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Saw this video and when I watched it seemed to be what SNC is all about.

Yep, Now is the time to see your camp friends! Please come join us at the Oak Brook Park District Pool for some 

fun and smiles. Don’t forget your suit.Here is the link to learn moreREUNION of 2012

Camp is not about the buildings, or the activities or the skills one might learn. It is all about the the people. We at Swift Nature Camp know it is your child’s conselor that will set the tone of how much your child enjoys camp. This is why we hire almost exclusively college students that are majoring in some form child care . These wanabe teachers or psychology majors see coming to camp as a hands on experience getting them ready for the real world. Not just a fun in the sun summer job. That is one of the reasons we feel our counselors are the best!

 

Super Counselors

By: Zoe Lincecum

Once upon a time in a land far far away at Swift Nature Camp, it was a beautiful super Sunday, perfect for a barbecue on Picnic Island. Everyone was having a good time swimming, climbing trees, and sniffing too close to the barbecue.
Then, all of a sudden, everyone heard a splash. Heads turned to see a giant pirate ship with evil robo-pirates with styrofoam heads emerging from the ship where Dah-G-Dah once stood.
Super Tom turned all the counselors into super counselors! They were ready to defend Picnic Island (and protect the campers, of course). Out came Hillary, standing on top of her flying giant chicken and screaming at the top of her lungs.
Asa the vampire was sucking the power out of the robots while Colleen (a.k.a. Triple C, the wrestler) body slammed robots from a tree. Tony and TJ, the amazing archers, finished some off wih flaming arrows. Jeremy transformed into a grizzly who thinks that the pirates are cheese and eats them. Ian Noble used his hypnotic singing powers to control the robots and made them fight for SNC.

If you want to be a super staff member at S.N.C. Camp Counselor Jobs
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Mike used ninja powers and emerged with nunchucks. Nick suddenly took off his mohawk from his head and threw his “booma-hawk” at the pirates to chop off their styrofoam heads. Cory, being Tarzan, was eating fried bananas from the barbecue and throwing the peels at the robo pirates’ heads.
Aliena, who was friends with aliens, told them in their secret language to 
attack the pirates. Because of the battle, many were being injured, so Katie the healing fairy tried to save them all. Kim and Simone, the cavewomen, were pulling tree trunks from the ground and handing them to Maddy, who had super duper strength and used the tree trunks to whack away the pirates.
All that was left was poor little Ian who had no power. Simone, with her koala fingers, was able to throw her magic vegemite to him. He gave it a try and turned into super, tall giant Ian and stepped on the pirates’ ship. 
As the battle raged, Super Tom put some special attachments on his cart, the most noticeable being a laser cannon that he had been experimenting with in his secret workshop. He popped out of nowhere and started to blast the pirates with his laser cannon. 
Once all the pirates were defeated, Super Tom had some new materials to fix up his new cart and then decided to turn the counselors back to normal as if nothing had happened. However, at the final campfire, there were many skits where pirates had invaded Picnic Island.
Why Camp

MID STATES CAMPING CONFERENCE CAll for PRESENTERS

Mid States strives to provide thought provoking presenters and wonderful opportunities to connect camp pros and your peers in an affordable setting. Camps, like SNC bring their whole staff! From owners & directors to first year counselors, there is something for everyone. It is a great place to get revived and armed with fresh ideas and fill your 'bag of tricks' Thursday, March 10th through Saturday, March 12th, 2011 Pheasant Run Conference Center & Resort St. Charles, Illinois (Suburban Chicago)

We need presenters! if you are a SNC past staff member or CIT and.... 

you wish to make a presentation to 20 or so other professionals this is your chance. Submit your education session proposal and share your knowledge at the Eighteenth Annual Mid States Camping Conference in March 10-12, 2011 at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL.

“Call for Presentations” form and speaker information can be found at:http://www.acamidstates.org/presenters.phpDeadline for submissions is November 1, 2011

If you have questions about becoming a presenter, submitting a proposal, or other topics related to the education sessions, please contact Colette Marquardt, Program Chair at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In mid-September just a few weeks after camp we found ourselves traveling through Tennessee. So we thought we stop in and see Zack. It was great spending time with him at his local malt shop. We laughed at many camp stories, that know one seems to get unless they are at SNC for the summer. The most exciting thing that came from our time together is that Zach plans on spending his 2011 summer back at SNC in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Yea!

