Purpose

Our world is becoming faster, more complicated, and may seem to be more chaotic. So much has changed since the voyageurs traveled the lakes and rivers of the north woods. With planes, trains, automobiles, cell phones, laptops, and email, the list is beyond extensive. Despite all these technological advances, many things have remained constant.

Purpose

When the voyageurs set out on their journeys for many months at a time they had to carry -on their back or in their canoes- all the gear and supplies they would need. Their initial preparations, along with their ability to work well together and to make the most of their abilities, were usually the difference between a successful, enjoyable trip and one which was not.

Camp Buckskin wants our campers - and staff - to work effectively with others, to adapt well to change, and maximize their talents, because these abilities are as crucial today as they were for the voyageurs. In short, we want to help these young people be prepared to become successful, happy people now and for many years to come!

The 3 R's

How do our campers reach that successful, happy destination? We believe education is extremely important to becoming successful. Most people know that the traditional "3R's" of school refer to reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic. The voyageurs didn't need to make extensive use of these abilities. They had to read a map or calculate whether they were paid correctly for the goods they traded, but that was about the extent of their need for "the 3R's." However in our world, reading and writing are the foundation of education and education is key to success. As such, we have included them as part of our daily core activities.

We also believe academic knowledge alone is not enough to ensure success. While it is important to know reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic, it is crucial to be able to use knowledge and get along with others. We refer to these abilities as the ‘New 3R's' - Responsibility, Resourcefulness, and Resilience. Since these abilities are so vital to success, we focus a great deal of our efforts towards helping our parents help their children to develop these abilities as well.

Purpose

If our campers are to improve both their traditional and new 3R abilities, it is necessary to help them make changes in both attitudes and habits. To help them produce the greatest change, it is imperative that they are able ‘to do their best.' Many young people and particularly our campers can face significant challenges learning in a ‘traditional' environment. Our site and location provides an excellent therapeutic setting in which to learn and grow.

Structure

Even with plenty of structure, we know it usually takes some time for our first-time campers to settle in and adjust to the new setting. Psychologists have shown that it takes a minimum of 21 days to unlearn old habits and begin learning new ones. Because of the time needed to adjust and our want to provide as many opportunities to learn and succeed as we possibly can, the program is 30 days long. We offer two 30 day sessions each summer. If it was possible to teach and then have our campers practice social skills in less time, we would.

If there was a ‘quick fix' to increase our campers self confidence and enhance their self concept, we certainly would use it. But improving self confidence and self concept is a by product of learning and achieving, and this takes time. We believe - and our nearly fifty years of experience have shown - that our campers can make substantial progress in one session. But we recommend they attend both, as their gains are significantly increased with the additional repetition and reinforcement. Our parents' experience indicates that the changes are of a greater ‘magnitude' and stick with them better.

The 3 Rights

The final philosophical concept we want to share, the three rights, is relevant to parents, campers, and staff. The concept of the three rights is central to life at camp, and applies equally to everyone, from the youngest camper to the oldest staff. First and foremost is the right to be and feel safe. Second is the right to learn as much as you want or are able. The third and final right is the right to enjoy yourself. The rights are listed in this sequence according to their importance. So while fun is important, learning is more important and safety the most important. The rules at camp are based on these three rights. A ‘poor choice' is words or actions that interfere with someone else's enjoyment of one or more of their rights.

It is our belief that most of our campers social skill difficulties stem from a lack of awareness or lack of understanding. They don't accurately perceive and process how their words and actions affect others, particularly peers. We help our campers understand why something was a ‘poor choice' by referencing the three rights. This helps these young people, many of whom have trouble comprehending the ‘gray' of the world, to discern it into more black and white terms, which gives them the best chance to truly understand. By cultivating this understanding, it will give Camp Buckskin campers the best opportunity to become a happier more successful person.



