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Anyone that has been to Swift Nature Camp can tell you that camp water is amazing. The taste is clean and the temperature is iced cold, it must have something to do with an extra deep well and natural sand filter.  

Parents often worry about health care at summer camp and one of the simplest things to do is stay hydrated.

At camp we encourage to carry a water bottle with them all the time. We know that that the medical field says that somewhere between 60-90 ounces of water each day should be consumed to lead a healthy lifestyle. Because our body is made up of 60% water, it is important to be hydrated keeping kids running all day long. We teach our kids that WATER is so important at camp especially on warm days. Often the 1st recommendation from our nurse is "go drink a full water bottle of water". Meals are always started with a glass or two of water. Here are just some of the ways we teach our campers that they are not getting enough water.

1. Are You Thirsty?
This is a simple one,  if you are thirsty, your body is talking to you, its saying that you need some more water. Thirst occurs when your body loses two percent of its water, so if you are drinking in enough water, you will rarely feel thirsty. At camp we quench our thirst with only water never bug juice, water seems to be the most effective.

2. What Color Is Your Pee?

Urine is a tell tale sign of you hydration. Often campers don't want to take a look but, the color of you urine is a great way to determine if you are dehydrated. A campers urine will be light yellow or even clear when drinking enough fluids. Yet when you see dark yellow, it's time to go get some water, this one of the best signs of dehydration.

3. Are You Overheating?

Water helps keep your body cool and stops organs from overheating. Hot days running around camp could lead to heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. Drinking cool water can help, so can slowing down, staying in the shade and  going swimming. This is the reason on super hot days at SNC we increase our water activities and our drinking water during meals to 4 cups per meal.

4. Is Your Skin Dry?

If you notice irregular flaky or dry skin, it could be caused to a lack of fluid. Sometimes if we notice a camper with dry skin we use lotion combined with a water bottle. After a few days we usually get the desired result.

Listening to a camp nurse is always good advice and in this case she can help you find the signs of dehydration and find that simple solution, "Pick up a water bottle and leave your sugar loaded soda and sports drinks behind".

It's REUNION TIME 2018

We hope you can come join all the fun at our Swimming Party Reunion. Don't forget your suit!

This is a wonderful time to see camp friends visit with camp counselors and see the SNC Yearbook Video for the very 1st Time. 

Hope you ca make it. No reservation neccessary.

Where: Oak Brook Park District (1450 Forest Gate, Oak Brook, Il 60523)

When: January 7th

Time: 1-3:30pm

Please bring a friend so they can see what the SNC excitment is all about.

Plus we will have a special gift for all that come.

 

NEW TO SNC?
Our reunion is the perfect time to come ask questions, meet the staff and have some fun. So please come and go swimming.

Come Meet Jeff & Lonnie

The Owners and Directors of Swift Nature Camp at the Chicago Pet Show

Nov 11 & 12, 2017
Kane County Fairgrounds, St Charles, IL

 

This is a great time to meet Buuba our camp Pig

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Camp Corner Newsletter- With all the latest from Camp.

Camp Corner Newsletter-Sept 2017

 


Pictures Posted...

So sorry for the delay getting pictures posted. We have so many it takes a reliable internet connection with good speed to get the 1000's uploaded.

NOW I have posted all the pictures from the summer. So be sure to see our website for all the pictures of you!   

Summer Camp Pictures  -you can always find the pictures from our home page and by clicking "Current Campers"

 


PARENT COMMENTS

Each summer we get many encouraging words from our families. Here is one such note. 

"Hello. I wanted to send a quick note to thank you for a wonderful experience for our son. He is a different kid, in a positive way. He has become more assertive and gained confidence in many ways.  He left for camp very apprehensive and annoyed with us for sending him. He came home HAPPY.

Looking forward to our girls attending your Discovery Camp next June.
Thank you for all your hard work making the camp a special place for kids."

