We hate to break it to you, but summer is only four months away! Spring break is actually just around the corner, and Christmas is now nearly two months in the past. Here are just a few reasons to start thinking about your child’s summer plans sooner rather than later

1.       Reserve your spot

According to the American Camp Association (ACA), more than 11 million children attend 12,000 camps in the United States every year. That’s a lot of kids going to a lot of camps, but don’t be fooled by the big numbers. Registration for many camps begins at the beginning of the school year—yes, we’re talking waaaay back in September—and you don’t want to be stuck on a waiting list with your summer plans up in the air. While some camps don’t fill up until late spring, many will have specific programs, dates or locations that sell out early. In the case of SuperCamp, for instance, our Stanford location is typically the first to fill, with less than half of the seats remaining at the time of this writing. Specialized summer programs (such as Quantum U for us) also tend to fill up before other sessions.

2.       Save money

This is a big one—so big, in fact, that it can be broken down in three different ways:

a.       Early bird savings: many summer programs encourage early enrollment with discounts, and these discounts can vary throughout the fall from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. In the case of SuperCamp, we are currently offering a $100 discount for all of those that enroll before April 15, 2014 and an additional $100 discount for returning SuperCamp graduates. Many camps offer these sorts of early bird discounts, from 5-10% off tuition to free merchandise if you enroll or apply earlier.

b.      Airline discounts: For those summer programs that are held not-so-close to home, enrolling early can make a HUGE difference in airfare costs. Quite simply, the sooner you reserve your spot at camp, the sooner you can book that flight—and we all know that booking early can save you hundreds of dollars.

c.       Monthly payments: Many summer programs (such as SuperCamp) offer a monthly payment option, so that you can pay for camp in installments instead of writing one big check. The sooner you sign up, the smaller these installments will be!

 3.       Hit up camp fairs

If you’re new to the camp scene, consider going to camp fairs to learn more about summer programs that take place both in your area and around the world. They usually start around February (wait—that’s NOW!) and run until April or May. If you’re not new to the summer camp scene, you know that it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the number of choices out there. Camp fairs can help! You and your children can speak with representatives from different camps to learn more about their programs. Often held in schools, camp fairs are usually open to the public and are generally free to attend. For SuperCamp, we explore camp fairs out west, in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and the Bay area. The ACA posts a list of camp fairs across the country on their website.

4.       Ease of mind

The number of day camps has increased by 69% and resident camps have increased by 21% since 2002. In other words, you have OPTIONS. The longer you wait, the more options you’re going to stumble across, so do your research now! Make a list of what you’re looking for in a summer camp experience for your child, and find out which camps can fulfill your needs. As the school year progresses, you’re only going to get busier, planning for spring break and end-of-year activities such as banquets, graduations, sports tournaments and the like. Most camps require paperwork, including a health history form signed by a doctor. For SuperCamp, we also require academic recommendations from teachers. Planning ahead allows you to schedule any required appointments, complete the necessary forms and give teachers plenty of time to write up a stellar recommendation for your child. Finally, by making your summer plans now, you’ll be able to truly prepare for your child’s camp experience—explore the camp website and youtube channel, engage with them on social media, learn more about staff and print off a packing list so that you have everything you need well ahead of time.

Well….what are you waiting for?! Get planning.

The final early enrollment discount for SuperCamp ends on April 15, 2014. For this and the reasons listed above, don’t wait any longer! Register now or call an enrollment counselor on 800-285-3276, extension 200. 

The post 4 Reasons to Think About Summer Camp NOW appeared first on SuperCamp.

CHICAGO, – Only 46% of high school students are prepared to face the rigorous demands of college, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. Summer enrichment programs are one way that parents are helping their teens prepare better, focusing on academics, social and communication skills.  

SuperCamp, an academic, life and career skills camp, is holding programs this summer to help teens improve grades, confidence and motivation. “It’s about helping students discover that learning can be fun, which leads to intrinsic motivation,” says President Bobbi DePorter. “More students are applying to top colleges than ever before. They need to know how they learn best and gain powerful strategies that help them excel. ”

Even top-performing students may find themselves unprepared. Many students with academic talent coast through middle and high school, earning A’s with little to no effort, says DePorter. When they go to college and find work that challenges them, their work ethic and study habits often aren’t sufficient to succeed.

Researchers from the CRIS initiative argue that college readiness extends far beyond academic success. Determining success rates among students, they insist, requires new and different ways to measure college readiness that extend beyond test scores and grades. 40% of high school students are chronically disengaged from school, and confidence and motivation are often overlooked.  

