You probably didn’t know it, but Jayne, who has, since 2015, helped Rockbrook girls enjoy adventure trips at camp, also teaches women’s backpacking classes.
You’ve seen Jayne at camp guiding rafts down the Nantahala, leading overnight canoe trips on the French Broad, leading groups through our zipline course, guiding backpacking and camping trips in Pisgah, and leading day hikes in Dupont, just to name few of her adventures with Rockbrook campers.
Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine has just published an interesting article profiling Jayne and the women’s backpacking classes she offers here in western North Carolina. Here’s a link so you can go read, Hard Fought: Backpacking Buff Empowers Women to Hike.
Go check out the article. You’ll learn about Jayne’s background, more about her outdoor adventure experience, and I bet you’ll notice several people in the article’s photos.
A happy girl’s guide to this year’s New Year’s Resolutions.
1. I resolve to go on at least one adventure a day.
Adventures of the pack-up-your-suitcase, walk-in-the-woods, live-by-the-seat-of-your-pants persuasion are lovely and, very often, inaccessible. Climbing Mt. Everest is hard, but big adventures are everywhere- unopened doors, questions just waiting to be asked, roads less traveled. A right turn instead of a left, can begin a grand adventure!
2. I resolve, everyday, to learn one new thing about my family.
Engage with the people you love. Ask them about who they are. Ask them about their day, their passions, their history, their successes. Give your family the opportunity to share their stories.
3. I resolve to find gratitude for at least one thing that did happen and one thing that didn’t happen.
Psychologist Chris Thurber tells us that just as important as it is to rejoice in what you have, life also moves forward when you acknowledge what you don’t. For example, you weren’t expecting a fire today and be thankful there wasn’t one.
4. I resolve to burn fewer cookies.
Thurber also points out, when you throw a batch of two dozen cookies in the oven and twenty of them burn, savor your four successes. Then, consider how you can recalibrate to burn fewer of the next batch. Life requires a few tweaks now and again.
5. I resolve to let the sky be my limit.
Once a day, aim to see things not how they are, but how they could be.
6. I resolve to go where there is no guarantee.
Share yourself with the world. Never hold back, even when your efforts have no guarantees.
7. I resolve to start every day believing that I am a somebody and end each day as a better somebody.
Start each day believing that you are somebody- you are worthy of love and connection and you have amazing things to offer. Then, let each day change you for the better.
8. I resolve to be a tough cookie.
Set backs, scraped knees, a scraped ego. A life filled with challenge is a life filled with color and possibility. Be tough enough to absorb life’s lessons.
9. I resolve to be astonished.
Stay amazed. Life is an endless journey of firecrackers and confetti.
10. I resolve to give.
Your value increases in proportion to how much of it you give away. Holding tightly to your time and money can, ultimately, narrow your wealth.
11. I resolve to be a party animal.
The world is a party and you can be the life of it! Life is like a stick of gum- you can simply chew it or you can blow bubbles.
12. I resolve to never stop making mistakes.
Mistakes are open doors. Mistakes are proof that you are as alive as you’ve ever been. Mistakes mean that you are a take-risks, sing-out-loud, love-with-your-whole-heart, share-what’s-on-your-mind, change-the-world, happy girl!
Working at a summer camp is not the only way (even though it’s one of the best). Consider these 68 simple ways to make the world a better place.
1. Be curious
2. Lend a hand
3. Learn all you can
4. Be gentle with those who make mistakes- including yourself
5. Share
6. If you don’t have to step on that bug, don’t
7. Upcycle, recycle, reuse, home make- turn trash into treasure
8. Be open, stay soft, be flexible
9. Ask questions
10. Remember names
11. Put people first
12. Invest in your neighbors daily
13. Listen
14. Don’t stop at the surface
15. Say, “I love you”
16. Withhold judgement
17. Start over whenever you need to
18. Reach out
19. Try
20. Advocate for something
21. Plant a seed
22. Add laughter where can
23. Spend time outdoors
24. Let others have the right-of-way
25. Give thanks
26. Say thanks
27. Give people a chance (or two)
28. Dismiss perfectionism
29. Explore
30. Every now and then, ignore the mirror
31. Start from the heart
32. Choose words that lift people up
33. Buy two, give one away
34. Sometimes, step up- other times, stand back
35. Hear people out
36. Seek understanding
37. Never boo- always cheer
38. Have a hankering, a sweet tooth, for life
39. For someone in need, give up your place in line
40. Be humble
41. Appreciate yesterday, but move on from it
42. Celebrate even the smallest of achievements
43. If you can lighten someone’s load, do it
44. Invest in children
45. Don’t turn a blind eye
46. Trust
47. Pats on the back, high fives, hugs- reach out and touch
48. Celebrate others
49. Celebrate success
50. Celebrate failures
51. From harvest to heart- honor the work that goes into a good meal
52. Bring life wherever you go
53. Don’t give too much thought to what happens behind your back
54. Deliver bad news tenderly
55. Remember what it’s like to be every age you’ve been thus far
56. Be someone’s safe haven
57. Stay true to truth and dare to dare
58. Break as many falls as possible
59. If you can’t find splendor at first glance, take a second
60. Give compliments
61. Accept compliments
62. Think long and hard before you ever swing a fist
63. Recognize lessons everywhere
64. Show up for tomorrow
65. Trust in your ability to do hard things
66. Lean on someone
67. Let someone lean on you
68. Be of service
Reflection is an essential component of any staff development curriculum. The following topics provide a solid foundation for individual contemplation as well as ideas to stimulate large and small group discussion. This material focuses on staff attention and efforts while it also communicates clear expectations of a camper-centric work ethic. These themes also help to reveal the meaning and power behind a staff’s work and purpose during the camp season. Each question can be easily tailored to reflect an individual camp’s philosophies, missions, and program objectives. Most of these questions are best presented to a staff at the middle or end of a camp season.
