In our third installment of blogs about the 4 R’s, we’re covering respect.

At camp, we encourage campers to respect each other, their surroundings, and themselves. We foster respect with our language, actions, and appreciation of those around us. 

How can our camp families promote respect at home during this time?

Show Kindness

When schedules are disrupted and lots of time is spent at home in close quarters, it can be easy to grow frustrated with those around you. However, we want our campers to show kindness to siblings, parents, and other family members on a daily basis. This means using respectful words when speaking to each other, maintaining positivity and kindness in your interactions, and giving love and support to those around you. One of our favorite Maya Angelou quotes states, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” By showing kindness, we can make those around us feel respected and valued.

Follow Guidelines Put in Place

These unique circumstances have put everyone in situations with new guidelines and procedures to follow. Our campers can show respect by following these guidelines that have been put in place for them. Whether it is doing schoolwork from the kitchen table, staying at home for the health of everyone around you, or washing your hands a few extra times each day, following these instructions promotes wellness and shows respect for yourself and others.

Model and Practice Self-Respect

We hold dear to the belief that each of us is glorious; each of us has a special life that only WE can lead. During this time, we encourage all camp families to model and practice self-respect. We suggest ending each day with a discussion about personal achievements or celebrations (Steve Sir’s blog about nightly rituals is a great way to facilitate these discussions). Even with the challenges of the current situation, we believe there is always an opportunity for self-growth. We know our campers have big goals for themselves in life and it is our hope that those goals will continue to be nurtured. By believing in themselves and knowing these goals are possible to achieve, campers can practice respecting themselves.

Oftentimes when we talk about respect at camp, our high school girl campers inevitably start singing a song we all know and love. After reflecting about respect with your kiddos today, we hope you will bring the joy of the song to them as well:

Respect - Aretha Franklin