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.

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.

The post Nia’s Story appeared first on SuperCamp.

Patti Brucki connected to SuperCamp as a facilitator early on in her teaching career—and she brought the entire family along with her—her husband, Ken, and their three children! Now, 22 years later, see the results!

Patti is an English teacher, librarian, and Poetry Slam Coach in Chicago’s south suburbs. For the past 22 years Patti has been facilitating Quantum Learning/SuperCamp curriculum to students, parents, teachers, administrators and others on various college and public school campuses.

Another beneficiary of Patti’s knowledge and passion over the years has been her family. Ken and her three children are all SuperCamp graduates. Each one is a wonderful example of how SuperCamp’s learning and life skills and the 8 Keys of Excellence can be applied for personal success and the betterment of others.

To fully appreciate this family success story, we first must go back in time. These kids have SuperCamp in their blood. Patti remembers her younger son, Patrick, at age 2 months, in the arms of SuperCamp president Bobbi DePorter, while Patti experienced a SuperCamp facilitator training program. On occasion, Ken would serve as the Wellness Counselor or site administrator at SuperCamp while Patti facilitated.

SuperCamp truly was a family affair for the Brucki’s—both at camp and at home. For example, Patti created a game for the kids at home called “Above or Below the Line.” It was based on a life skills training at SuperCamp called Living Above the Line, which puts into practice one of the 8 Keys of Excellence— Ownership. Living above the line is about taking responsibility for our actions, everything from our education to our relationships and attitudes. Living below the line is about laying blame, justifying, denying and quitting. In Patti’s game, the kids would be given a number of scenarios and they would decide if each one represented living above or below the line. Brilliant!

Fast forward to today. Jesselyn, the Brucki’s daughter, is 25. She is the proud owner of a Masters of Social Work degree with a specialization in gerontology. While this achievement is outstanding in its own right, Jesselyn had to overcome significant challenges along the way. Growing up, she had learning challenges which Patti says were mitigated, in part, with the help of SuperCamp’s learning skills. By the way, Jesselyn attended SuperCamp three times, first in middle school, then twice in high school, the second time on the Leadership Team. After that, she spent a summer working at SuperCamp as a Team Leader.

Jesselyn also had medical issues, which led to her requiring visits to Mayo Clinic  at age 22. But she has managed to overcome all of her setbacks and, despite her personal challenges, always has put others first, according to her mother. This approach to life and her resiliency reflect how she has embraced the 8 Keys of Excellence, says Patti. In fact, when Jesselyn headed off to college, it was with a set of the 8 Keys in hand, which she promptly hung on her dorm room wall. While in college, Jesselyn was a cheerleader and was chosen to be captain of the squad. Not surprising, given her ability to lead by example and her caring for others.

Child number two is Christian, who goes by “CJ.” CJ is a senior at Central Michigan University. He is captain of the wrestling team and is ranked 14^th nationally. He qualified a second time for the NCAA Championships in 2018. As a senior and the team captain, another of CJ’s priorities is to be a role model for the younger members of the team. Despite a busy sports schedule growing up, CJ attended SuperCamp twice. Patti recalls a time when she was leading a Parent Weekend for parents of students attending SuperCamp. She called upon CJ to come up to the front of the room and speak to the parents. A daunting task for any teenager, but CJ had the confidence to do it, and do it well.

The youngest of the three Brucki children is Patrick, who is a freshman at Princeton. Like CJ, Patrick is on the wrestling team and very accomplished in the sport. In fact, Patrick won the 2017 Illinois state championship last year as a high school senior. His high school record was an amazing 175-24. In high school, Patrick also found time to be a member of the Student School Improvement Committee and the Student Athletic Leadership Committee and was enrolled in the PEOPLE program for promoting athletics for special needs students. Along with his brother, he competed at the 2018 NCAA Championships in Cleveland recently.

We’re so proud of the Brucki kids … and their parents! As Patti says, SuperCamp and the 8 Keys of Excellence are a part of the family “at a cellular level.”

The post A SuperCamp Family Success Story appeared first on SuperCamp.

Nita Rao‎, June 8 at 4:03pm.  When I was 13 years old at SuperCamp, our counselor asked us what we wanted to “be” when we grew up. He gave us each a square plank of wood and asked us to write our goal on one side of the board and then the obstacle that stood in the way of achieving that goal on the other side.

