Words are so powerful. Words have the power to build people up and bring them down. They can uplift and enlighten, or depress and destroy. We have complete control over the words we use, so we really must choose them carefully. The first step is awareness. Think before you speak. Focus on communicating positives: strengths, praise, encouragement. Handle negatives carefully. Stopping to consider your intention before you speak is a powerful tool. Why Speak with Good Purpose? One of our 8 Keys of Excellence principles to live by is Speak with Good Purpose. Let’s consider why we should strive to speak with good purpose. Communication is the bridge between people—it’s the glue that holds all relationships together. It’s what forms the links between teachers and students, parents and children, employer and employee, between friends, between siblings, etc. All our relationships thrive or fade depending on the quality of the communication between us and the other person. Speaking with good purpose can be a challenge—it takes courage, effort, and practice. But when you master this skill the quality of your relationships will change and you’ll find the satisfaction of deep, meaningful connections with others that you may not have had before. Words are powerful. A few cutting words let loose without thinking can wound someone for a lifetime. Maybe years ago your best friend said you had a “lame smile” . . . or your teacher discouraged your progress in math with “you’re no good at numbers”—and you still remember those words. Hurtful comments can stay with us a long time. Whoever came up with that rhyme about “sticks and stones” was wrong. Words can hurt.   Whatever you say—whether it’s negative or positive—has an impact. Look for those positive words, words that build up, words that heal. There are times when a few kind words make all the difference. Have you ever had someone tell you You got this! or You can do it! just when you needed to hear it the most? Words really do matter.  

Catch yourself — why was I going to say that? How can you make sure you’re speaking with good purpose? How do you make it happen? How do you direct your speech to build strong bonds and create safe environments?

Begin by building awareness, by actually thinking about your words . . . think before you speak. Ask yourself a few quick questions . . . Am I going to say something useful right now? Will my words be encouraging or damaging? Will my words build up or break down the person I’m speaking to? Will my words improve our relationship or might they damage it? Positive communication is a habit. It’s a matter of training yourself to monitor your thoughts before they become speech. With practice you’ll learn to focus on giving words to positive thoughts, recognizing people’s strengths in words as well as thoughts and offering praise and encouragement.  Don’t stop expressing negative thoughts, just be careful with them We don’t have to avoid expressing negative thoughts, feelings, and experiences, but it’s best to recognize them for what they are and decide whether or not we need to say them. Just stop and think about it for a few seconds. If it’s simply a random unpleasant thought—you don’t like a person’s whiny tone or wish someone wasn’t so pushy—acknowledge the thought and let it go. Choose not to give it the power of spoken words. But if it’s something that needs resolution, you may need to express it. Handle these times carefully. Think about the intention of your words. Are they meant to support the person and build a stronger relationship? Are they focused on finding a solution? Honesty in a relationship requires you to state your true thoughts and feelings, even when they’re not what the other person wants to hear. Honest speech is about revealing the true you, yet it can and should be done without the masks of sarcasm, condescension, or disdain. You simply make sure that you’re speaking kindly as well as honestly.  The power of speaking with good purpose Speaking with good purpose allows us to harness the awesome power of our words. When we speak positively, honestly, and directly, with the goal of keeping relationships strong, words cease to be a random force and begin to show their positive power in our relationships and in our lives.

I think before I speak and choose my words carefully.

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Meet Kalani
Kalani is an undergrad student at New York University. The acceptance rate for NYU’s class of 2023 was an astonishing sixteen percent, so we say well done Kalani! Since his admission into NYU, Kalani has maintained an exceptional GPA and completed his first semester with a 4.0, placing him at the top of his class. As part of his NYU undergrad program, Kalani has been able to enjoy the experience of studying abroad at the University of York in England. Currently, he’s continuing his studies in York and cherishing his time in the UK, but is also excited to continue learning and growing stateside on NYU’s campus next fall.

Considering what’s important to Kalani, we can clearly see that he values his education and personal growth. Along with that Kalani deeply cherishes his friendships. He draws inspiration and motivation from those with whom he chooses to spend his time.

