Let’s Go Rock Climbing!

When kids come to Rockbrook for camp, they know there’s going to be outdoor adventure happening, things like backpacking, kayaking and whitewater rafting, but they are sometimes surprised about all the rock climbing available. That’s mostly because there is simply so much rock to climb right here on the camp property, not to mention some of the famous rock climbing areas nearby in the Pisgah National Forest. But it’s also because learning to climb is so popular! No matter how old you are —yes, even the youngest kids— you can climb a real rock just about every day at Rockbrook.

Here’s how it works. Usually at breakfast or at dinner the night before, the rock climbing staff will announce a trip they have planned. Like for all of our adventure trips, the campers can then decide if they want to go. They make their own decision weather to go.  It means giving up their regularly scheduled activities, and that can be a hard choice if you really love horseback riding or archery for example, but it also means enjoying the thrill of getting up on the rock. It helps to have experienced the fun of rock climbing to realize these trips are worth signing up for, but even after just one outing, campers learn how much of a treat they are. Some of these trips are short hikes up to a couple of the routes on Castle Rock, while others will be all-day adventures to one of the climbing areas on Looking Glass Rock.

The Rockbrook Camp rock climbing program is a big part of the adventure activities around here. Hey, let’s go climbing!

Healthy Kids Get Outdoors

There’s a new bill introduced in the US Senate that authorizes “the Secretary of the Interior to carry out [state and local] programs and activities that connect Americans, especially children, youth, and families, with the outdoors.” It’s called the Healthy Kids Outdoors Act of 2011 and was introduced by Senator Mark Udall of Colorado, and co-sponsored in the House of Representatives by Rep. Ron Kind of Wisconsin.

Prompting this legislation is a growing concern that American children are increasingly sedentary, spending most of their time indoors, and overweight. A wide range of studies show our kids are addicted to electronic media, watching on average 7.5 hours per day. Obesity and its related health problems are closely related to this. And now, seeing that kids are spending on average less than 10 minutes a day in unstructured outdoor play, an alarming trend is appearing. There’s even some worry that an unhealthy American population would be a national security threat given how many overweight people would be disqualified from military service.

The Healthy Kids Outdoors Act would combat these trends by funding state and local organizations in their efforts to get kids outdoors, to encourage active outdoor experiences. Here too, studies show outdoor activity yielding incredible public health, local economic and national conservation benefits. Seeking these benefits, this legislation would provide up to $15 million dollars of matching funds to sponsor programs and infrastructure that effectively connect Americans, especially kids, with outdoor experiences.

Of course, we are cheering this legislation! At an outdoor summer camp like Rockbrook, we know and celebrate the wonders of outdoor experience everyday. We spend most of our time (not just 10 minutes!) outside, actively engaged in dozens of activities.

At camp, we know all about the benefits to kids of outdoor activity. It’s nice to see those same benefits being championed nationally.

Kids Grow Better Outside

Spotted this bumper sticker the other day in Asheville, NC. Isn’t it awesome!? It’s put out by the Buncombe county partnership of the Smart Start Program, an “early childhood initiative designed to ensure that young children enter school healthy and ready to succeed.” The sticker shows that, like we have claimed many times before, playing outside is really good for kids.  Here are some of the benefits the Buncombe County web site recognizes.

• Kids are better able to play with other kids and work problems out with them.
• Kids benefit from physical activity by experiencing healthier weights.
• Kids have fewer problems with hyperactivity and are better able to pay attention.
• Kids experience less stress than other kids their age.
• Kids score higher on standardized tests.

It’s not too hard to see how “children will be smarter, better able to get along with others, healthier and happier when they have regular opportunities for free and unstructured play in the out of doors?”  And it’s a simple step to realize how important summer vacation from school, and summer camps like Rockbrook, are for kids.  All children really benefit from time outside, away from school, and certainly at camp.

Are your kids getting outside?

Kids and Granny Bingo!

When was the last time you dressed up like a Granny? OK, when was the last time you played bingo for some fabulous fun prizes? And best yet… when was the last time you did both at the same time!!?

It’s granny bingo! …one of the summer programs for kids at Rockbrook. It’s so much fun to dig through your stuff and create a costume. Powder, a bathrobe, maybe a wig, pillow for stuffing, little glasses, a head scarf, big fuzzy slippers: this will make a great granny.

This is one of those times at camp when you’ll probably be laughing your head off.  When you’re there, you just can’t help it.

Let's Sew a Dinosaur!

One of the activities for the kids at camp that has become popular lately is sewing. In particular, the hand sewing projects are really great. With just a few scraps of cloth —different colors of course!! —and some imagination, you can make a quilted pillow, a placemat, a purse, or even a cool stuffed animal. Look! It’s a dinosaur!  I think.?

One of the craft cabins at Rockbrook is called “Hobby Nook” and it’s where these sewing activities for kids take place.  It takes a little patience to learn the basic sewing stitches and some time to sew all the parts, but camp has everything you’ll need.  The counselors (like Elise in this photo) will help along the way, and pretty soon you’ll have something neat.  It’s sewing, and it’s really fun!

Outdoor Time for Kids

Kids having sustained outdoor time is one really great benefit of camp. When most kids’ lives are spent inside (at school, at home, in the car) and therefore usually “plugged in,” it’s really nice to experience the beauty, complexity, and intensity of nature— the awesome view from a mountain top (“That’s so far!”), the wonder of discovering a creature (“Cool, look at this!”), or the freedom of just relaxing in the shade with a friend. These kinds of outdoor experiences open kids up to seeing new things, to truly enjoying what they do. It rekindles their enthusiasm. Sure camp is about all the fun, but some of it lasts far beyond just the summer as well.

Kids Summer Program

Is it possible to have “too much summer camp?” According to Abby Brunks, in her recent Atlanta Journal Constitution article, the answer might be yes. Ms. Brunks fears that being at summer camp can become an extension of the busy, overly scheduled life most kids experience throughout the school year. She believes that kids need a “good long break to just hang out,” and therefore cautions parents not to send their kids away to summer camp (particularly “specialty camps” apparently) for “weeks on end.”

Here at Rockbrook, we understand this concern. That’s why we build into every day a good amount of free time when campers can just “hang out.” There’s time to sit on the porch and talk, explore one of the camp streams, goof around with your cabin mates, make up a song, write a letter, or just relax. For years we’ve recognized this as one of the great opportunities of camp— it’s a chance to experience carefree summer living, to have the freedom to decide for yourself what you feel like doing, while having so many fun options easily available. That’s why coming to camp is so great. Sure at home you may be able to hang out, but you won’t have near the opportunity to try new things, meet new people, and explore nature. And because it is so refreshingly different from home or school, weeks easily seem like days.

Ready to swim? Dive in!

What could be better than a quick swim at camp? At Rockbrook kids have lots of chances to jump in the lake. In addition to signing up for swimming as one of their camp activity periods, girls can come for a swim at two different “free swim” times— right before lunch and right before dinner. These swim periods are really fun because you can get a big group of your friends to come down at the same time. Kids can swim, jump off the diving board, climb on the “toy,” float around in a tube, or just lay out in the sun. It’s up to you.