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Building Empathy – Our 2024 Summer Theme!

Building Empathy – Our 2024 Summer Theme!

Building Empathy is our 2024 Summer Theme!  Empathy is our ability to understand how others feel, and building our empathy skills are foundational for closer friendships and improved well-being. In a world that is increasingly divided, building empathy is vital to cultivating meaningful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. Empathy is a skill that can be practiced, and this summer, we will focus on six tools to help campers cultivate empathy:

  1. Active Listening
  2. Emotional Literacy
  3. Perspective-Taking
  4. Storytelling
  5. Disagreeing without Debating
  6. Being an Upstander
Our logo this year includes a blueprint drawing and construction tools. A blueprint drawing is one of the first phases in planning and design during a construction project. Just as architects must consider various perspectives when designing a building to meet the needs of different users, developing empathy requires understanding and appreciating the perspectives of others. A blueprint also provides a comprehensive plan for a building, considering not just its individual components but how they interact to create a functional and harmonious space. Empathy requires seeing the whole picture by considering the emotions, experiences, and circumstances that shape others' perspectives and behaviors. Just as construction tools are used to measure, cut, and shape materials, empathy involves ... Read more

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March Parent Coffee

March Parent Coffee

Building Empathy (GAC’S 2024 Summer Theme)

  Empathy is our ability to understand how others feel, and building empathy provides a foundation for friendships and overall well-being. In a world that is increasingly divided, building empathy is vital to cultivating meaningful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.  Empathy is a skill that can be practiced, and this summer, our theme will focus on building empathy by improving emotional literacy, active listening, perspective-taking and storytelling skills, and learning the importance of disagreeing without debating and being an upstander. Building Empathy is about putting less emphasis on “me” and more emphasis on “we.” Empathy builders connect with others in meaningful ways and seek to better understand how others are feeling. We hope you can join us on March 13 for a discussion about:
  • What we’ll be doing at camp this summer to help campers build their empathy skills.
  • How you can help your kids build empathy habits that last. 
We’re going to offer a morning and an evening session to accommodate more parents’ schedules. Join us on March 13 at 10am PT OR 7pm PT. Here are some optional resources to check out before our chat: Ep. 138: Unselfie with Dr. Michele Borba | Sunshine Parenting Empathy is a Verb | Michele Borba | ... Read more

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February Parent Coffee

February Parent Coffee

"Make Friends: Coach Kids to Better Friendships"

Social and emotional skills, just like academic and athletic ones, are not fixed or personality dependent. The skills necessary to make and keep friends need to be discussed, modeled, and practiced at camp and at home. Come learn about:
  • The specific social skills research that shows what skills are are most important for healthy friendships & relationships.
  • Simple coaching strategies to help kids improve their social skills.
  • Camp practices we use to help kids make and keep friends.
Come learn from Audrey “Sunshine” Monke how to be your child’s “Friendship Skills Coach” at February's Parent Coffee on Wednesday, February 7 at 10am PT. 

Register HERE for the February 7 Parent Coffee. Registrants will be sent a recording after the meeting. We hope to see you there!

 

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