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Social Emotional Learning

Mindfulness Activities (Chilly Edition)

admin Mindfulness, Outdoor Education, Social Emotional Learning ,
Mindfulness Activities (Chilly Edition)

It’s starting to get colder here at Wildwood, and we love doing outdoor mindfulness activities for when the temp drops.

This week, Wildwood experienced its first frost of the fall season. Shorter days and colder temperatures are upon the summer camp world. 

For some of us, the colder months can prove to be more stressful and difficult than the summer months. Days are shorter and nights are colder. The cold outside can make us feel anxious, stuck, or even depressed. As advocates that kids (and grown ups) grow better outside, we want to share just how you can keep up with some outside mindfulness activities this chilly season! 

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Camp Wildwood–A Ten Year Program

Jane Camp Barriers, Outdoor Education, Social Emotional Learning, Summer Camp , , , ,
Camp Wildwood–A Ten Year Program

A camp session at Wildwood lasts just 5 days, but we often talk about Camp Wildwood being a 10-year program.

Why? We focus on having campers come back each year because the research shows increased benefits for campers each year they return, culminating in long-term benefits that will impact campers into adulthood.

What are these benefits? We’re glad you asked!

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Outdoor Mindfulness Activities

Jane Outdoor Education, Social Emotional Learning
mindfulness activity: nature art

I don’t know about you, but lately I’ve been feeling overwhelmed just existing in the world. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it’s critical that we take care of both our mental and physical wellbeing. Keeping mentally healthy during this time is particularly important for kids, whose brains are still growing and developing.

At Wildwood, one of our favorite strategies to keep kids’ (and adults’) minds healthy is by engaging in mindfulness. Not only are mindfulness practices usually quick and simple, but they can have an impressive positive effect on mood.

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What’s In A Friendship Bracelet?

Jane Outdoor Education, Social Emotional Learning, Summer Camp
What’s In A Friendship Bracelet?

Making friends is a huge feature of the camp experience. It’s easy to bond in five short days. Campers eat, sleep, and try new activities together. They participate in unique traditions and are encouraged to be their most authentic selves. 

As much as we’d like to believe that the most salient parts of camp are the carefully thought out, academically rich activities we construct, it’s the new friends with whom campers complete these activities that they remember most. 

So when a pandemic came knocking on our door, we decided to do something to keep friendships bright. Specifically, we decided to create a friendship bracelet kit designed to increase campers’ social-emotional learning, and feelings of connection.

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