Being a typical teenager, I thought this was silly and that being an adult was so far away in the future. After being encouraged to take this project seriously, I thought about what to write. At that time, my only “job experience” was volunteering at the local hospital as a candy striper, a small job, but nonetheless something I enjoyed. I then began to think about medicine and how I wanted to be a doctor. I knew this was a very hard goal to achieve but at the time, it was the only thing I could see myself doing. So on one side of the board I wrote the word “Doctor.”

Then I thought about what would prevent me from achieving this goal. I laughed and thought that there would surely be several obstacles on that path including getting into medical school, studying long hours, passing exams, and giving up some of the best years of my life. So to simplify this, I wrote the word “Grades” on the other side of the board.

Our counselor then told us the second part of this project. He told us that he would hold the board with the obstacle side out in front of us and we had to basically karate chop it and break it with our hands. Having no athletic ability and minimal strength, I knew this was going to be difficult. I was the last person in my group to go, and everyone else who went before me broke their board on their first try. Finally, when it was my turn, I nervously attempted punching the board. It … did … not … break.

Embarrassed and discouraged, I rapidly attempted it again, this time mustering up every ounce of strength I could. Again, nothing. The board stayed as intact as possible, almost mocking me. I could tell everyone was watching me and I felt humiliated. I wanted to run away. My counselor took me aside, and told me that sometimes in life you are not able to get what you want, that you have to work very hard, and if at first you don’t succeed, you have to try and try again. He suggested I try breaking the board in a different way. So I chose to use my foot. He lowered the board for me and I slammed my foot down as hard as possible. That darn board finally cracked!

My journey through medicine has been very similar to my experience breaking that wooden board that day at SuperCamp. I have had ups and downs. I have been discouraged to the point of wanting to give up. Medicine has pushed me, it has challenged me, but just like breaking that board, I have never given up. Every time medicine has tried to knock me down, I have kept fighting for my dream.

So today, after receiving my long-awaited board scores, I am happy to announce that I am now officially a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician.

And I will never stop trying to break that board.

#    #    #

And here’s a fun connection from Nita’s SuperCamp post on Facebook.  And, of course, there were many congratulations comments!

Nita Rao
Also, I don’t know how possible this is, but I was wondering if there was any way I could share my story with my old camp counselors from that time and Bobbi DePorter (who I met twice).  If this helps, I went to SuperCamp at Stanford University in California during the summer of 1999. My counselors’ names were Ian and Channel. I would love for them to know the impact they made on me. Thank you.

Ian Jackson
WOW!! This is incredible!! Nita, I will write more later, but I am so moved by this!! I’m so glad you believed in yourself all those years ago, and took that with you in the 18 years since! So inspiring! Thank you so much for sharing this here—you just made my day 🙂

Nita Rao
OMG!!! Yes!! Hi Ian!! That’s amazing!! I’m so glad I was able to connect with you! This just made MY day! 🙂

Ian Jackson
Nita, I just read this to my wife and kids at dinner (my wife, Angel, was a fellow Team Leader at SuperCamp Stanford in 1999). Brought tears to our eyes. Would you mind if I share your post on my FB wall?

Nita Rao
Of course!! I honestly cannot believe I was able to connect with you guys!! When I wrote this post I did not expect that to happen but I am so grateful that it did!

Bobbi DePorter
Love hearing these stories of the impact SuperCamp has made years later!

Nita, love your SuperCamp post and I’d love to talk to you!
(And later . . . so inspired by our conversation!)

The post SuperCamp Dream Comes True – Eighteen Years Later! appeared first on SuperCamp.

Ibrahim El-Kazaz at the United
Nations (from Facebook)

Although at first he was not thrilled about attending—he thought it was a camp about heroes—on day one he fell in love with SuperCamp. At opening session he saw return campers who happened to be on the leadership track stand on chairs cheering others on, and he went along with it. He realized that he was the only new camper who did that.

SuperCamp further encouraged Ibrahim to step out of his shell. He became an even more positive person and gained more confidence in himself. This confidence led to his applying to join the Model United Nations in ninth grade. Since, he has had the opportunity to travel around the world and attend Model UN Simulations in Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, and the United States.

Ibrahim made the transition from camper to Team Leader in 2014. He loved camp so much he wanted to be a part of being that positive role model to campers. He said the transition from camper to Team Leader was incredible for him. During staff training he got to see inside of SuperCamp and how everything is on purpose.

The post SuperCamper – Best Delegate Model United Nations appeared first on SuperCamp.