1. Describe a time this summer when you completely exceeded your expectations for yourself.
2. This summer, did you experience more moments that were professionally rewarding or professionally challenging? Throughout the season, did you focus more attention on the rewarding moments or the challenging ones?
3. Describe a moment with campers that made you stop and think.
4. Practice gratitude. Create a list of ways to thank yourself on your time off.
5. Do you have a role model on staff? Identify what you admire about her.
6. Can you recollect a time when you solved a problem by stepping back and using a sense of humor? Conversely, can you recollect a time when you solved a problem by stepping in and taking yourself and the situation completely seriously?
7. Share a positive thought for the start of each day.
8. Describe one topic that you’re passionate about outside of camp and explain why you’re so dedicated to it.
9. Set a milestone to celebrate with your campers this summer. What will it be and how will you celebrate it?
10. Describe a time when you thought and acted beyond your own immediate needs for the good of the camp community.
11. Create an award to present to the entire staff.
12. Name a way that this job will affect your life outside of camp.
13. Name one thing that you offer the camp community that is uniquely your own; something that can never quite be replicated.
14. Imagine that you’re giving advice to next summer’s staff. What would you like to say to them?
15. How do you define “success” at camp?
16. Is there anything about yourself that you wish you’d known at the start of the season?
17. Imagine that you’re writing a thank you note to your campers. How will you thank them for who they are and what they’ve taught you about yourself and your place in the world?
18. Imagine that you’re writing a thank you note to your co cabin leader (or program instructor). How will you thank her for who she is and what she’s taught you about yourself and your place in the world?
19. If your campers learn just one thing this summer, what do you hope it is?
20. What has this job done for you? What have you done for this job?
21. Describe a time this summer when you were pushed to think outside the box.
22. If you could take one thing that you’ve learned in this job and incorporate it into your life, everyday, what would it be?
23. Name your favorite place at camp and a moment that you shared with a camper there.
24. In the last 24 hours, try to count how many times your campers have made you smile. In the last 24 hours, try to count how many times you’ve made your campers smile.
25. Did anything happen this summer that you expect to impact your next off-season year for the better.
26. What is the quickest way to make someone smile? Do you do this often throughout your day?
27. If this summer has encouraged you to add any three things to your life’s bucket list, what are they?
28.Describe five random acts of kindness that you’ve witnessed this season.
29. What are our ultimate goals for our campers? How can we begin our work with these in mind?
30. If you could teach humanity a single lesson, what would it be?
31. If you had to create a time capsule to represent your work this summer, what would you put in it?
32. Give an example of a minor victory that we can celebrate as a staff.
33. Was there a mystery that you solved this summer?
34. Describe how we’re making a difference throughout our day’s work.
35. Name three character traits that are essential to being an effective and successful cabin leader.
36. Did you build anything from scratch this season? (Think beyond things here.)
Even when it seems like the walls are caving in, life can be a total blast. Below are 100 thoughts on how to turn a bad day into a good one. Our camp staff keeps these in their back pockets just in case. Lessons on life that apply!