Prior to Attending SuperCamp
Kalani was curious to discover what kind of experience he would have at SuperCamp. Thinking about his thoughts before attending Junior Forum, Kalani remembered that “as a middle schooler, the appeal was really just being away from home with other people that I can talk to.” Like many of us attending summer camp for the first time, Kalani’s initial interest was gaining some independence away from home and creating new friendships.

From his first session in 2012 and the three summers that followed, Kalani has gained and maintained a community built from SuperCamp friendships and shared experiences.

The Shift
When asked to share more about the impactful moments from his time at camp, Kalani made a special note of the connections he made. He went on to say that participating in SuperCamp “introduced me to other like-minded people who are really focused on improving themselves and on their educational growth. I still keep in touch with a lot of them because we’ve made this journey together.” Having the support of others is truly priceless, especially when their support not only allows you to feel validated, but also encourages you to be your best self.

Along with gaining lifelong friendships and a community of support, Kalani was also impacted by his new-found confidence and still remembers the positive culture surrounding this. When introduced to Kalani, you wouldn’t guess that he ever struggled with goal setting or self-doubt. While thinking about his time at SuperCamp, Kalani remembered initially having trouble with feeling confident about his choices and goals, but that quickly changed because he was “surrounded by people who have that confidence for you. Even if it was wavering at first, you’re surrounded by all of this positivity, and you start to believe it yourself.” The people surrounding us often make the biggest impact.

Kalani always had personal goals in mind, but struggled with believing in his ability to achieve those goals. While learning in an environment enriched with positivity and team collaboration, Kalani felt empowered to work toward his goals . . . and he had big ones, some of which he’s already achieved!

The Impact
The friendships made at SuperCamp enable us to bring the fun, positivity, and momentum gained from camp into our lives at home, promoting positivity that spreads into all areas of our lives. Kalani believes that keeping in touch with friends from camp has added value to his life . . . “Quite frankly, this tight-knit community that SuperCamp gave me as a camper has really helped me today.”  His relationships from SuperCamp have created a much-needed support system and accountability check, empowering him to accomplish the goals he has set for himself.

One friend in particular is Faith. Kalani and Faith spent three summer sessions together at SuperCamp. They were brought together simply because they were both attending the same session and soon found out that they shared many beliefs and values. Both value friendship, collaboration, and striving toward academic excellence. Even when summers came and went, the two kept in touch virtually, sharing in each other’s successes and helping one another through difficult choices concerning school and relationships. Kalani is able to make responsible choices on his own, but having the support of a close friend, who has shared life-changing experiences with you, makes those choices that much easier.

Kalani’s Story and the Key of Ownership
Kalani’s story in relation to the 8 Keys of Excellence exemplifies the Key of Ownership. Ownership relates to being responsible for our thoughts, feelings, words, and actions, and owning the choices we make and the results that follow. Kalani consistently works toward being his best self and achieving his goals. In doing that, he expresses confidence and owns every choice along the way. He’s acquired high levels of confidence in his own abilities and in the people and community with whom he surrounds himself.

Kalani’s Future is Bright
Kalani’s short-term goals are very much driven by his academics. Ultimately, he would really “like to graduate college with a good GPA.”  As we already know, Kalani is definitely off to a successful start. For long-term goals, Kalani is envisioning his future “as an environmental policy analyst.” He hopes to devote his work to finding solutions and making a positive change in the world of environmental policy, thus making the world a better place for all. We are confident he’ll succeed!

The post SuperCamp Student Spotlight – Kalani’s Story appeared first on SuperCamp.

The line, which sits constantly on the horizon of our character, represents responsibility. Living above the line is a powerful life skill, a foundation for communication and personal interaction that highlights and puts into practice the concept of ownership, taking responsibility for our actions.

Living Above the Line is a Choice
Every one of us has a choice. We can choose to live either above the line or below the line. When we choose to live below the line, our lives become driven by circumstances. We are victims! We forgo ownership and send the message to the world that we are not in control of our lives. People who live below the line—choosing responses such as laying blame, justifying, denying, and quitting—are all showing the world that they struggle with personal responsibility.

