Are you looking for a summer day camp option that includes a variety of camp activities but doesn't have you running all around town from week to week? Do you want more than just day care for the summer? Are you looking for an enriching summer camp that helps your child maintain academic gains but doesn't feel like school?
Welcome to Better Brain Camp! Our theme is "Six Weeks to a Better Brain" and everything we do is centered on our goal of strengthening connections in the brain. We want your child to improve cognitive and social skills while having lots of fun and making lasting friendships. We use movement and hands on experiences to enrich every activity. The learning is embedded in the fun.
In "Six Weeks to a Better Brain" we've taken the idea of a one-week single topic summer camp like art or drama and stretched it out over six weeks AND... instead of just covering one area of interest, we have SIX topics combined into one cohesive camp experience. This integrated approach allows your child to have the benefit of six different summer camp activities without the burnout of focusing on just one topic every day for a week!
Our six topics include lessons and skills from language arts, history, science, art, drama and PE, and as a bonus, we also include math. Shhh.... don't tell them. We practice math facts almost every day in groups suited to each child's level. Have you ever learned math facts while jumping rope or playing dominoes? How about a math fact relay race? They won't even realize they are learning!
At the end of the six weeks, each topic culminates with a final project or experience that gives structure and meaning to the lessons and activities we do each day.
Contact me directly to talk about how we can help your child have the best summer ever. I welcome your questions and conversation.
Ages
We have two age groups: 7-9 yrs old and 10-13 yrs old. We have room for 12 children in each age group.
Camp Dates
June 12th through July 21st 2023
(No camp on Tuesday July 4th)
Location
Northwest Greensboro near Horsepen Creek
Cost
$1,550 for 6 weeks
The deadline for registration is March 31st.
Our goal is to deliver a fast-paced, action-packed, adventure-filled six weeks, grounded in the tranquility of a peaceful outdoor setting with a stable group of new friends to share in the adventure. Six weeks allows kids to relax in a familiar environment and develop lasting friendships, learning and growing together with the same group.
We hope this will transform your child's ability to focus and concentrate. We replace the bombardment of devices, distractions, and daily pressures with an electronics-free zone, starting with fast-paced activities that appeal to a shorter attention span, and gradually providing longer periods of focus as they begin to feel the excitement of getting deeper into the activities we're doing. Six weeks is long enough to develop new habits and feel the satisfaction that comes from accomplishing a project.
Just in case all this learning stuff sounds like boring school work or too much pressure, camp comes without grades, tests, or homework. This helps them rediscover the joy of learning, be inspired to achieve new things, and grow together as friends without the pressure of school!
Our camp focuses on 6 key areas of development. Concentration, love of learning, organization skills, self-respect, friendship and self-confidence.
We help children learn to deepen their concentration skills in the way we structure the length of the activities over the course of 6 weeks. In the first weeks we match the intense fast paced schedule most children's brains expect. As the weeks continue and children become more invested in their projects, the time they have for the activities is longer. We couple this schedule with short meditation exercises that help them relax and imagine their next activity before they get started on it.
With a carefully selected curriculum of activities designed to guide your child in making discoveries of their own we will bring them to the edge of knowledge and let them discover things for themselves. We will teach them how to ask questions and discover answers so they can reignite their own love of learning.
The culminating projects motivate the activities we plan, but the children get to have a say in how they organize and plan their projects so they learn how to take ownership of their time. Each day is filled with options and opportunity.
As they connect with nature, themselves, and each other they will increase in self-awareness and learn more about their own value. This will help them develop self-respect and learn to treat themselves and others with greater consideration.
We teach them how to apply practical social skills to help them enjoy deeper friendships and better understand how to communicate and get along with others. We will discuss bullying and how to avoid being a victim without becoming the bully.
We give them space and motivation to develop greater self-control by directly teaching skills and discussing how to apply them. Self-confidence is an outgrowth of self-control and it will naturally flow into every aspect of their lives.
ArtWe'll let our creativity shine while developing concentration and fine motor skills. Exploring different media and principles of art, we'll work on various projects culminating in orignial works of art.
Final Project: They will display their works in a celebratory final art show with no grades and no judgement.
DramaProducing a play is the perfect opportunity to develop self confidence and public speaking skills. Through script writing, acting exercises, and creative use of props, groups will culminate in sharing a theatrical production with their fellow campers!
Final Project: They will create a play from start to finish based on a short children's story of their choice.
StorytellingThrough reading, writing, narration, and poetry, we'll learn to express our feelings, thoughts, ideas, and emotions, building up to "Poetry Teatime." This is a chance to sit down together in a formal setting and apply what we've learned to respectfully share and listen to one another, and show off creative writing and speaking skills!
Final Project: While using good table manners, which we will teach, they will sit down for "Poetry Tea Time" where they will tell stories and recite poems, including some of their own.
ScienceIn addition to exciting science experiments and discoveries, we will explore the world around us. Through observing the bio-diversity of our beautiful setting, and learning to appreciate the wonders of nature, each camper will assemble a nature book filled with discoveries unique to each child!
Final Project: They will create their own nature journal composed of original writing and art based on their observations in nature. This will include their tree project which is a six week, six tree comparison of bark, leaves, flowers, and seeds.
Farm to tableWe'll go back to the foundations of history and civilization and explore staple foods from across the world. Through hands-on activities we'll learn about how these foods grow, including growing and preparing some of our own! (Six weeks gives us enough time to see the process come alive, including planting, cultivating, and harvesting!)
Final Project: They will harvest something they have planted and cultivated in the garden at camp.
WellnessWhile growing our minds, it's important to remember to take care of our bodies and souls as well! In addition to exercise, stretching, and nutrition to stay fit and active, we'll take advantage of our peaceful setting to practice mindfulness. We'll develop skills for meditation, relaxation and healthy living that will last beyond the camp!
Final Project: They will create a scrapbook to chronicle their journey to wellness, but the real culminating work will happen in their own bodies and minds.