In her book, Emma shares her very sound positive thoughts—and advice—on life and success for teens. And what she shared with us when she gave her book to our president, Bobbi DePorter, was that although she was planning to be a writer, she thought she had to wait until she was an adult to write her first book, then SuperCamp changed that perception. SuperCamp in fact, was life-changing for Emma in many ways.

When her father suggested she attend SuperCamp, Emma was not enthusiastic. She had never been away from home for ten days, she was quite shy, and reading of the Outdoor Adventure Day made her even more nervous because of her fear of heights.

Eventually her father convinced her to go and very soon after her arrival on the first day, she realized this was going to be an amazing experience. She made friends quickly, she was no longer feeling shy or scared, she was not homesick—and she felt she had a “family” in her team members.

When Outdoor Adventure Day arrived, her fear did return, though it was short-lived. With encouragement from her team members and other campers, Emma remembered things she’d learned since her arrival at SuperCamp. She had learned about the importance of moving out of her comfort zone in order to learn and grow, and one of the 8 Keys of Excellence—This Is It!—made her determined to “make the most of every moment”—including some scary moments! And Emma did it—she overcame her fear of heights. And along with that lesson came the knowledge that she could achieve whatever she set her mind to—including writing a book before she was an adult!

Emma believes that her “life-changing” experience at SuperCamp motivated and empowered her to write this book. It’s gratifying for us to note how many SuperCamp principles show up in her book and her enthusiasm about her SuperCamp experience: “I would like to acknowledge Bobbi DePorter, founder of SuperCamp, for her amazing work with teenagers. I attended SuperCamp and it truly was a transformational experience for me. I didn’t think it was possible to have so much fun while learning? That week at camp really inspired me to conquer my fears, be more open-minded, and live in the moment.” We encourage you to get a copy and read her book!

Emma may return to SuperCamp as a Team Leader—and we look forward to welcoming her!

The post SuperCamp grad publishes book at age 15! appeared first on SuperCamp.

Jake attended Stanford Senior Forum prior to his final year of high school. The impact was so great that he became a counselor the following summer. He describes his experience as life changing. Jake believes that what he learned made college life more fulfilling. And though his time spent as a counselor was exhausting, he admits it’s “the hardest work you’ll ever love.” His love hasn’t died. He went on to be a counselor for five more years and currently works for SuperCamp’s parent company, Quantum Learning Network, as partnerships director.

The post Making the leap from camper to counselor. appeared first on SuperCamp.

It’s a parent’s worst nightmare. Many college students fall into bad habits and more than one-third drop out during their first year. For some, the struggle is academic. But for many, the biggest challenge is the social adjustment of living away from home and navigating life with new friends and classmates.

For Sammy, a 19-year-old freshman at Winona State University in Minnesota, the transition to college was smooth and easy thanks to her experience at Quantum U (SuperCamp’s college-age program, now Quantum Academy) the summer before.

Sammy recalls that when her parents first signed her up for the college prep summer camp, she felt apprehensive. She thought the 8-day academic program would be the worst possible way to start her summer, and she doubted that she needed any preparation for college.

The first day at Quantum U didn’t alleviate those concerns. Sammy was one of 30 Quantum U students at UCLA, and she couldn’t wait for the eight days to be over so she could go home and rejoin her club soccer team. “I felt stuck,” says Sammy. “So did a lot of the other campers.”

But on the second day, something shifted. Maybe it was the burgeoning camaraderie among the campers. Maybe it was the enthusiastic leadership from Marina and Craig, the camp facilitators. Maybe it was the insightful curriculum or the all-you-can-eat cafeteria food.

Whatever the case, Sammy dove in, ready to give the college prep summer camp a chance. She decided that she would make the most of the experience and see what she could get out of it.

To Sammy’s surprise and delight, the program was a blast.

Sammy had expected the program to be eight consecutive days of sitting in a chair listening to lectures. Instead, the material was presented in a dynamic, engaging way that incorporated games and activities. The Quantum U students also got to sightsee and explore the campus.

Even the curriculum was a surprise. While academic strategies were covered, the college prep camp also taught students critical communication skills, including how to structure an apology and how to listen to others and respect their differences.

Sammy found the communication skills particularly helpful in her first days at college. Others struggled to make friends and feel comfortable in their new environment. But Sammy jumped into conversation and made many new friends right away. “Quantum U was like going to college,” Sammy explains. “So I immediately felt comfortable and open at WSU.”

Sammy continues to use the skills she learned at Quantum U. She recalls, “Recently I got in a fight with one of my friends. I listened to her, and I didn’t say ‘I’m sorry’—I said ‘I apologize’—because sorry is overused and often not meant. ‘I apologize’ means more.”