Blame: Laying blame could quite possibly be the most common and damaging way to live below the line. To a student being called out by their parents for a low mark on a test, this could sound like “The teacher didn’t cover everything that was on the test! It’s not my fault!” While the student may think they’ve given their parents a viable excuse, it doesn’t change the test outcome (and the real reason for it) or promote responsibility, and it certainly doesn’t contribute to positive communication with their parents.

Justify: Another example of living below the line is justifying. Justification happens when we create reasons why we didn’t perform as we should have, reasons that avoid taking responsibility. “Everyone else was talking too!” This below-the-line response tries to provide reasons for failure, believing that the reason or excuse will make everything okay.

Deny: Denying is another below-the-line choice. “I wasn’t talking” doesn’t make the problem go away. This obviously ineffective response can cause others a lot of frustration, and make us seem unreliable or even dishonest.

Quit: Finally, the most disheartening form of below-the-line response is quitting. When we believe so strongly that we’ll fail that we don’t even bother to try, we sabotage our chances for success even before we’ve begun. Although this kind of negative thinking may give us an escape route for our possible failure, we deceive and diminish ourselves when we respond this way.

Living Above the Line is All About Respond-ability
When we live above the line, however, we are choosing responsibility and ownership. We don’t simply let things happen to us and justify, blame, or deny them. We make things happen for us. We have greater control because we stop blaming things outside ourselves for our current situation.

Living above the line means being accountable for our words and actions. It means looking at our options and finding ways to become more honest and sincere—with ourselves and with others. This above-the-line thinking leads to greater freedom as we take responsibility for all our actions—we take responsibility for our life. The choice is always ours.

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Prior to Attending SuperCamp
Initially, Nia’s interest in SuperCamp was sparked because her older sister had attended years earlier. Although she was excited for the opportunity, she wasn’t expecting the experience to be as impactful as it was.

Nia had always valued personal growth, lifelong learning, kindness, and authenticity. Her expectation was that she would experience learning moments that aligned with those values. Being the learner that she is, she did experience that—and so much more.

The Shift
Midway through camp, Nia sat on the carpeted floor surrounded by people whom she’d just met a few days earlier. The air was cool. The lights were soft and dim. Her eyes were closed and she was listening intently. The exercise was to think about negative things in our life that we’re holding on to. As we focus on our thoughts, our fists tighten. Tightening our grasp, we hold it for as long we can. Then eventually we release and let go of whatever is holding us back.

Nia referred to this as the standout moment of her SuperCamp experience. Even after she was able to release, she admits that it was really hard. She kept her fists clenched. Nia explained that she had been holding on to these negative thoughts and emotions for so long, years in fact. Allowing herself to let go wasn’t a simple task. Moment after moment passed and Nia kept holding on for what she said felt like an eternity. Then she was finally able to let go.

Nia reflected, “When I finally let go, I just burst into tears. They were just flowing and I am not the type of person to cry in public . . . I cried in front of all of those kids and I didn’t even care. It was such a moment for me.” Many of us, like Nia, find that taking a moment like this for ourselves is rare and not always easy. However, when we choose to take the opportunity to experience these moments, they are impactful and unforgettable.

The Impact
Remembering her experience, Nia shared that “The biggest thing about SuperCamp was that it was a space where you could just let yourself dive into the little crevices of who you are and just keep going . . . I unpeeled layers that I probably wouldn’t have [unpeeled] for years. I was able to release certain experiences from my life because nothing was stopping my flow. I wasn’t interrupted by stress from school. I wasn’t interrupted by family matters. I was able to go through that process and complete it.”

Taking a glimpse into Nia’s experience, we instantly admired how present and inspired she is. She recognized that there was something holding her back from being her best self. Even though the choice wasn’t easy and pushed her out of her comfort zone, she chose to let go. Letting go of the things she’d been holding onto freed up more space and opportunity for positivity, which is what she truly values. Nia is someone who lives in the moment, and in those moments she is always looking for the positive outcome.

