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Ask Questions

Ask Questions

[embed]https://youtu.be/jFPBEXokX40[/embed] At camp, we spend a lot of time getting to know each other around the campfire, at meals, and while walking around camp. Many campers who were strangers to each other when they arrived at camp report feeling even closer to the cabin mates they've only known for a few weeks than they feel to school friends they've known for years. Why is that? One of the reasons is that they've had a lot of time to talk with each other. All those conversations help campers build strong friendships. One friendship skill we practice at camp is learning to ask questions, to listen well using active listening skills, and to ask follow up questions rather than interjecting our stories and ideas right away. Questions help keep a conversation flowing and help us get to know others better. Here's Sunshine talking about why this is an important social skill our kids need to practice:   Download our camp posters to use at home!

What do people most like to talk about?

You may think the answer is something very specific - like sports or a favorite video game or TV show. It's likely that when I asked that question you thought about what you most like to talk about. It's true that people really enjoy talking about things they're interested in. And what they're most interested in ... Read more

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Summer 2024 Registration Now Open for Returning GAC Families!

Summer 2024 Registration Now Open for Returning GAC Families!

[embed]https://youtu.be/k7JT5cFazBc[/embed] Hello GAC Families! Registration for Summer 2024 is now open for returning GAC campers (and siblings) and families who were wait-listed for 2023. We cannot guarantee or hold space for your camper and registrations will be processed on a first-come first-served basis. We recommend enrolling as close to August 1 as possible and before September 16 when we open enrollment for new camp families. Some age groups in our two and three-week sessions are wait list only so be sure to check out the 2024 Dates & Rates, 2024 Availability, and contact us if you have any questions. Please enroll your camper through your My GAC Login or the Campanion app.  

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Apologizing Well

Apologizing Well

Because all of us make mistakes in our relationships, an important friendship skill is learning how to apologize sincerely and effectively. Apologizing well when we hurt a friend with our words or actions is a skill we're working on growing this summer at GAC. In just about every conflict, the disagreement or issue is never ALL one person’s fault. Usually both people did or said something that hurt the other person. With campers, we brainstorm examples of conflicts they get into with friends - often minor things like disputes over card games or using an item that belongs to someone else without asking. Sometimes, we unintentionally hurt a friend. Apologizing well includes owning up to mistakes and apologizing for words or actions that hurt another person. A sincere and thoughtful apology is the most effective way to resolve conflicts with friends & family members. Conflicts are a normal part of all relationships, so we are normalizing for campers that all of us - at times - need to apologize to our friends.  These are the simple steps to making a meaningful apology when we’ve done or said something we regret or that has hurt our friend.

6 Steps to a Good Apology

  1. Use the words, "I'm sorry."

  2. Acknowledge exactly how you messed up.

    "I used unkind words that hurt your feelings."

  3. Tell how you were feeling and why you think you did the thing.

    "I was feeling jealous of how well you did at wake boarding, so I made an ... Read more

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It’s Goal Setting Tuesday!

It’s Goal Setting Tuesday!

Today at morning assembly, we talked about the importance of getting outside our comfort zone and getting into our "growth zone" as we try new things at camp. Camper Jojo shared about how she's gotten out of her comfort zone and learned many new skills over her eight summers at GAC. We also talked about setting SMART goals for this camp session.

Comfort Zone & Growth Zone

We talked about how each of us has our "comfort zone" of activities we're accustomed to and we feel totally relaxed doing. When we're trying new things and in our "growth zone," our hearts may be racing a little bit and our breathing can get more audible. We naturally feel a bit of stress and discomfort, because we are experiencing something new. Sharing our nervousness with others, and understanding that most of us feel the same way when we're trying something new, can help us push through the discomfort and discover new things we really enjoy at camp. An example we talked about was going on the high ropes course. Many of us feel nervous about being up so high, but for campers like Jojo, who've been at camp for many years and gone across the ropes course numerous times, it can start feeling comfortable up there. To get in our growth zone at an activity we have a lot of experience with, we need to try a new skill - like going across the course ... Read more

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