As Sammy wraps up the last few weeks of her freshman year, she remains grateful for the Quantum U experiences and looks forward to taking her Quantum U skills into her sophomore year. “The things they teach you stick with you. It was definitely worth it.”

For more on Quantum Academy, call an enrollment specialist at 800.228.5327 or request an information packet.

The post “The things they teach you stick with you”: Reflections on Our College Prep Summer Camp appeared first on SuperCamp.

In 1984, La Jolla residents Dan and Mary McSweeney sent their teenage son Matthew to SuperCamp. Then only in its third year, the summer camp’s impact was strong and Matthew was changed by his experience that summer.

Matthew recalls … ”SuperCamp challenged me, pushing me into areas that were previously way out of my comfort zone. It totally changed my perception of what I could accomplish!”

Thirty years later, the family’s connection to SuperCamp remains strong.

Now a busy sales manager for a large  company, Matthew still uses the skills he learned at summer camp so many years ago—and his children are now acquiring those same skills and more.

In 2013 Matthew’s parents, Dan and Mary, sent his children, Payton (PJ) and Ryan, to SuperCamp’s Senior Forum at Stanford University. Like their dad, they returned from their summer camp experience forever changed.

“When PJ came home, she was a different kid,” says her grandmother. “She’s always been talented but never believed in herself. Now she’s a self-confident young lady. And Ryan had all sorts of wonderful stories about his summer camp experience—it made a big impression on him. SuperCamp introduced both of them to wonderful parts of themselves that they didn’t know were there.”

Matthew has also seen changes in his children. “The first thing PJ did after summer camp was apologize for being a turkey,” says Matthew. “It broke through her teenage rebellion and helped her to realize we’re there to love and support her. She’s more humble and has a better idea of who she wants to be. Before SuperCamp she didn’t want to try out for the golf team. After SuperCamp she tried out and made the team—and now she’s undefeated! She used to wilt under pressure—now she wants to compete, and performs well!”

PJ and Ryan’s grandfather adds, “SuperCamp pushes teenagers out of their comfort zones—and shows them that they can accomplish much more than they ever thought. I’m a fan of SuperCamp because of the positive attitudes the kids come away with, their increased self-confidence, and what I perceive to be their change in focus.”

These changes came in spite of the fact that Ryan and PJ initially resisted the idea of going to an academic summer camp. It took two days at Stanford for them to fully dive in, but both students now consider SuperCamp the best experience of their lives.

Dan and Mary have enrolled PJ in Leadership Track at Stanford this summer. They’re also sending two more grandchildren, a niece, and a nephew to SuperCamp’s Senior Forum at Stanford and three grandchildren to SuperCamp’s Junior Forum at Loyola Marymount University. This makes a grand total of eight McSweeney kids attending SuperCamp 2014!

“We want to make sure they all have every opportunity to succeed in life,” said Dan. “To do that we’re sending these kids to SuperCamp, we send them to private high schools, and to four-year colleges, too. We’re very strong proponents of education because we think it gives kids the greatest opportunity for success in life. It certainly has been the case for our family.”

Give your children or grandchildren the gift of confidence this summer. Call 800.228.5327 for more information or enroll online.

The post SuperCamp Welcomes Eight McSweeney Kids in 2014! appeared first on SuperCamp.

“There is so much to say and express about Zeke’s SuperCamp experience that I don’t think it will show on paper as well as it is intended. Zeke had a wonderful time at camp. He could not stop talking about the new friends he made and the life-changing moments he experienced while at camp. The first thing he showed us was a raw emotion when we met him at the airport. After letting him hug and cry for a little, I knew he had experienced something that he had lost along the way. He found his compassion and love for his family and gratefulness for what he has. My son had not hugged or shown me his emotional side since elementary school—we were all crying with him.”

“The next day, Zeke and I sat down to talk about his days at camp. He had such emotion and joy in his voice, it was wonderful to see him so excited, positive and passionate about something. He spoke of the ropes course, the new learning techniques, the board he broke in half and how he prepared for the SAT and ACT. I can’t wait for school to start so he can start using some of his new-found skills. I think this year he will experience the best school year he has ever had.” —Maribel Garcia

What a story! We are so grateful to all of our campers and parents that share their SuperCamp experiences with us. If you have a story to share, we would love to hear it! 

Create stories and memories of your own! Spots are filling up quickly – enroll now!

The post Camper Spotlight: Zeke Garcia appeared first on SuperCamp.