The 8 Keys of Excellence
Nia’s story in relation to the 8 Keys of Excellence truly embodies the Key of “This Is It!” This Key is all about making the most of every moment, focusing our attention on the present, and keeping a positive attitude.

Where is she now?
Since summer 2019, Nia has continued to make the most of every moment. She is taking four AP courses, acting as an officer of her school’s Black Student Union, and is working toward creating a student-led learning community, where students can connect online to provide tutoring and other academic resources. Nia was also invited to speak at an event for entrepreneurs within her community. During her speaking engagement, she shared valuable insight on what motivates her and pushes her to keep going under any circumstance.

Future Goals
Nia’s long-term goals are inspired by one meaningful focus—to create “a positive impact.” Nia will be participating in SuperCamp’s Mastermind with Mentors in October to gain new learning experiences, connect with others, and to continue receiving support from her SuperCamp community. Her intention and drive to make a positive impact will no doubt be at the forefront of her experience.

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Choose a Winning Attitude!

When it comes to learning—and in fact, to your success in life—what’s your most valuable asset? Is it your intelligence? Your genes? How hard you work? These all have a role in your ability to learn and succeed, yet there is something else that can have a much greater effect than all of them.

When it comes to excelling in learning and life, your most valuable asset is a positive attitude. If you have high expectations for yourself, high self-esteem, and the belief that you will succeed, you will have high achievement. It’s an old saying, and it’s still true: What you think about, comes about . . . and as Henry Ford put it, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.”

Your thoughts are powerful! Think like a winner, and you will win! When you expect the best, you’re inviting the best to become reality. Expect the worst, and you’re inviting disaster.

Although you aren’t always in control of the circumstances, you’re totally and absolutely and always in control of how you react to them. If you have a tendency to walk into situations (such as a classroom, whether in person or virtual) and think This is going to be boring, try making a simple change. Instead of thinking I’m bored, say to yourself I choose to be engaged! You do choose your reactions, and the way you think and talk to yourself defines your attitude—it can make you high or make you low, make you productive or make you procrastinate, make you win or make you lose! Choose high, choose productive, choose win!

When you choose to have a positive attitude no matter what your endeavor, possibilities become probabilities, and limitations become opportunities. Positive emotions smooth the way toward success.

“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future
by merely changing his attitude.”
                                                                   —Oprah Winfrey

Here are some ideas to help you cultivate that life-changing winning attitude! 

Think Like a Winner!

Throughout life, there are obstacles to overcome. How you handle those obstacles can often make the difference between success and failure. If you approach situations with a negative attitude, chances are you will live up to those low expectations and have a difficult time succeeding. But by developing positive self-talk, you can find the courage to handle almost anything—and win!

The next time you’re faced with a difficult situation, try some of the following positive messages or create your own that fit the situation:

• I know I can make this work.
• My mind is uniquely capable.
• I am committed to making this happen.
• Everything is supporting me in reaching my goal.
• The more I practice, the better I get.
• I get better every day.
• I am really proud of myself.

Act Like a Winner!

Your physiology—the way you hold your body—usually reflects how you feel and think. What’s interesting here is that you can actually control your frame of mind by controlling your physiology. For example, when you’re feeling good about yourself, you probably stand and sit tall, you hold your chin up and move with energy. Practice this physiology whenever you’re feeling down, and your positive attitude should kick in. Try the following and see how they influence the way you feel:

• Walk tall. Put a bounce in your step and swing your arms.
• Sit up straight, shoulders back.
• Use large gestures when you speak.
• Speak loud and clear.
• Smile!

Cultivating a winning attitude takes practice, but eventually it becomes second nature. You’ll be amazed at the things you can accomplish when you think and act like a winner. It’s a choice: change you attitude and you change your future! So choose that winning attitude—and win!

(Adapted from Quantum Learning by Bobbi DePorter)

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Brainwaves, from top: beta, gamma, alpha, theta, delta

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” 
—Dr. Seuss

Did you know that our brains exhibit five different states of brainwave activity? Did you know that one of those states is ideal for learning, and that it’s possible to access that state through visualization?

