Summer Camp Makes Kids Talented?

OK, what do these people have in common: Larry Page (co-founder of Google), Condolezza Rice (U.S. Secretary of State), Bob Dylan (musician), Drew Carey (television actor), J.D. Salinger (author), and Katie Couric (journalist)? You might guess, but it’s true; they all went to camp as kids. The American Camp Association has a list of other famous and influential people who attended or worked at a summer camp. It’s a pretty amazing list.

What’s interesting about this is to think how so much of what we become springs from our experiences as kids, how the people we meet, the activities that challenge us, and the accomplishments that validate who we are, can so profoundly inspire who we might become. As summer camp was a part of these talented people’s lives, and as it continues to be for scores of children today, it played some, perhaps even crucial, part in making them so.

Summer Outdoor Games for Kids

Here’s a great outdoor game for kids to try… Dizzy Lizzy. It’s actually a relay, a game where two or more teams race each other while completing some challenging task or overcoming some kind of obstacle. In this case, members of each team line up and one by one run a ways out to a baseball bat on the ground. There they have to put their forehead on the bat, and keeping the other end on the ground, spin around the bat a few times (usually 3, 4 or 5 times). Needless to say, this makes you quite dizzy, and then comes the most difficult part— running back to your team so the next person can go. It’s always pretty funny to see a dizzy person try to run in a straight line, and pretty fun to try it yourself! Next time you need a fun outdoor game for kids, give it a try!

Kids Camp in NC

Rockbrook is a kids camp in NC, that’s for sure, but we have so many kids that come to camp from other states far and wide. Of course, most are in the south— South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Florida —but campers come from the midwest (e.g. Ohio!) and the northeast as well. Most campers drive to camp with their parents, so being within a day’s drive is the norm. Still, plenty of kids end up flying to camp when they live too far away to drive (like in California!). North Carolina is just a great NC location for a kids camp, even if (and especially if!) you don’t live here.

Kids Camps Food

What do you eat when you go to a kids summer camp like Rockbrook? Well, it’s not all dessert like this , but we serve all sorts of “kid-friendly” meals… everything from pizza, to burgers, to pasta, and (our personal favorite) tacos. There’s always a vegetarian entre option, and during lunch two different salad bars. For breakfast, we’ll have cereal, or eggs & bacon, or pancakes, and always some kind of fruit. Whatever the meal, our fantastic kitchen manager Kim always keeps us happy!

Summer Activities for Kids

Being at summer camp, one of the best activities for kids is hiking. In fact, even at home, taking a walk outside… maybe around the neighborhood or through the local park.. is a great way to spend part of your day. We’ve mentioned it before (and here), but playing outdoors, exploring the natural world, or simply noticing the different aspects of nature around them, is amazingly beneficial for kids.

This photo is a group of Rockbrook girls hiking in the Pisgah National Forest. The mountain in the background with the “saddle” (two peaks connected) is called “Sam Knob” (elevation 6055 ft.).

Kids Outdoor Activities

Hey we’re kids, and we’re ready for camp! We want to play outdoors this summer, dress like a goof ball, and run around trying new activities with our friends. How much longer do we have to wait? Well, once school is out, it won’t be long. In fact, you can see the exact amount of time left before camp opens over on the sidebar. Check out the “Camp Countdown” on the right.

This photo is from “Jug Band” night.