 

We know how important it is to be a camp counselor. We work with them everyday for 3 months each summer. Yet the best counselors do not just show up to camp and say, “let’s have fun”. No, they take working with children as a career. They not only take classes but look for ways to better themselves in dealing with children. The American Camp association has a wonderful offer for all counselors....I hope the SNC staff take advantage of this. 
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Become one of the leaders of tomorrow. This is about your career.
You are here because we value your role as a camp professional! We believe you deserve the career-building opportunities offered through ACA membership.
As an ACA member, you receive enhanced professional development resources, including:
  • Access to ACA’s Professional Development Center
    ACA’s virtual learning community includes diverse tools, services, resources, and courses to help propel your work and your career along the path that you choose.
  • Camping Magazine and The CampLine
    ACA’s premier publications of the industry offer expert perspectives. View digitally.
  • Discounts on books and educational events, and access to current research.
    ACA’s Bookstore is a one-stop shop for counselor resources: activities, leading groups, your responsibilities to camper safety, dealing with difficult campers, youth development, and more. 
  • Student members receive FREE registration to ACA’s national conference.
    ACA’s annual national conference offers seminars, keynote addresses from experts in the field, a research symposium, and networking events with emerging professionals in camp.
  • Access to an online personal portfolio for tracking your professional development
Take advantage of this limited-time opportunity for your professional development!

For those who have been around Swift for some time, you know camp friends are unlike any other friends. Last week when we were in Minneapolis we had Jess (now living in AZ) stop by and visit. Jess has been involved with camp since she was 18. Now 10 years later she looked back fondly at all that she had accomplished at Swift. From Water Front to Assistant Director. She did it all. This is why we love Swift so ...it’s great to see folks grow and develop at camp...

 

Most adults understand that being a parent is no easy task. Yet few adults study how to be good parents, great teachers or worthwhile mentors to children. Swift Nature Camp works closely to ensure that all of our staff are properly trained to best help each child. Learning from the experts can make all better at dealing with kids
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But this is still praise isn't it?  I thought praise was supposed to be bad. What are we supposed to do instead? Arrggghhh!

As I am putting together the final preparations for my upcoming Art Of Intentional Parenting tele-seminar, I have been reflecting a great deal on the struggles modern parents have to find the way to do it right.

 

This Ain't The 70s:

 
Like many of you, I was raised at the end of the "spare the rod, spoil the child" era (they allowed corporal punishment in my school until I turned 12), then was educated professionally in the beginning of the self-esteem "I am loveable and special" era of the 1980s and 1990s. 

I was also raised in an era when religion still mattered and it was socially acceptable to teach kids that right and wrong and morality were not about individual preference. 

Lastly, I was raised in an era when the standard upbringing and education would prepare us to make a needed contribution in the workplace. Mostly employers didn't need our creativity and unique contributions our gifts and talents could offer them. They just needed our willingness to play our role.

 

Our children are not being raised in any of those eras.

 

Knowing how to parent them is not just a matter of "so they will grow up to be good, successful people." It now must be about "So they will be prepared to thrive in spite of the chaos and instability of the modern world."

By the end of this tele-seminar, you will think differently not just about how you parent, but about what your role needs to be as a parent in the 21st Century - different and far greater than it was for our parents when they raised us. 

This critical piece of input you will receive here, will position you to give your children a serious edge in these turbulent times.

 
Failing to make this adjustment though almost certainly leaves them on course for years, if not decades, of unnecessary frustration and disappointment. 

Just ask many of the recent college graduates and 20somethings who are now experiencing what it's like to have done everything right, earned degrees from top schools, been told they are special, only to find the world not only doesn't owe them a thing, it isn't going to hand them anything.

I know this may sound harsh, but it is the growing reality for those who are still following the outdated parenting practices that most experts out there still readily encourage and endorse.

 
A professor of mine in college used to say, "The truth will set you free." I've since discovered that the truth can also empower you, if you let it.

It will certainly empower your children. 
  
Best regards,  
Jeff Leiken
  
PS:  There are three more days to take advantage of the EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT. The tele-seminar series begins Thursday November 3rd. Remember, you do not need to be available to listen live. All calls are recorded and will be available for participants to listen to on-demand.    

Register here -->  http://leiken.com/parenting

Did you read the piece in the NY Times yesterday about how "Too Much Praise Is Not Good For Toddlers"? You may wonder why an article about toddlers is relevant to you, but I assure you it is.

You may be familiar with the study about how praising children for being "smart" or "intelligent" sets them up for disappointment and self-confidence issues when they become teens - when natural intelligence alone won't be enough to keep getting them A's. The study instead encouraged praising effort and hard work. It found that those who were raised this way instead, consistently performed better in school. 

Do you love SNC? Are you looking for a wonderful summer camp?

Then go to CampRatingz and read what campers and parents are saying about their summer camp experience. This is a great resource to help parents decide which camp best meets the needs of their child.
If you are an SNC alumni please help others learn how wonderful your experience was this summer at Swift Nature Camp. This satisfaction survey allows parents and campers to give their input about camp. This survey currently ranks SNC as the 26 best camp in America. But I think we can be better! We encourage all to participate! Please click here 
Best Camps then click “Rate this Camp”

 

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Winter

25 Baybrook Ln.

Oak Brook, IL 60523

Phone: 630-654-8036

swiftcamp@aol.com

Camp

W7471 Ernie Swift Rd.

Minong, WI 54859

Phone: 715-466-5666

swiftcamp@aol.com