Video: Susie's Back to School Basics

Interested in more of our training videos, tutoring tips, and snapshots from camp? Subscribe to our YouTube channel on the right side bar, or click the Resources category (also at right) for the archive. Today, enjoy this new video from footage taken this summer as Susie addresses parents coming to pick up their children. Heading into the school year, it's helpful to hear these tips and supplement them with information from leading resource, Wrightslaw.

 [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5qgsHF7W6o&w=640&h=360]

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In Their Own Words: Advice from 2014 Campers

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DSC03473In a short survey conducted at Camp Spring Creek this summer, we asked campers to write down what advice they would give new, incoming campers. Their responses were a delight. Here are a few of our favorites: "Eat your salad early!" (Jack)

"Stay behind the barrels in paintball." (Milton)

"Do you laundry when you still have clean clothes left." (Bruce)

"Four weeks is not that much, so don't think about your mom and dad a lot." (Chase E.)

"Double-check what the counselors say." (Stefan)

"Be prepared to work." (Ethan)

"Always have a positive attitude and never let the bad times get to you. Be yourself. Don't think that your learning disability is a punishment. It's an amazing gift." (Emily)

"Don't be afraid, because everyone's your friend here." (Michelle)

"Make lots of friends!" (Cynia)

"Don't think about home." (Jazel)

"Eat your salad!" (Chase O.)

"Bring a swim cap and drawers for your clothes!" (Caroline)

"Try your best." (Morgan)

"Be kind to everyone and work hard so you can keep the stuff you have learned. Also, you'll have very good memories and listen to the counselors." (Ana)

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In His Own Words: Jeppe Thanning, Camp Counselor

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Today’s post is a message from much-loved Camp Spring Creek counselor Jeppe Thanning. After camp, Jeppe traveled for 3 weeks and then returned to his home country of Denmark. He just moved to a city called Aalborg to study Social Science at the university. His (American) football team, Triangle Razorback, just qualified for its 10th straight semifinal. Here’s Jeppe, in his own words: Camp spring Creek is a place with a lot of passion and pride for the things it does. I was really happy when Susie and Steve gave me the opportunity to come to camp and experience that firsthand. I don’t think many people realize how hard the van der Vorsts work; it is incredible. I can’t talk about this summer without mentioning the great staff we had. We had so much fun as a group and I think that was part of our success! It was wonderful to meet a lot people from all over the world. I remember that after one week of camp I thought: This is going to be a lot of hard work, but it’s going to be worth it!

A typical day for a counselor started 15 minutes before we woke up the kids and we were on duty from that moment forward. We helped the kids get ready for the day and assisted those who needed extra help. Then came all the fun!

I personally loved reading hour. I loved listening to the kids read and hear how they improved over the summer. Reading hour was also a good way to get closer with the kids. Counselors also helped in the woodshop, art room or by being lifeguards at the pool until the late afternoon, during “Outdoors” period, which involved new activities every day. Every counselor had a couple of periods off every day, but mine were often spent walking around watching swim classes or hanging in the woodshop. I was really impressed with the level of creativity the kids had in the woodshop. Later, when the kids had study hall, counselors often spent the time with lifeguard practice or meetings. Then we all tried a new activity every single night after dinner. My favorite activity was going to Bakersville to play Capture the Flag (and I think a lot of campers loved that, too). After the evening activity, the kids had a little cabin time before bedtime.

There’s no doubt that working at CSC as a counselor is hard work, but it is totally worth it! It was so rewarding to help the kids and see them improve in so many ways. Some off the kids needed a “big brother” at camp—someone they could trust and rely on—and I can’t think of a bigger compliment than when a kid picks you! I got so close to those campers in particular that they felt like my actual younger brothers and sisters.

One thing that sometimes felt a little tricky about being a counselor and a role model was the age difference between the campers. Some campers needed teenage advice, while others needed a little help with practical stuff. Some needed a firm counselor. Every camper is unique and should therefore be treated a little differently. I used a lot of the experience I have from my former job at a school for ADHD kids, so it felt kind of natural for me to try and see the strength in every child as well as help them with their weaknesses. I hope the campers learned something from me, because I learned a lot from them.

To all the campers: Thank you for making my summer a great one! You guys are always welcome to send me an email or a letter and I promise to write you back!

