Summer is coming! In part I’m jumping up and down with excitement to spend another summer with my little ones. It seems every summer brings new memories and adventures that I never quite imagine beforehand. But part of me is also thinking, “What are we going to do ALL summer? And how I am going to make that time meaningful?”
As I begin planning for summer, I’m considering three main questions…
1) What fun things can we do to make summer memorable?
2) How am I going to keep them learning to prevent the traditional summer academic slide?
3) What can we do to bring us closer together as a family?
4) What can we do that will have a lasting impact?
5) Where am I going to find the time to do all of that and work?
Lofty goals, right!? Well, luckily I stumbled upon an awesome way to meet these goals, and we can’t wait to participate in Camp Empathy this summer!
About Camp Empathy
This post contains affiliate links.
Camp Empathy is a 30 day real world virtual camp experience for families with kids of all ages. Through a series of activities and videos families will get a chance to exercise their empathy muscles while making great memories together. Short on time? Don’t worry! Although Camp Empathy is packed with great content and meaningful information, it was designed with busy families in mind. You’ll start each week with a virtual campfire to celebrate previous week and get excited about the week ahead.
Each day families will receive “The Morning Flagpole” with information and resources for completing that day’s camp challenge. Some of the camp activities throughout the week will include book club for kids, cool crafts, outdoor adventures, game nights, acts of kindness and a “field trip.” No matter how old the kids in your family are there will be variations for all age groups to love.
Below is a quick glance at the focus for each day of camp. Imagine all the fun we’re going to have!
Why teach empathy?
“Children are born with the capacity for empathy, but it needs to be nurtured throughout their lives. Learning empathy is in certain respects like learning a language or a sport. It requires practice and guidance. Regularly considering other people’s perspectives and circiumstances helps make empathy a natural reflect and, through trial and error, helps children get better at tuning into others’ feelings and perspectives.”
-Making Caring Common Project, Harvard University
Strengthening empathy skills will have a lasting impact. In addition to preparing kids for the many social challenges and opportunities they’ll face in the coming school year, these skills will stick with kids for a lifetime. I have a feeling we’ll be referring back to these lessons throughout the year as we come across teachable moments, and I’m thrilled that I’ll have this resource to utilize.
Within Camp Empathy there will be activities related to these 8 life skills: Kindness, Compassion, Gratitude, Self-Discipline, Responsibility, Respect, Integrity and Helpfulness. Not only will families learn more about these life skills, we’ll have a chance to practice them within our families, with friends, in nature, and in the community.
There’s More
As if that wasn’t enough, there are also some awesome bonus materials that I’m looking forward to using. These include:
- Private Facebook group for parents
- Special Vacation Guide
- Memory Maker’s Kit
- Rainy Day Rescue Checklist
- Guide to a REAL camping weekend, Empathy style!
- PLUS online calls with leading child experts to help us deal with our burning parenting questions
- AND a once in a lifetime live skype call with kids around the globe talking and learning about empathy!
Join Us!
Camp begins July 5th. Register at Empathy Begins with Me and join us!
Early Bird Special: Be one of the first 100 to sign up for Camp Empathy and receive an extra special exclusive pass to join us for a live Podcast with the extraordinary Victoria Sopik, mother to 8 children, CEO to one of the fastest growing companies, Kids & Company, and caregiver to over 50,000 families across North America. Victorial will share critical factors in raising happy children from a young age and the small things we can do daily to have a loving and caring family home.
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