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Episode 81: Creating a Happier World with Evergreen

Episode 81: Creating a Happier World with Evergreen

In this episode, Audrey "Sunshine" Monke chats with Becky "Evergreen" Johnson about the impact Evergreen's time as a staff member and parent have impacted her life and her career. Evergreen's GAC story started in 1995 (30 years ago!), when she joined our staff as a Group Counselor. This summer (2025), Evergreen will be serving as a Staff Coach during staff training week (we call it "Tweek") and Session 1. [caption id="attachment_17379" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Evergreen celebrating her birthday at GAC with her kids, Colette and Adam.[/caption]

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Episode 80: The Magic of Camp (Happy Campers Book Excerpt)

Episode 80: The Magic of Camp (Happy Campers Book Excerpt)

This week on the podcast we're featuring a short excerpt from the introduction to Audrey "Sunshine" Monke's book, Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults.  Learn about the research-based, intentional practices behind the "magic" at Gold Arrow Camp in this episode, The Magic of Summer Camp.

About Happy Campers

Why are kids more optimistic, resilient, independent, and competent after just a few weeks at summer camp?

Why do they feel less depressed, anxious, and disconnected at camp than they do anywhere else? Why are so many campers heartbroken when it’s time to go home?

Veteran summer camp director Audrey “Sunshine” Monke, psychologist and parenting expert, shares what she’s learned from three decades of creating a summer camp that kids call their “happy place” and “second home,” a culture where research has proven kids become happier while gaining important social and emotional skills in just two weeks.

Based on thousands of interactions with campers, camp counselors, and parents, and on academic research in positive psychology, Happy Campers introduces a framework of intentional strategies to help parents create the same kind of transformational culture that kids experience at camp. Instead of ... Read more

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Episode 79: Creating a Happier World – The GAC Philosophy

Episode 79: Creating a Happier World – The GAC Philosophy

Join Sunshine, Chelster, Gem & Delta for a chat about Gold Arrow Camp's Vision, Mission, Goals. Learn about the positive habits and character traits we want our campers and staff to take with them far beyond their time at camp. Learn WHY Gold Arrow Camp exists and about the vision we have of creating a happier world, one camper at a time. Watch a video about Gold Arrow Camp here. Learn more about the Gold Arrow Camp philosophy here. Hear what campers say about GAC here.

Podcast Credits

Music by Henry "Dobro" Johns Narration (intro & outro) by Henry "Bravo" Pederson Produced by JRS Production Creative Audio

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Episode 78: Creating a Happier World with Speed

Episode 78: Creating a Happier World with Speed

This week on the Gold Arrow Camp Podcast, Sunshine chats with Armando "Speed" Negrete about the lasting positive impact of his experience as a GAC staff member in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The communication and leadership skills he learned at GAC are professional skills Armando uses today as a Lead Public Safety Dispatcher (9-1-1), a track and cross country running coach, and a sports photographer. Armando also shares about how the skills he learned and practiced as a Group Counselor are ones he still uses and benefits from as a parent.

"I remember how incredibly in awe I was of the camp ground, of all the different activities that Gold Arrow Camp offers. I was just completely awestruck." Armando "Speed" Negrete

Article about Armando's return to Fresno State to get his Bachelor's Degree

Podcast Credits

Music by Henry "Dobro" Johns Narration (intro & outro) by Henry "Bravo" Pederson Produced by JRS Production Creative Audio

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