Mom

 

What a Wonderful Summer
Yes, Camp is over and the silence of nature is everywhere except for the occasional Loon call... and the sounds of progress... Over the last 30 days Luis & Billy have been busy completing projects at camp. Some have been big, we will tell you more about that later while others a bit smaller, but all have made camp a better place.


We want to thank those nearly 40 families that believe in SNC so much that they were willing to to pay more than the basic camp price. It is the generosity of these folks that makes it possible to do so many wonderful projects from adding new docks, refurbishing our pontoon boat and our most recent adding a new roof to the Nature Center.

But at SNC we did more this summer than fix up the facilities. We built friendships that empowered campers to be more confident and self reliant while learning more about Nature and themselves.
Thank you to all
Jeff & Lonnie Lorenz

 

What Counselors are Saying!


Hi Swift Family
I already miss everyone and hope that everyone’s school year is going wonderfully

Hope to see you soon!
Christy

 

Hi Everyone,

I hope all of you got to enjoy the end of summer and have had an awesome start to the school year.  Since heading back to college I’ve had a chance to continue swimming and will get to go hiking at High Cliff State Park with my geology class soon.  Good luck in school, and don’t forget to slow down and enjoy the world around you from time to time!        -Abby

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW THAT 70% OF OUR NEW CAMPERS FIND OUT ABOUT SNC FROM GOOGLE!

We love it when families post something positive about SNC!
Click Here to post a Google Review

 

 

The Transition- Back to Home

Returning home from camp brings excitement to the whole family. It is important for parents and campers to understand that going back home is a time to return to the "Real World" with more responsibilities, homework and parents with high expectations.

Here are a few ideas to help campers move back into society

1-Wean your kids back slowly on electronics. Now is the time to set up your expectations including: creating a charging station and have no electronics in bedrooms.

2-Give your kids downtime to reconnect with friends – Don't over program and help set up face to face times with friends

3-Encourage sleep – Camp is regimented with regular bedtimes, except for the last few days. Try to start a regular bed time routine.

4- When you see a new habit give it a thumbs up. Positively reinforce  behaviors – especially the new ones you like. It is easy to fall back into the old not so good habits.

5- Debrief. As parents of a camper, we often don't often hear camp stories till mid November. So don't worry if they are not so forthcoming, just keep asking and they will come

6- When you learn something about SNC that is Amazing or Troubling, contact us via email or phone. We want to know.


Enjoy your children it wont be long till you send them back to us.
 
 
 
 

   SIGN UP FOR 2018 

It is going to be another Great Summer!

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Over the past decades we have seen that today in America people spend more time indoors than ever before. So many screens compete for our attention that we are loosing a connection with nature and the outdoors. Obviously, there are many consequences of this new lifestyle. Yet one most don't think about is the disappearance of a "nature" vocabulary from the cultural conversation. Research shows our conversations reflect an actual distancing from nature. Yes, studies have been done that show we are using nature terms less and expressing ourselves less as it relates to nature. Read more about this study. How can we stop the screen time domination? Put down your screen and go outside. Make it a point to take your children outside and show them the wonder that nature has to offer.  At Swift Nature Camp we do it everyday. It could be a simple sunset or a frog hopping off a lily-pad either way it's about seeing the little things and enjoying them.

Dr odzy Sluchacze Polskiego Radia,

Bardzo milo bylo mi goscic w radiowym studio dzisiejszego poranka. Dziekuje wszystkim sluchaczom za poswiecony czas, za wasze pytania i zainteresowanie naszym obozem.

Wiem, ze nie latwo jest wyslac dzieci w miejsce, ktorego nie znamy, do ludzi, o ktorych nie wiele wiemy, szczegolnie w dzisiejszych czasach. Jak pewno pamietacie, nasze dziecinstwo, zwlaszcza w Polsce bylo zupelnie inne. Trudniesze? Latwiejsze? Kto wie? Ale napewno mielismy wiecej przygod poza domem, czy to na kolonii, na obozie, u babci na wsi. Calymi dniami przebywalismy na lonie natury lapiac zaby, lowiac ryby, goniac, wymyslajac rozne gry i zabawy. Te wspomnienia mamy do dzisiaj i zawsze z nami pozostana.

