyond Akeela!

Read the entire newsletter here!

You can also find this note from Kevin, Kristin, and Mike in the newsletter:

Dear Akeela Families,

When we all return home at the end of each summer we often get the common question from our non-camp family and friends, “So, how was the summer?” It’s a simple and very appropriate question, and yet each year we struggle to find an answer that really encapsulates our summer experiences. Saying, “Great!” just doesn’t seem to give justice to our summer experience. Do you feel this way when you return home, too?

So much happens every day at camp. We experience emotional highs during those magical spontaneous moments, and have to acknowledge that spending as much time as we do around others during each day at camp is going to create some moments of disagreement and stress, which is OKAY. Taking time to reflect on those highs and lows both individually and with our peers each day helps make camp such a special place for us all. Sometimes it feels like we’ve lived a whole separate life for the summer, and trying to explain that to someone who didn’t share those experiences with us is a daunting task!

As we look back on this summer, saying “Great!” is a good start to describing to our time at camp, but there is so much more that we can share. There was that time we went on a hike and took a wrong turn, got really muddy, but sang songs and played games along the way to keep everyone in positive spirits. Or that time when a few campers were uncertain about showing off our talents in front of all of camp, but blew all of their friends away with their performance. We remember seeing the joy and pride on camper’s faces after that so vividly. We remember the feeling of community when each of you made announcements about your new friends in camp, even if you were unsure about meeting someone new. We remember the feeling of friendship that you shared with us by going out to breakfast with a new friend and their family on pickup day.

We hope that as you think back on your summer at camp, that you can reflect fondly on those special moments, the new friendships you made, and acknowledge the hardships you persevered through. We can’t wait to share all of that with you again, and hope that we can all help each other answer the question, “So, how was your summer?” next year.

Fondly,
Kevin, Kristin, and Mike

Akeela VT Fall Newsletter

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The Akeela Vermont Fall Circular is here!

In this edition of our newsletter:

  • An update from our program director about exciting things to look forward to in summer 2020
  • Our gratitude for all of the Akeela families who completed their post-camp surveys
  • The 6th annual Winter Weekend will be January 11-12, 2020!
  • Check out a few photos of camp during prime “leaf-peeping” season
  • Congratulations to Kevin and Kristin Trimble, who recently welcomed twin boys to their family
  • POISE-a-thon results
  • Upcoming birthdays

Read the entire newsletter here.

Also in the newsletter is the following letter from Debbie and Eric:

Dear Campers,

We can’t believe how quickly time has passed. It seems like yesterday that we were all at camp singing “Friends, Friends, Friends” on the shores of Miller Pond. Suddenly, the trees are changing colors here in Philadelphia and we’re wearing our sweaters. We thought this was a great opportunity to remind you of some of your amazing successes at camp this past summer. Sometimes, after something has ended, it’s hard to remember all of the great feelings you had about it and what you learned. While at Camp Akeela …

  • You made your own bed EVERY DAY!
  • You helped clean your bunk EVERY DAY!
  • You helped with “dining hall duty” with your bunk.
  • You participated in meal-time discussions with your bunkmates and counselors.
  • You participated in activities, even new things that made you uncomfortable.
  • You considered the feelings & needs of the rest of the community.
  • You survived without electronics or internet access for three and a half weeks!
  • You made connections with other campers.
  • You spoke at an Evening Meeting or were recognized at an Evening Meeting.
  • You went on a hike every week.
  • You left the comfort of your home and your family to be at Akeela.

We hope you take this opportunity to think back on your time at camp and remember your friends. You should know that your friends are thinking of you too! We think it would be a great idea to email or call your friends from Akeela. You might tell them about your new teacher, your activities outside of school and anything you’re doing for fun. Maybe you’d like to send them a picture of you in your Halloween costume!

As always, we’re thinking of you with great fondness and can’t wait to be together again at camp.

Love,

Eric & Debbie

Read the entire newsletter here.

Akeela WI Circular – Spring Edition!

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The newest edition of the Akeela circular for our Wisconsin families is here! See what’s inside:

  • Letter from the directors
  • What to expect on the first day of camp
  • How we assign counselors to bunks
  • Geography update
  • Camp forms
  • Upcoming staff/camper birthdays
  • Pen pals
  • What’s new for 2019!
  • Double session campers inter-session plan
  • POISE
  • Information about optional and choice trips
  • Parent communication at Akeela
  • Important reminders for the summer!

Winter Weekend 2019

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We had a great time at our FIFTH annual Winter Weekend reunion for our Vermont campers. Winter Storm Harper couldn’t stop the Akeela magic over the weekend! Campers reunited with their best friends and made new connections with other Akeela campers, the Akeela spirit was in the air! It is remarkable to watch our campers jump right back into camp mode when their with each other, no matter the location or weather outside. They shared stories, played games, and strengthened their bonds with one another over the course a chilly and snowy weekend. Weekends like this get us even more excited for the summer, when we get to see all of our friends back together again.

