Hey, Soldiers!

Capture-the-Flag is all fun and games, but don’t you dare let me catch you in my territory! I kid, of course. But this is one game that can feel incredibly intense…almost as if it isn’t actually a game at all! How does a children’s game get to feel so real? Well, other games can feel just as intense (Monopoly’s a good example) and they likely have ties to the real world.

And what do you suppose the origin of Capture-the-Flag is?

An unlikely place to inspire a game, it’s actually the medieval battlefield that Capture-the-Flag is mimicking. The signal of a victor on the battlefield was signified with a captured flag of the opposing side.

So how do you play a game that’s based in medieval warfare? The playing ground is divided in half with both sides having a Flag (or an object that signifies one). Then, as the name would have you think, the objective is to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to your own territory. It’s pretty much as simple as that.

Things can get complicated when a member of the enemy team tags you inside their territory. This means that you’ll be taken to an area that the opposing team has designated as their jail.

This is an extremely popular activity played at summer camp that, unlike other activities such as Archery or Horseback Riding, doesn’t necessarily have a laundry list of health benefits it delivers. But you can certainly pick up a thing or two on the battlefield—err…playing field.

If anything, I suppose you could credit Capture-the-Flag with a cardio workout. But this is a game that requires its players be patient, observant, sneaky, fast, and clever. But overall, Capture-the-Flag is FUN. It’s an incredibly engaging way to get a group of any size involved and creates an environment for friendships to flower!

If you played Capture-the-Flag this summer, I hope you enjoyed the intensity involved with this traditional camp activity. You can play this game with as few as two people; I have many fond memories of playing this game with my neighborhood friend growing up. If you love this game, find some other friends to play with and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Pedalin’ People!

Mountain Biking is a popular activity found at summer camps all across the nation. Maybe you’re just returning from a great camp experience where you got a lot of Mountain Biking time in. Keep the fun going post-camp and hit your local biking trails! Nothing hits the spot like a rugged ride through a woodsy park trail or the sights along a rocky terrain! Strap your helmet on and get out there!

While mountain bikes are certainly designed to endure the tough trails they’re made to travel, they aren’t actually necessary for the sport of Mountain Biking. All it takes for this sport is off-road riding on a bicycle of any sort actually.

So, knowing that, the history of Mountain Biking goes back to the invention of the bicycle which—believe it or not—goes all the way back to 1817. Of course, it probably took people a while to muster up the courage to traverse any rough terrain on these early bicycle designs.

Mountain Biking is an exhilarating ride that gets your blood pumping and makes you feel good! Why is that exactly? Well, here’s a quick look at some of the boosting benefits that comes from Mountain Biking:

Heart
Regular exercise is known to improve cardiovascular fitness. Mountain Biking requires lots of oxygen which makes your heart work steadily and builds heart fitness.

Joints 
Mountain Biking puts less stress on your joints as opposed to other activities such as running. Cycling offers seated aerobic exercise taking the pressure off your joints!

Immune System
Consistent, moderate exercise strengthens the immune system and keeps you healthy. Mountain Biking typically doesn’t push you too hard and is habit-forming!

Sleep
Mountain Biking decreases a hormone in us that keeps us awake called cortisol. Lowering this hormone brings you regenerative sleep!

Mood
Mountain Biking entices your body to release natural endorphins and boosts serotonin—the body’s way of feeling good, getting more energy, and feeling happy.

In conclusion, how better to experience the gorgeous majesty of Mother Nature than taking a seat as you cruise along her beautiful sights while also getting some exercise in?! Mountain Biking is the perfect activity during and outside of your summer camp experience. Enjoy hitting the trails and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Painting People!

Summer camps all over recognize Painting as a choice camp activity. Across the country, they’re offering Painting in their activities to encourage all the young painters out there. Camps provide all the Painting supplies for your camper to explore their creativity with a paintbrush and hone your artistic skills.

The history of Painting goes back to our time as cave dwellers when our ancient ancestors first discovered the ability to create images by dragging certain materials across the cave walls. And voila—a new art form was born!

Lots of people are drawn to Visual Art and use Painting as a preferred medium. What’s the attraction to this interesting camp activity? Here’s what Painting does for people:

Cultivates Creativity
A blank canvas makes a painter’s imagination run rampant, grow, and ponder on the best way to execute their vision for the finished work.

Builds Hand-Eye Coordination
Detailed adjustments to the angle of your wrist and the perfect amount of pressure to apply as you move your brush across the canvas achieves incredible hand-eye coordination.

