The bright sunshine and warm temperatures remain, providing the perfect backdrop for another amazing day at camp.
Our Junior Greys (finished sixth grade) made their way to Funtown Splashtown USA for an incredible day at the waterpark. Our boys came home with huge smiles, raving about the exhilarating attractions.
Soccer Coach Mike Turtle from Soccer Specific Training in New Jersey arrived and hit the ground running, offering soccer clinics to all age levels throughout the day. Whether our boys are interested in honing their skills for fall soccer travel programs or in developing their skills as beginners, Mike offers a program for everyone.
Our 11-and-under baseball team was on the road and played a doubleheader, while our 13-and-under soccer players participated in an A and B team soccer tournament, providing an opportunity for boys of various skill levels to put on a jersey and represent their camp.
We hosted a 15-and-under beach volleyball tournament with six different camps. This up-and-coming sport attracts a lot of interest from our older boys, who thoroughly enjoyed this round-robin tournament.
This morning, I was watching our counselors teach a little boy how to waterski. The boy was not fearful of the water, but he was very nervous at the thought of skiing. One of the counselors, in the most nurturing way, jumped in the water and got behind the boy, helping him get his ski tips above the surface to prepare him for when the boat would accelerate.
I watched from the balcony outside my office overlooking the lake, and while I could hear the trepidation in this camper’s voice, his body language was a clear indication that he just wasn’t having it.
I went down to the dock and suggested we take a break and try at a later time. The counselor, who was highly motivated, and very nurturing in his approach, was sad that he couldn’t help this little boy succeed. I explained to the counselor that this little boy was in a point of struggle and that at that given moment there were no words or actions that would help him change his mind.
Disappointed, the counselor asked me how he should proceed. I suggested that he give the young boy some time away from his point of struggle in the water and offer him an opportunity to try skiing at a later date. Later that evening, when the little boy was leaving dinner, the waterski counselor went up to the child and told him how proud he was for trying. He told the camper that he wanted to create a special time during rest hour when no one else was at the waterski dock except for the counselors, so they could give this child an opportunity to try again.
The little boy’s face lit up. He shared that his stress was not because he couldn’t waterski, but that his friends were watching him on the dock, making him nervous and embarrassed. Having the opportunity to try again in a less stressful environment was all this boy needed to give waterskiing a second try.
There are many times when we enter situations with people where we don’t have favorable results because someone reaches their point of struggle, an impasse where they are simply unable to forge ahead. When one takes a step back and revisits the situation when not in a moment of stress, the outcome is almost always more favorable.
Whether it’s talking to children, a colleague, or perhaps even a spouse, we are often so focused on what we want to accomplish. Recognizing when one reaches their point of struggle is a helpful tool in communicating.