See the link below for a photo recap of our Winter Weekend fun:
Winter Weekend 2019 Photos

See you this summer!

Akeela WI Fall ’18 Newsletter

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The 2018 Fall Akeela Circular for our Wisconsin campers and their families!

In this issue of our camp newsletter:

  • Letters from your new directors, Kevin Trimble & Mike Deutschman.
  • A recap of what we heard from campers and parents on our post-camp surveys, and what you can expect in summer 2019.
  • Relive your best camp memories with photo highlights from the summer, and get a sneak peak of the Beyond Akeela program.
  • A HUGE thank you for helping to raise more than $15,000 for the POISE Campership charity!
  • Upcoming birthdays, and more!

Check out the entire newsletter here!

Akeela VT Fall ’18 Newsletter

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The 2018 Fall Akeela Circular is here for our Vermont campers and their families!

In this issue of our camp newsletter:

  • Exciting news about new directorship roles for Mike Deutschman, Kevin Trimble and Kristin Wills Trimble!
  • Announcement of dates for Winter Weekend and Parent Stay & Play: January 19 – 21, 2019.
  • A recap of what we heard from campers and parents on our post-camp surveys, along with an invitation to help us re-craft our camper reports.
  • A HUGE thank you for helping to raise more than $15,000 for the POISE Campership charity!
  • Akeela staff wedding bells, engagements and babies!
  • Upcoming birthdays, and more!

Check out the entire newsletter here

Akeela Wisconsin Spring Newsletter

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The latest Camp Akeela (WI) newsletter, the Akeela Circular, is here!

This jam-packed newsletter includes a lot of important information for camp parents, introductions to a new senior staff member, details on communication from camp, and much more. Here’s a quick look at one article, What To Expect On The First Day of Camp.

Dear Akeela Camper,

Summer is almost here and we hope you are excited about camp, even if you’re also feeling a little nervous about it. Many kids go away for part of the summer. Some visit family, some go on teen travel or community service programs, and some go to sleep-away camps. Almost everybody worries about how they will like a place that’s new to them. It’s OK to feel that way and we’re here to help make your transition to camp as easy and smooth as possible. We think that one way to do that is to help you know what to expect …

If you’re taking the bus to camp from the Chicago suburbs,, you and your parents will meet some of our counselors at the bus pick-up location. They will be there to welcome you and to introduce you to other campers. They will help you find a seat on the bus with a new friend and will be there to answer any questions you might have. The travel time to camp is about 3.5 hours, and you will bring lunch with you from home for the bus ride to camp.

Those of you flying to Chicago on Opening Day will be met at the airport by Akeela staff members. They will be there to greet you and to introduce you to other campers who have also flown in! You and your new friends will be driven by our staff in a camp van directly to camp. It will take approximately 3.5 hours to get to Akeela from the airport, too. If your parents are driving you to camp, you will be dropped off at between 1:00pm and 2:00pm. Your counselors will be there to meet you at your car and help you carry your luggage up to your room. You, your parents, and counselors will go to your dorm room, maybe meet some other bunkmates who have already arrived, and put your stuff down in your room. You’ll then say goodbye to your family and begin your camp adventure!

Regardless of how you get to camp, here’s what you can expect to happen the rest of that first day:

  • You will have a chance to see what campus looks like and enjoy some planned activities with your bunkmates. You might take a tour and play some games.
  • You’ll also meet our nurses so that they can give you a quick “health check” to make sure you’re healthy!
  • There will be some time after everyone arrives for each bunk group to start spending some time together before we meet for dinner. This is a great time to get to know your bunkmates and counselors, and talk about “bunk expectations,” so you know what to expect from each other.
  • We will all have dinner and Evening Meeting together as a community. You’ll eat dinner with your bunkgroup at the same table, just like you will for all your meals at camp! Evening Meeting will be at the amphitheatre and you’ll get to hear from Dave and Katie, and have a chance to make announcements about the new friends you’ve already made!
  • Then it will be time for our opening campfire and evening snack. We’ll sing songs and do skits as a community by the fire. It’s one of our favorite parts of camp!
  • Before bedtime, you will preview the next day’s schedule and then Dave or Katie and your head counselor will stop by to say good night. Before you know it, your first day will be over and we will all be getting ready for bed!

Many campers worry that they might be sad or homesick on the first night of camp. That is very normal. All of your counselors will be right in the dorm with you to help you. In addition to talking to them, you might want to look at photos from home, write a letter to your family or read a book. We know that after a short time, you will be having such a great time at Akeela, it will feel like your second home.

We’re so excited for an amazing summer at Camp Akeela. See you soon!

 

Check out the entire newsletter here!