1. If it seems like the sky is falling, catch it.
2. It’s not the number of zeros on your paycheck that makes you rich.
3. Knowing right from wrong is only half the battle.
4. A smile will do more for your face than any powder, shadow, or serum.
5. Stop signs exist for a reason (as do blinkers).
6. Ask people questions about themselves. They love it.
7. Before a dinner party, memorize at least three jokes.
8. You’re never too old to jump on a trampoline.
9. More than likely, the book is better than the movie.
10. Get to know your neighbors.
11. If you use the last of the toilet paper, change the roll.
12. Hold the door.
13. Admit when you’re wrong.
14. It’s rarely a good idea to cut your own hair.
15. Turn off the TV during dinner.
16. Punxsutawney Phil isn’t always right.
17. It’s better to laugh with, than to laugh at.
18. Stand for something.
19. Things don’t always have to make perfect sense to make perfect sense. Look at Dr. Suess.
20. Just because you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, it doesn’t mean you have to lay there all day.
21. Give your phone a break.
22. Sometimes, homemade pizza is just better.
23. Know your friend’s birthdays.
24. You can cheer on your own team without booing the opposition.
25. Know exactly which documents you need before you go to the DMV.
26. Don’t hit the snooze button more than twice in one morning.
27. Remember that you can choose to be your own worst critic or your own biggest fan. Try to find a balance between the two.
28. The check engine light in your car is not just a suggestion.
29. Never underestimate the power of a thank you note.
30. Your comfort zone is just a jumping off point.
31. Buy Girl Scout cookies.
32. Don’t put the carton of milk back in the fridge if it has anything less than a full glass in it.
33. Even if you don’t celebrate a particular holiday, respect those that do.
34. If your towel is wet, hang it up.
35. Every now and then, get a little dirt underneath your fingernails.
36. You’re going to end up with more Tupperware containers than you’ll have lids to fit them. That’s just how life goes.
37. It’s okay to tell someone if they have something in their teeth.
38. The best wedding guest is the one who dances her heart out when the music starts.
39. Everyone in life can be a teacher.
40. If you’ve laughed so hard that you’ve snorted, it’s been a good day.
41. Be patient with your friends around April 15th. Filing taxes can be stressful.
42. GPSs can make mistakes.
43. Appointment books are a lifesaver.
44. Take advantage of the library.
45. If someone needs an umbrella more than you, give them yours.
46. See the best in people
47. Never stop learning.
48. Set your clock ten minutes early.
49. Learn when to speak up and when to stay quiet.
50. Memorize the Pledge of Allegiance.
51. Leave a big tip.
52. Stay hydrated.
53. Be mindful of your internet presence.
54. Cherish family photo albums.
55. If you meet any couple married for more than 20 years, ask them the secret to love.
56. Spend time outside.
57. Always have an extra cup of sugar on hand for the neighbors.
58. The only way to tell if your sauce is any good is by tasting it yourself.
59. Keep snacks in your purse. Hunger is a grouchy mood’s best friend.
60. Invest time and energy into your relationships with your coworkers.
61. Sometimes, it’s more about the question than the answer.
62. Floss daily.
63. Tone and inflection matter to people’s feelings.
64. When sharing food, give your friend the last bite.
65. Even if someone is driving well below the speed limit, do not tailgate them.
66. Don’t keep tabs on every single debt you are owed.
67. Spend your lifetime believing that you are in the right place at the right time.
68. Every now and then, take out your headphones. Let everyone enjoy your music.
69. Be thankful for every candle on your birthday cake.
70. Never mind the naysayers.
71. Realize that you have a stroke of genius in you.
72. Take healthy risks daily.
73. If you’re walking outside on a cold day, keep a tissue in your pocket.
74. Be more than just how you look.
75. Keep a bowl of candy on your desk.
76. It’s never to late to learn how to swim.
77. If someone asks, “Can you do me a favor?” Say yes whenever possible.
78. Study history.
79. Don’t scratch mosquito bites,.
80. Make a wish on shooting stars, dandelion seeds, face-up pennies, eyelashes, and anytime a clock strikes 11:11.
81. Learn how to identify poison ivy.
82. Even if you don’t love the food, thank the host.
83. Create a bucket list.
84. Don’t always take fashion advice.
85. Always know the date.
86. Divide large projects into a series of smaller, more manageable tasks.
87. Tell loved ones how much they mean to you.
88. Not every flower needs to be picked.
89. Never consider loving chocolate a vice.
90. Invest in a First Aid Kit.
91. Roast a marshmallow every once in a while.
92. Surprise yourself.
93. Remain calm when you stain your shirt or jam the copier.
94. Be okay with mismatched socks.
95. Just because the sky is gray, it doesn’t mean you have to feel blue.
96. If you’re picking someone up at the airport, bring flowers.
97. Don’t ignore mold on food.
98. Laugh daily.
99. Go with your gut.
100. Take every bit of advice with a grain of salt.