Swift Nature Camp to wlasnie takie miejsce dla dzieci i mlodziezy. Dla mnie i dla mojego meza prowadzenie obozu to nie biznes, to nasza zyciowa pasja. Nasi uczestnicy aktywnie spedzaja wiekszosc dnia na wolnym powietrzu uczestniczac w wielu atrakcyjnych zajeciach. Moge tutaj wymiec te najbardziej ulubione przez dzieci: plywanie, tubing, canoe, kajaki, zeglarstwo, lucznictwo, strzelectwo, pracownia plastyczna, nasze obozowe zoo, gdzie mozna sie calymi dniami bawic z czteronoznymi ulubiencami, pracownia LEGO i wiele innych. Mamy dla kazdego cos ciekawego. 

Ale te zajecia to tylko czubek gory lodowej.  Dla nas rodzicow jest wazne by dziecko bylo aktywne, by probowalo nowych sportow i roznych ciekawych zajec. Jednak, co tak naprawde w zyciu sie liczy, to wartosci takie jak : uczciwosc, odpowiedzialnosc, niezaleznosc, dobre maniery, umiejetnosc pracy w grupie czy poprostu szacunek i uprzejmosc w stosunku do innych. I tego wlasnie swiadomie uczymy poprzez zabawe i inne inetersujace zajecia.

Czesto slysze od rodzicow pytanie : Co wy zrobiliscie z moim z dzieckiem?  I nie raz przerazilam sie slyszac taki zarzut. Jednak okazuje sie, ze rodzice sa zadowoleni, ze ich pociecha wrocila z obozu zmieniona na lepsze. Rodzice to widza.i doceniaja. Czesto po takim turnusie poprawiaja sie codzienne relacje miedzy dziecmi i rodzicami.  Kiedys ktos madry powiedzial, ze potrzeba calej wsi by wychowac jedno dziecko. To prawda, my jako rodzice nie jestesmy w stanie  byc rowniez mentorami dla wlasnych dzieci. To dwie rozne role i dzieci inaczej reaguja na to co rodzice mowia, a co mowia im osoby, ktore nie sa z ich rodziny. Dlatego nasz syn juz od wielu lat wyjezdza na pare tygodni na inny oboz, by tego wlasnie doswiadczyc.

Zapraszam do poczytania ponizszego artykulu o determinacji. Ja w przyplywie wolnego czasu pisze artykuly do gazetki wydawanej w Polskiej Szkole Sw. Faustyny Kowalskiej w Lombard, gdzie chetnie uczeszcza nasz syn i gdzie mamy grono zaprzyjaznionych rodzin, ktorych dzieci uczestniczyly w naszym obozie.

 

 

 

Nie przegapcie panstwo okazji i zapiszcie swoje pociechy przed 10 czerwca by otrzymac ta promcyjna cene. Prosze wejsc na nasza strone www.swiftnaturecamp, kliknac na "dates and rates" i przy powolaniu sie na Polskie Radio otrzymacie panstwo oferowana cene.

 

Determinacja. 