Relieves Stress
Focusing on putting the paint on the paper in a specific pattern is a powerful tool to relax our bodies and minds and reduce stress levels.

Induces Positivity
Something about working in colors to give yourself creative and artistic outlet tends to leave us with a positive demeanor.

Furthers Emotional Maturity
Putting your own internal dialogue or messages that are important to you expressed through paint is a fantastic way to process your emotions and grow.

If you’re passionate about Painting, then I recommend you look into a summer camp that offers it as an activity to boost your techniques and skills with a brush. Check out Painting With a Twist camps by clicking here. Or, if you already have a camp in mind, call them up to ask about their Painting program. And, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

- John

Hey, Movers and Shakers!

If your favorite form of self-expression comes from moving your body and feeling the energy of a rhythm (or lack thereof), imagine yourself performing your art in front of an astonished audience! This could very well become a reality if you find the right summer camp! They’ll teach you a thing or two and give you the opportunity to work it and show off your talent.

Playing an important part in ceremonies, rituals, celebrations, and means of entertainment across the world, the art of Dance was first performed before the earliest civilizations ever existed and who knows how long before that? It’s a piece of who we are—something that’s built into us and part of our DNA. Dancing is in our blood.

More than just a fun thing to do at parties, Dance is an art form that people devote themselves to in body, mind, and spirit. Check out what people love so much about Dance! This is one art form that truly promotes healthy living! Dance comes with a laundry list of physical benefits:

• Improved condition of your heart and lungs
• Increased muscular strength, endurance, and motor fitness
• Increased aerobic fitness
• Improved muscle tone and strength
• Weight management
• Stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis
• Better coordination, agility, and flexibility
• Improved balance and spatial awareness
• Increased physical confidence

But practicing this art form can improve some other aspects of your well-being as well…

Mental Function
Focus, Timing, Memory—there’s a lot going on in the mind of a Dancer while they produce a flawless visual show. It takes great attention to achieve the physical precision necessary to deliver the show the way it was intended to be seen.

Psychological Health
As mentioned above the list of physiological benefits, Dance promotes a healthy lifestyle. Living in a way that makes your body feel good spreads to your mind as well. Dancers dedicated to the art are typically happy and positive people.

Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem
As is the case with pretty much any Performance Art, being on stage sounds scary for many. But you’ll find that facing your stage fright and developing your courage is a strangely addictive feeling that feeds your sense of self-worth and gives you confidence!

There are lots of different styles of Dance from Ballet to Belly-dancing. What style performance are you into? Discover what makes you want to move your body and look into a camp where you can Dance as much as your heart desires such as the Long Lake Dance Camp! And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Kitchen Characters!

No matter what kind of vocation you’re interested in for yourself down the road, the craft of cooking is one that everyone can benefit by honing their skills in this art form. The kitchen may not seem like such an exciting place compared to a soccer field or hiking trail, but you might be surprised at how much you enjoy your time preparing food for you and your friends. Luckily you can try your hand at cooking with some guidance if you go to a summer camp that offers Cooking for an activity!

Coinciding with logical sense, people have been cooking for as long as we’ve mastered the art of fire-making. There are many unknowns about our original diet when our species had yet to leave the Fertile Crescent—but the idea is that our initial diet consisted of nuts, berries, and other fruits and vegetables which required no cooking to consume. However, evidence that we’ve been fishing since 40,000 B.C. would suggest that we’ve been cooking for as far back as that.

Self-Esteem
Cooking isn’t at all easy to master, but perseverance will show you that you can learn quickly from both your mistakes and your triumphs in the kitchen! Unlike so many things in life, Cooking is one activity that offers instant feedback based on taste-tests and reactions from others. Learning a skill like Cooking is proven to reflect your capabilities and build your confidence!

Communication
Cooking can offer you some nice time alone just as well as create a cool environment for quality time between friends and family. Unless it’s Thanksgiving Day, the kitchen tends to induce a relaxed energy, making it a great place to talk about anything you want. This is a great moment to talk with your kids, Parents!

Life Skills
Much like driving a vehicle or developing reading skills, Cooking is something you’ll use for the rest of your life. After all, one day the responsibility of providing food will land solely on them as they grow into adulthood. The younger cooking skills are introduced into your kids life, the easier that shift in responsibility is going to be later on in life.

If you know your way around the kitchen, Cooking is definitely an enjoyable activity. But the best is when you rekindle your roots and cook outdoors over an open fire. Browse our products on our online shop for outdoor food prep and storage. Look into a summer camp that offers Cooking as an activity to boost your confidence in the kitchen and, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

- John