Dr. Georgi Lozanov, a Bulgarian scientist, was a pioneer in accelerated learning and coached Bobbi DePorter, SuperCamp’s founder, in the early days of SuperCamp’s creation. In the mid-1970s, Dr. Lozanov conducted experiments on the best brainwave state for learning. He discovered that students in alpha state—a condition of relaxed concentration—learn at a much faster rate. They also remember information for longer periods of time. The other states of brainwave activity are beta (alert and active), theta (nearly asleep or dreaming), delta (deep, dreamless sleep), and gamma (higher mental activity, high energy, extreme focus).

Q-Up to Access Alpha State
The best part of Lozanov’s discovery is that it’s not only possible, but easy to access alpha state once the process is learned. This can be achieved in a number of ways, one of which we teach at SuperCamp. Q‑Up is a simple four-step technique to access alpha state. Here are the steps.

 

Step 1:	PULL UP Imagine a string attached to the top of your head pulling you up.
Step 2:	PICTURE what you want. It could be to complete an excellent essay in the next hour. It could be to read the next chapter in 30 minutes with understanding. It could be to feel joy while practicing your speech.
Step 3:	BREATHE deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth, and as you breathe out . . .
Step 4:	RELEASE your jaw and shoulders keeping the picture of what you want in mind.

Then begin. If you feel your mind wondering, stop and Q-Up again.

With practice, this process only takes a moment to quickly access the alert and calm state of alpha brainwaves, the optimum state for learning. Dr. Lozanov was well known for creating a remarkably effective method of teaching based on how the brain actually learns, and alpha state was an important part of that process.

 
Theta Scan to Learn While You Sleep!

There’s another brainwave state that facilitates learning. Brain researchers have learned that we process our thoughts and learnings during the night and that our brains focus on the thoughts we had closest to falling asleep. So, instead of TV, video games, etc., if students take a quick scan (just ten minutes or so) of their schoolwork just before falling asleep, it can make a big difference in what they remember and in their understanding of what they studied. At SuperCamp we call this a theta scan because it happens during theta brainwave activity while we’re asleep! What a bonus to let our brain keep on learning while we sleep!

 
So remember the importance of those alpha and theta brainwaves—they really can help you learn, even while you sleep!

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]]> https://www.supercamp.com/know-your-brainwaves-they-can-help-you-learn/feed/ 0 https://www.supercamp.com/theres-a-difference-in-virtual-learning/ https://www.supercamp.com/theres-a-difference-in-virtual-learning/#respond Fri, 03 Jul 2020 20:25:04 +0000 https://www.supercamp.com/?p=70533 SuperCamp’s learning skills are applicable to every subject and every level of learning, and to virtual learning as well as classroom learning. This has not been an easy school year for students. With no warning whatsoever—and therefore no preparation—virtual learning became the new normal for students and their parents. No one was ready for virtual […]

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SuperCamp’s learning skills are applicable to every subject and every level of learning, and to virtual learning as well as classroom learning.

This has not been an easy school year for students. With no warning whatsoever—and therefore no preparation—virtual learning became the new normal for students and their parents. No one was ready for virtual learning, not teachers, not students, and not their parents.

We recently came across an article in the Wall Street Journal declaring “The Results are in for Remote Learning: It Didn’t Work”! Then another article in the New York Times was brought to our attention by a parent: “What Students are Saying About Remote Learning.” It’s a sad and challenging situation.

While we have produced physical camps and trainings for decades, this spring we looked at how to create the same engagement, connection, and joy in learning online. It’s what students are missing and crave. With this is mind, we designed virtual programs based on our signature Quantum Learning System and the results are in—they work!

Have a look at some student reactions . . .

“What Students are Saying About Remote Learning” (extract from New York Times, 4/9/2020)

Peer-to-peer interaction is a really pivotal part of education . . . with Zoom we can see one another and our teacher, but everyone is always muted. I’ve noticed that staying on task gets harder as the week goes on. Away from school and classmates and teachers, it’s hard for me to focus. The lack of social interaction is a huge factor in me not enjoying online schooling. I have a significant lack of motivation and I miss the thought-provoking discussions I used to have with my classmates. Every day my motivation to do my work decreases and recently all my assignments have been turned in late causing my grades to drop. Overall, online school makes time management extremely difficult and I feel like I’m not even learning in some of my classes.