Według Słownika Języka Polskiego determinacja to zdolność do podejmowania konkretnych, stanowczych decyzji spowodowana mocnym wewnętrznym przekonaniem i siłą woli. 
Jaka to wspaniała cecha charakteru... Ile by człowiek dał, by mógł  własnym dzieciom przypisać ten walor. Obowiązki w domu nie powodowałyby ciągłych konfliktów, lekcje byłyby odrabiane bez problemów  i narzekań, a to przekładałoby się na większą samodzielność naszych dzieci. Tego wszyscy chcemy dla naszych pociech, prawda? I tak naprawdę, dla siebie tez.
 Wiemy, że zdecydowanie, stanowczość i silna wola determinują osiągnięcie wielu celów. Ciężka praca popłaca, mówi stare powiedzenie. Ale czy zawsze przynosi satysfakcję , zadowolenie czy też jest powodem do  dumy z odniesionego sukcesu?
Z własnego doświadczenia wiem, że sukces nie zawsze przynosi satysfakcję. Często staramy sie zadowolić oczekiwania innych, i wtedy determinacja może przynieść skutki negatywne, takie jak stres, frustracje czy nawet depresję. 
Wychowując nasze dzieci uczmy je determinacji, ale takiej, która kierowana jest pasją, zainteresowaniami a nie strachem przed opinią i oczekiwaniami innych. Odłóżmy na bok nasze niespełnione marzenia z dzieciństwa i pomóżmy dzieciom odnaleźć to,  co na początku  będzie budzić w naturalny sposób ich zainteresowanie, a z czasem przerodzi się w  zamiłowanie a nawet pasję.. Proponujmy im rożne zajęcia, czy to sportowe, czy artystyczne. Dziecko od razu nie będzie wiedziało, czy lubi piłkę nożną, grę na pianinie czy teatr jeśli my jako rodzice nie damy mu możliwości by tego doświadczyło. Wspierajmy pasje naszych dzieci. Prawdopodobnie  będzie  to kosztem naszego wolnego czasu, tzw. „ świętego spokoju” i z cała pewnością  wygeneruje to dla nas dodatkowe  koszty finansowe. Jednak wierzcie mi warto podjąć to wyzwanie.
Wiemy, że mała iskra potrzebuje tlenu, by rozpaliła ognisko. 
Jeśli dziecko przejawia zainteresowania w danej dziedzinie, to należy tą namiastkę pasji stopniowo rozwijać. I ważne jest by zacząć od zabawy, by dziecko widziało, że to co robi daje mu radość i satysfakcję. Możemy oczywiście dzieci zachęcać ale musimy pamiętać, ze na tym etapie, ważne jest by dziecko sie dobrze bawiło, by z podjęta formą aktywności kojarzyły się mu tylko pozytywne przeżycia i emocje. To najlepsze wzmocnienie, które będzie budować prawdziwa determinację. Prawdziwa pasja nigdy nie zaczyna sie od ciężkiej pracy - zaczyna sie od zainteresowania i zabawy. 
Po tej fazie wstępnej należy uczyć dziecko jak radzić sobie z dyskomfortem, który pewnie się pojawi i   zabrzmi to  jak paradoks, jak czuć sie z nim wygodnie. To ważne by potrafić przeciwstawiać sie trudnościom. Najlepiej uczyć sie tego poprzez ćwiczenia w ich pokonywaniu . Róbmy to powoli, mimo niewygody nie poddawajmy się. W takich sytuacjach nauczmy dzieci, ze głębokie, powolne oddechy, relaksowanie ramion to bardzo pomocne narzędzia w chwilach stresu. Przyjmijmy niewygody i nie bójmy sie ich. Nie unikajmy trudnych rozmów, zaryzykujmy nasze relacje z innymi poprzez pokazanie kim naprawdę jesteśmy, co naprawdę czujemy. Zauważamy ludzi, którzy potrzebują pomocy i zaoferujmy im  ją. Nie odwracajmy sie od problemów innych ludzi. Nie bójmy sie tego. To ważna umiejętność, którą możemy przekazać naszym dzieciom. Róbmy to, co dobre, nawet jeśli jest to dla nas niewygodne.
Verba docent, exempla trahunt,
Seneka miał rację nie ma nic lepszego niż przykład szczególnie rodzicielski.
Determinacja, pasja, zaangażowanie w  swoje obowiązki to cechy, których  dzieci powinny uczyć się od nas, rodziców . Jeśli odnajdziemy w sobie pasję, będziemy gorliwi i niestrudzeni w swoich aktywnościach to wtedy możemy " zawojować świat".
Jola Lorenz
Wlasciciel obozu Swift Nature Camp  
www.SwiftNatureCamp.com

Memorial Day 1-3pm
Come Meet The Swift Nature Camp Staff
Ask Your Questions
Kids Play Games
Meet Critters from The Camp Zoo



This OPEN HOUSE is always a big hit. It is a great time to meet other campers and Staff! We will play games and answer any last minute questions you might have about camp, it's perfect as a "getting to know you time" before camp starts. If you are still not sure if Swift is the place for you this summer - stop on by, we love to talk about Swift Nature Camp.