 

On the Road

ncycalogo2Yesterday, Susie and Wendy headed to Arapahoe, North Carolina to attend the North Carolina Youth Camp Association Fall Meeting, hosted this year at Camp Sea Gull. They will be networking, talking with other directors to learn how their camps operate, and brainstorming ideas for year-round programming to support the larger mission of Camp Spring Creek and its Outreach Center. Of course, we love your feedback and ideas as well, so please reach out to us if you have thoughts on expanding our programming. According to their website, NCYCA's mission is to strengthen and expand the educational, environmental, and recreational opportunities provided by all organized camps in North Carolina by encouraging cooperation among camps, sponsoring camp-specific research, communicating camp industry information, and building relationships with various private, non-profit, public and governmental interests and agencies. We're excited to check things out and will report back soon!

Susie featured in "Women & Education" Issue

We're pleased to announce that Susie has been featured in the September 2014 issue of Western North Carolina Woman, a much-loved print publication in the region with worldwide readership on the web. Please read this up-to-date interview with Susie on the future of education and, if you're moved by some of what she says, consider sharing this link with your friends, teachers, and colleagues. We're overjoyed to be featured! Here is the link to the article in full: http://www.wncwoman.com/2014/09/03/teaching-creativity-an-interview-with-susie-van-der-vorst-on-the-future-of-education/.

Taking a Break

We've officially wrapped up another successful camp season and are happy to announce that we'll be taking the next two weeks off (from the blog, at any rate). We love researching new posts and creating video clips to share with you and welcome any requests or suggestions that you have. Just drop us a line via our Facebook page and we'll do our best to incorporate your ideas into our content. Meantime, Steve and Susie are going to put their feet up for a few minutes (not!) and exhale. Be sure to keep up with our blog via your email subscription (on the right sidebar), our YouTube Channel, and enjoy our series of inspiring interviews with professionals in the field. Our goal is to make this an exciting, informative, empowering site that draws attention year-round and serves as a vital resource to the families, kids, and dyslexia advocates we care so much about.

Upcoming Orton-Gillingham Training

Camp Spring Creek will begin Orton-Gillingham training for Certified I on August 31st. We have three ladies from North Carolina and one joining us all the way from Switzerland. What is Orton-Gillingham?

Orton-Gillingham teaching sessions are action-oriented and involve constant interaction between the teacher and the students and the simultaneous use of multiple sensory input channels reinforcing each other for optimal learning. Using auditory, visual, and kinesthetic elements, all language skills taught are reinforced by having the student listen, speak, read and write.

Do you want to know more? Check out Camp Spring Creek's YouTube video highlighting tutoring ideas from one of our Associate level trainings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yFjyC75hd8

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Video: Vocabulary Words with Tutor

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Here's one more quick video snippet of a tutoring session from this year's camp season. Here, the tutor assists the camper with a growing list of vocabulary words. Notice how she slips in last week's challenge words and how she coaches the camper toward a process of elimination with his new challenge word for this week. Her tone of voice is gentle, her delivery is kind and consistent, and the student responds with positive, clear thinking and engaged learning. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn9ZePa9RPQ&w=640&h=360]

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Video: Tutoring Victory with Spelling Rule

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We are so proud of all our campers and just happened to luck out one afternoon when we got this video clip of excellent work being done by tutor Valerie and camper Cole. High five to both of them (with a little help and observations from Susie on the side). Check out what they discovered in just one, short session:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_z2um_YXuA]

Back to School Book Recs (for parents)

Screen Shot 2014-07-21 at 4.27.52 PMMore than any other book about your rights, the rights of your child, and the roles of teachers and schools--this book, Tests & Assessments published by Wrightslaw--will get you through the ins and outs of the school year logistics. Susie recommends it highly. The founder of Wrightslaw, Pete Wright, even spent some time with us on the phone last year so that we could publish an interview with him on this blog. Learn more about his story from personal experience to Supreme Court by clicking the links. Pete's grandson also happened to go to camp this summer! View additional book recs and research articles here.

Video Clips from Early Summer

In case you missed this series of "sneak peek" videos from our first half of summer,

we thought we'd share them here on the blog. We're always a week or so behind with our photos on Facebook,

because we live without Internet at camp (yay!). These videos should tide you over until next week. Enjoy!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90f6S4PzSB0?list=UUTBl6_O5vTjJeQPlcoeAJaA]

View 4 more clips by clicking the "playlist" option in the upper left, or right here on our YouTube Channel.

Video: Application (Review & Reinforce)

Continuing our series of videos on tutoring, today's clip features a short lesson on "R&R," review and reinforce. This involves application of all the concepts a student has learned, presented in random order. Watch for opportunities for visual and auditory learning. For more videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel on the right sidebar of this blog.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tnIQWrXTAs&w=640&h=360]