What Students are saying about SuperCamp Virtual Programs (feedback from QL Mentors virtual program participants)

I experienced some of the same close connections with other participants and learned really useful skills like I did when attending SuperCamp last year. Really motivating! I’m going into my first year of college next year and after this program I feel like I have what I need to be successful. The academic and life skills we learned in the QL Mentors program were really useful . . . made me feel more confident about my learning progress. It was great finding ways to help our uncomfortable zones become more comfortable. I really loved it, and I was inspired to set my own learning goals. I feel more in control of my learning now. My daughter loved the webinar yesterday . . . already learned how to focus to get more done . . . made me promise to sign her up for SuperCampU! She told us, It was so fun I didn’t want it to end.

“The Results are in for Remote Learning: It didn’t Work” (extract from Wall Street Journal, 6/5/2020) With the school year now winding down, the grade from students, teachers, parents and administrators is already in: It was a failure. Preliminary research suggests students nationwide will return to school in the fall with roughly 70% of learning gains in reading relative to a typical school year, and less than 50% in math. Many districts plan to offer remote summer school to help combat “Covid slide.” There are concerns that the same remote learning that wasn’t effective in the spring won’t have changed much for summer.

In addition to students connecting with content, peers, and facilitators at deep levels and looking forward to online sessions, we know that there is high need for students to gain effective learning-to-learn skills for both online and in-person learning. With learning loss a real challenge, keeping students engaged and motivated is paramount at this crucial time.

The virtual programs we developed have been hugely successful—they provided students with new skills and more positive perspectives to build their confidence and help them adapt to virtual learning. Participants have not only gained confidence, increased their motivation, and learned how to focus their attention to stay on task (even with the distractions and reduced discipline of home learning), they made real peer-to-peer connections with other participants.

And now as students and their parents consider what form school may take in the fall—and there are many options being considered out there—many are wondering how students are going to cope. If it’s more virtual, there’s a feeling of dread for most. If it’s back to school “as usual,” there are concerns about learning loss (Covid-19 as well as the usual summer learning loss). And if it’s a blend of virtual and in-person learning, there’s a combination of these anxieties.

To address these real concerns of parents, students, and educators—as well as requests from students who have done our two-week programs—we are now offering a four-week virtual program. SuperCampU (July 6 to 31 and July 20 to August 14) is an engaging and interactive program for students ages 9 to 18 (in groups by age: 9–13 and 14–18). Each week Monday to Friday for one hour students learn SuperCamp’s core content that has resulted in improved grades, confidence, and motivation over the last 39 years! The program consists of four one-week courses: Self-driven Motivation and Leadership Now, Quantum Reading, Quantum Writing, and Quantum Strategies. During all our virtual programs, participants interact with peers in live energetic learning experiences guided by a SuperCamp trained facilitator—and have fun while they learn!

In addition, we have recently partnered with GeniusU and can now offer participation in their Young Entrepreneur Academy at no additional cost. This partnership gives students the unique opportunity of including powerful entrepreneurial experiences with SuperCamp’s proven curriculum. From being a YouTuber to building an app or having an online store, participants in this program can learn how to launch their own fully functioning digital business.

Students really need an extra boost now to reduce the possible effects of learning loss from their virtual school challenges and prepare them for their return to school in the fall no matter what form that may take. SuperCampU has been created to meet those needs. Participants will experience joyful learning and real connections with other participants and with our super SuperCamp facilitators!

LEARN MORE here.