WHEN: Monday May 29th

TIME: 1pm-3pm

WHERE: Willowbrook Wildlife Center (Glen Ellyn, Il -near College of DuPage) We hope you can make it to this fun program. Please dress for the weather. If you have any questions call us at 630-654-8036.

Happy Trails

Lonnie & Jeff

DIRECTIONS
WILLOWBROOK WILDLIFE CENTER IS LOCATED

Camp Corner Newsletter
Just returned back from camp after a few weeks. While you are busy finishing up school we are busy getting ready for your summer camp adventures to start. Here are just a few things that we have been doing.
 
Who Stole the Swift Nature Camp Sign?

No need to worry... After 23 years we thought it was time to give the old sign a makeover. So as you come over the last hill on your way into camp please be sure to take a special look at the New camp sign and tell us what you think.
 
MORE CANOES = MORE FUN
 
We have nearly doubled our canoe fleet for 2017, bringing our total number of canoes to near 40 in all.  Perfect for those Adventurous Canoe Trips we will be having this summer.
 
 

What Happens Before You Arrive to SNC?

Pre Camp is all about doing projects, so when you arrive, you can enjoy all the updates. This is Luis (from Mexico) It is his 2nd summer at SNC. He is usually seen around camp helping Super Tom fix and repair things.  Here Luis is replacing the benches on the Pontoon boat -Dah G Dah. Be sure and ask Luis to your table for Lunch some time, he loves hanging with the campers when he has time.
 
 
Super Tom
Every Summer Camp has a few unsung heroes, that work timelessly to make camp special for everyone. Super Tom is ours, he has been with camp since 2001 and he is the only member of the camp staff that lives on the camp property all year long.During winter it can get pretty lonely at camp with no other folks around. Maybe that's why every summer he is so excited to see us all. Tom is always ready to fix things that need fixing but more importantly he is ready to have a chat, so be sure to say "HI" to him when you see him at camp.
 
 
 

MEET GRISHIN
Grishin has lived in New Zealand for half of his life and the other half he lived in South Africa. Be sure to have him speak his native language for you... it is unlike any I have ever heard before. Grishin is sort of a sportsy guy and has played cricket and rugby for his school teams, he was even captain.  Do you think he is playing with an Erector Set in this picture? NOPE, he is actuall helping to rebuild to Boating Docks.
 
 
Welcome Billy

This is Billy's first summer at Swift Nature Camp. He is from Mexico and and will be helping Super Tom and Luis during the summer. One of our goals is to finish restaining the cabins, so that will take a lot of time and energy to sand off all the old paint to get them ready for stain. This will be Billy's main project of the summer- 5 more cabins to go.
Can you tell what Billy is working on in this picture? It's Dah-G-Dah the Pontoon Boat. For 2017, New carpet, floor boards and paint have been added.
Will it be the same color?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Did You Know that Swift Nature Camp had a full length Documentry made at camp? It follows a few of our campers around a normal day of camp.  The makers of the movie had a full range of the camp and were able to film anything they wished. The story that developed was a surprise to us all.
SEE IT NOW FOR FREE
 
Be sure to get all the latest information so you are ready for 2017.
  • This Summers Information

  • Willy is happy to be back at camp. We will be celebrating his 10th Birthday. For him he is getting older and not as active as past summers. He has developed a slight limp and has become hard of hearing. So you might just see him lying down and sleeping, waiting for you to give him a belly rub.
    He can't wait for that....

HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT TO THE OPEN HOUSE

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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