Camp Buckskin About Us History Purpose Who We Serve ADHD Adopted Aspergers Syndrome Learning Disabilities Personnel Health Care Food & Facilities Directions Buckskin News Rates & Dates Contact Us Links Program Overview Daily Schedule Personal Growth Program Main Activities Evenings Weekends Special Events Senior Campers LIT Program Campers FAQs Testimonials Parents FAQs Testimonials Rates & Dates Contact Us Professionals Philosphy FAQs Contact Us Staff Positions FAQs Testimonials Application Contact Us Rates & Dates Buckskin News Photo Gallery Contact Us Request Information	Camp Buckskin > About Us > Purpose Purpose Our world is becoming faster, more complicated, and may seem to be more chaotic. So much has changed since the voyageurs traveled the lakes and rivers of the north woods. With planes, trains, automobiles, cell phones, laptops, and email, the list is beyond extensive. Despite all these technological advances, many things have remained constant. When the voyageurs set out on their journeys for many months at a time they had to carry -on their back or in their canoes- all the gear and supplies they would need. Their initial preparations, along with their ability to work well together and to make the most of their abilities, were usually the difference between a successful, enjoyable trip and one which was not. Camp Buckskin wants our campers - and staff - to work effectively with others, to adapt well to change, and maximize their talents, because these abilities are as crucial today as they were for the voyageurs. In short, we want to help these young people be prepared to become successful, happy people now and for many years to come! The 3 R's How do our campers reach that successful, happy destination? We believe education is extremely important to becoming successful. Most people know that the traditional "3R's" of school refer to reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic. The voyageurs didn't need to make extensive use of these abilities. They had to read a map or calculate whether they were paid correctly for the goods they traded, but that was about the extent of their need for "the 3R's." However in our world, reading and writing are the foundation of education and education is key to success. As such, we have included them as part of our daily core activities. We also believe academic knowledge alone is not enough to ensure success. While it is important to know reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic, it is crucial to be able to use knowledge and get along with others. We refer to these abilities as the ‘New 3R's' - Responsibility, Resourcefulness, and Resilience. Since these abilities are so vital to success, we focus a great deal of our efforts towards helping our parents help their children to develop these abilities as well. If our campers are to improve both their traditional and new 3R abilities, it is necessary to help them make changes in both attitudes and habits. To help them produce the greatest change, it is imperative that they are able ‘to do their best.' Many young people and particularly our campers can face significant challenges learning in a ‘traditional' environment. Our site and location provides an excellent therapeutic setting in which to learn and grow. Structure Even with plenty of structure, we know it usually takes some time for our first-time campers to settle in and adjust to the new setting. Psychologists have shown that it takes a minimum of 21 days to unlearn old habits and begin learning new ones. Because of the time needed to adjust and our want to provide as many opportunities to learn and succeed as we possibly can, the program is 30 days long. We offer two 30 day sessions each summer. If it was possible to teach and then have our campers practice social skills in less time, we would. If there was a ‘quick fix' to increase our campers self confidence and enhance their self concept, we certainly would use it. But improving self confidence and self concept is a by product of learning and achieving, and this takes time. We believe - and our nearly fifty years of experience have shown - that our campers can make substantial progress in one session. But we recommend they attend both, as their gains are significantly increased with the additional repetition and reinforcement. Our parents' experience indicates that the changes are of a greater ‘magnitude' and stick with them better. The 3 Rights The final philosophical concept we want to share, the three rights, is relevant to parents, campers, and staff. The concept of the three rights is central to life at camp, and applies equally to everyone, from the youngest camper to the oldest staff. First and foremost is the right to be and feel safe. Second is the right to learn as much as you want or are able. The third and final right is the right to enjoy yourself. The rights are listed in this sequence according to their importance. So while fun is important, learning is more important and safety the most important. The rules at camp are based on these three rights. A ‘poor choice' is words or actions that interfere with someone else's enjoyment of one or more of their rights. It is our belief that most of our campers social skill difficulties stem from a lack of awareness or lack of understanding. They don't accurately perceive and process how their words and actions affect others, particularly peers. We help our campers understand why something was a ‘poor choice' by referencing the three rights. This helps these young people, many of whom have trouble comprehending the ‘gray' of the world, to discern it into more black and white terms, which gives them the best chance to truly understand. By cultivating this understanding, it will give Camp Buckskin campers the best opportunity to become a happier more successful person.