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]]> https://www.supercamp.com/theres-a-difference-in-virtual-learning/feed/ 0 https://www.supercamp.com/what-is-supercamps-secret-ingredient/ https://www.supercamp.com/what-is-supercamps-secret-ingredient/#respond Thu, 19 Dec 2019 19:15:49 +0000 https://www.supercamp.com/?p=69657 SuperCamp facilitates powerful learning through its Quantum Learning teaching methods that are proven to positively transform teen attitudes, confidence, and motivation. And what is SuperCamp’s secret ingredient? Mini-success moments! At SuperCamp we create a safe and encouraging environment aligned with what we know from brain research. We build curiosity and a sense of belonging, we […]

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]]> SuperCamp facilitates powerful learning through its Quantum Learning teaching methods that are proven to positively transform teen attitudes, confidence, and motivation.

And what is SuperCamp’s secret ingredient? Mini-success moments!

At SuperCamp we create a safe and encouraging environment aligned with what we know from brain research. We build curiosity and a sense of belonging, we get inside our students’ world so they know we care, and we use strategies that reach every learner. When we artfully orchestrate these elements while imparting powerful learning skills, students reach higher levels of competence, their confidence increases, and they experience what researchers refer to as mini-success moments. They feel inspired and empowered.

So, if we had to identify one “secret ingredient” of SuperCamp, it would be those mini-success moments students experience as they learn and embrace one skill after another. Whether academic skills or life skills, these moments result in shifts that build confidence and increase students’ motivation to excel. Experiencing these success moments over and over and over again, students build up their belief in their ability to achieve, and ultimately increase their self-esteem, confidence, and motivation. And they excel!

For more information, visit www.SuperCamp.com or call 800-285-3276.

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]]> https://www.supercamp.com/what-is-supercamps-secret-ingredient/feed/ 0 https://www.supercamp.com/a-wadsworth-legacy-samantha-h/ https://www.supercamp.com/a-wadsworth-legacy-samantha-h/#respond Tue, 28 May 2019 17:27:03 +0000 https://www.supercamp.com/?p=68879 “I felt like I got my life back.”  “When my parents told me about SuperCamp and how my Granduncle Bob was such a huge supporter of it, I wasn’t sure what to think,” said Samantha Hochmuth. “They said he sent his grandchildren and other people in his life because he believed it helped them so […]

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 “When my parents told me about SuperCamp and how my Granduncle Bob was such a huge supporter of it, I wasn’t sure what to think,” said Samantha Hochmuth. “They said he sent his grandchildren and other people in his life because he believed it helped them so much, but I didn’t know what it was and honestly wasn’t excited to go,” she said. “I was only excited to go because my family was making a vacation out of it.”

Sammy, as she is called, traveled to California from Wisconsin, and even though she was reluctant to go, she decided to change her attitude and go with an open mind—and she is so glad she did. After attending Quantum U, SuperCamp’s college-age program, she recalls not only feeling more prepared to attend college and succeed in that kind of academic setting, she also felt more confident and stronger within herself. One of the activities that stood out for her was “board breaking,” where students break through a board that represents a barrier to their goal that is written on the other side of the board. “There is no feeling like breaking through that “barrier” with your hand, and how empowered you feel afterward,” she said as she recalled the activity.

Sammy remembers leaving SuperCamp with a heightened self-confidence, new friends, and much more . . . “I felt like I got my life back.” She also noted that her brother, Hunter, who went to SuperCamp the week after Sammy thanks to Bob and Mary Wadsworth, grew in confidence. Sammy attended his closing celebration and recalled being brought to tears because she could see how much more confident and empowered he had become as well. “It was amazing to see his transformation,” Sammy said. “I’ve never felt closer to my brother and our relationship changed at that point.” Sammy and Hunter’s mother, Nancy, believes one of the biggest things for both of them was that that after SuperCamp they felt safe to be themselves.

Sammy had wanted to return to SuperCamp, however at that point she was too old for the program. She particularly wanted to go back and pay more attention to the teaching methods as she planned to become a teacher. Sammy has now graduated from college and is currently studying for her MBA at McKendree University where she is also a certified athletic trainer and graduate assistant.

To this day Sammy still reads the journal that she kept during her week at SuperCamp and refers to it often when she needs a reminder of that empowerment she felt. “I never really got to tell my Uncle Bob how I feel this camp saved my life,” Sammy said. “I truly believe anyone could go to SuperCamp and benefit from it. I am so lucky I had Uncle Bob in my life.”

