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by Peg Smith, ACA Chief Executive Officer
Don’t just be a counselor this year, be someone’s Champion!
Think about it. Who supported you when you were in need? Who encouraged
you when you thought you “couldn’t do it?” Who believed
in you and the value you added to the world? Who gave you the opportunity
to influence your own destiny? My guess, it would be someone you would
call your Champion.
We want to help children and youth feel power. So much in life feels
out of our control. You have the chance to truly influence others and
help them feel they have control and choices in their own lives. You can
teach children that power is not the use of force but is found in our
positive relationships with others. You can help children understand that
power is about making things happen, overcoming fears, or helping others
succeed. Power is something that should build good and does not have to
be something that destroys.
Be a Champion and defend a camper’s right to fully participate
— and to make meaningful decisions about action and opportunity.
A champion never forgets that one’s self-esteem and sense of belonging
can carry a person through the hardest times.
Finally, I heard Michael Brandwein recently say that, “Fun is
the feeling we get when we are learning.” Be sure to champion fun
while understanding that it is a symptom of learning — learning
to listen, learning to contribute, learning to care, learning to decide,
learning to take healthy risks, and learning the power of a smile. Don’t
just be a counselor, decide to be a Champion!
Originally published in the 2005 May/June issue
of Camping Magazine. |