(by Laura Stadler)

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]]> https://www.supercamp.com/a-wadsworth-legacy-samantha-h/feed/ 0 https://www.supercamp.com/a-wadsworth-legacy-hunter-h/ https://www.supercamp.com/a-wadsworth-legacy-hunter-h/#respond Tue, 28 May 2019 17:26:47 +0000 https://www.supercamp.com/?p=68883 “It completely changed me for the better.” (and he went to SuperCamp three times)   Hunter Hochmuth was one of the many children the Wadsworth family sent to SuperCamp, including his sister Samantha. Hunter benefitted so much the first time he attended SuperCamp, Senior Forum at Stanford University in 2013, that he attended two more times—Loyola […]

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]]> “It completely changed me for the better.”
(and he went to SuperCamp three times)  

Hunter Hochmuth was one of the many children the Wadsworth family sent to SuperCamp, including his sister Samantha. Hunter benefitted so much the first time he attended SuperCamp, Senior Forum at Stanford University in 2013, that he attended two more times—Loyola U in Chicago in 2015 and the Leadership course at California State University in San Marcos in 2016.

It all began when Bob Wadsworth reconnected with Hunter’s family when he was in eighth grade. Hunter’s father met Bob at a family function and Bob was so excited about the results of SuperCamp that he offered to send both Hunter and his sister Samantha that following summer.

The first camp Hunter attended was the summer before his freshman year of high school. He remembers feeling younger than the other campers, but it didn’t bother him too much. It didn’t take long for him to start feeling more comfortable, as he recalls how easy it was for him to become close to his team members in a very short time.

When Hunter reflected on his experience during that first SuperCamp session, he recalled how much he learned academically, and attributed his success in school to the techniques he learned at SuperCamp.

The second session he attended was particularly special for him personally. Since he was returning as an experienced camper who had already attended once, he felt a sense of leadership in his team. He describes how he easily sensed what the other campers felt and wanted to facilitate their learning. He felt compelled to help them gain the most from their experience and stepped in to help them feel more at home.

It was the lifestyle skills that really benefited Hunter the most from his second SuperCamp experience. The 8 Keys of Excellence were especially meaningful to him and he still has them on his bedroom wall. He even wore the key students receive at graduation on a chain necklace during his freshman year of high school as a reminder.

Hunter talked about his experience of going on stage in front of all the other students and staff during the third night of camp and how that helped him become more confident about speaking in front of others. After that night one of the facilitators asked him to speak at the closing celebration from a second-year participant’s perspective, and he agreed. His Uncle Bob and several other family members and friends attended that closing celebration so that made it extra special. “I felt so happy and confident in that moment,” Hunter said. “I know how strongly my Uncle Bob felt about SuperCamp, so having him there seeing me speak made it amazing.”

A particularly strong memory from Hunter’s SuperCamp experience was the personal insights he gained during an evening toward the end of the session during the “mask” activity. During this activity, students go through a process where they look inside at the “masks” they wear in various situations. Students ask themselves Do I act one way for the purpose of belonging to a particular group? Is it the best version of me?

Students have an experience during the event of what it’s like to be their most authentic self, and the reactions from others when they are. For Hunter, this experience was a defining moment of his teenage years and in his life. He said he thinks about that night often and the impact it had on him, as well as the close connections he made with his team as a result.

During his third SuperCamp session, Hunter recalls that there were a lot of participants in the same place in their lives. He recalls that there wasn’t any apprehension among the students about being around strangers at the opening session. “Every single student was accepting and open,” he said. “It was a great way to finish out my years at SuperCamp.”

After graduating from high school, Hunter went on to attend the University of Madison, Wisconsin, School of Business where he is currently studying and plans to build a career in accounting.

“I’ll always be thankful that Uncle Bob introduced me to SuperCamp and gave me the opportunity to experience the spectacular things that I did,” Hunter said. “It completely changed me for the better. Imagining my life without SuperCamp is impossible.”

 

(by Laura Stadler)

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