Craig McKenna, a SuperCamp graduate from Hinsdale, says that he left the program feeling better about his relationships and better about himself. “I met some incredible people who pushed me to a level I never thought existed in me,” he says. “If you want to learn how to succeed in life, this is the place to be.”

About SuperCamp:
SuperCamp is the world’s leading academic and life skills summer camp. For more than 35 years, SuperCamp has helped students increase their grades, confidence and motivation. During these intensive summer camps, students acquire the academic and life skills necessary to compete in the 21st century. SuperCamp has made a difference in the lives of over 75,000 graduates worldwide. For more information, please visit www.SuperCamp.com or call 800.228.5327.

The post [Press Relesase] More Than Half of Illinois Students Are Not Prepared For College – Summer Programs May Offer Help appeared first on SuperCamp.

San Diego, CA – We celebrate grandparents everywhere who leave a legacy of a brighter future for their grandchildren. For La Jolla residents, Dan and Mary McSweeney, that comes in the form of education. Dan, a retired banking executive, and Mary, a retired school teacher and guidance counselor, promote education above all else for the future well-being of their grandchildren.

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

With thousands of summer camps to choose from, SuperCamp stood out from the rest for Dan and Mary. It is the same one they sent their son, Matthew, to in 1984. According to his father, Dan, Matthew returned home with “improved motivation, attitude and dedication. He was much more mature.”

Matt, who went on to earn an MBA and now manages a sales organization, still uses skills he learned at SuperCamp. “Ultimately, it was about confidence. SuperCamp challenged me into areas that I didn’t feel comfortable with and were out of my comfort zone. It showed me I could accomplish a lot more than I had expected of myself. It changed my perception of what I could accomplish.”

This summer, Dan and Mary sent two grandchildren, Payton (PJ) and Ryan, both high school freshmen, to SuperCamp Senior Forum at Stanford University.

“Oh my gosh, when PJ came home she was a different kid. She’s always been talented but never believed in herself. Now she is self-confident. And Ryan had all sorts of wonderful stories about camp. He was so impressed by the experience,” said Mary. “It introduced them to parts of themselves that they didn’t know were there. We knew that they would experience this amazing transformation and that’s why we wanted to send them.”

The McSweeneys feel that the academic, character-building and social skills taught at SuperCamp are essential to help teens succeed in school and throughout their lives. This residential academic summer camp also gives students the opportunity to experience a taste of independence on prestigious college campuses throughout the United States. “Even just flying up without their parents was a part of getting their wings,” said Mary.

“It pushes them to the limits of their ability, out of their comfort zone, and shows them that they can accomplish more than they thought. I’m a fan of SuperCamp because of the attitudes that they came away with, the self-confidence and what I perceive to be their change in focus,” said Dan. “It was interesting, in both Ryan and PJ’s case, when we announced we were going to fund this event, both said ‘oh no.’ But after the first night, it was ‘this was fine, but I’m looking forward to the end.’  The very next night it was ‘wow, this is the best thing I’ve ever done.’”

They have already re-enrolled Payton for the Leadership Track at Stanford next summer and enrolled the remaining two grandchildren, a niece, and a nephew for the SuperCamp Senior Forum at Stanford, plus three grandchildren in the SuperCamp Junior Forum at Loyola Marymount University, for a grand total of seven children attending SuperCamp 2014.

When asked what she was looking forward to at SuperCamp 2014, Payton replied, “I’m looking forward to being on Leadership Track next year because I know people who did it this year and they looked like they had a lot of fun and an even deeper experience at camp.”

The SuperCamp skills she is using most now that she’s back at home are “definitely the ‘This Is It’ Key of Excellence. They taught me to just go for it. It’s helped me make a lot more friends and try out for the golf team. I’m also a lot more organized,” said Payton. “I am really grateful to my grandparents and glad that the rest of my family will get to go next year.”

Since her return from SuperCamp this summer, Payton’s parents have seen these changes as well. “The first thing she did after camp was give me a big hug and apologize for being a turkey. It broke through the rebellion and helped her realize we are there to love and support her. She’s much more humble and has a much better idea of who she wants to be,” said Matt. “She didn’t want to try out for the golf team at school before she went to camp. She was afraid because she didn’t know anyone or think she could make the team. But she did and now she’s undefeated. She used to wilt under pressure. Now she’s performing well and wants to compete. She’s not going to let what someone else thinks control her destiny.”

Dan and Mary McSweeney have set the bar high as grandparents and mentors for the children in their lives, and SuperCamp is proud to be part of their family legacy. “I’m just amazed with the program. I wish I’d known about it when I was a guidance counselor,” said Mary.

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About SuperCamp:
SuperCamp is the world’s leading academic and life skills summer camp. For more than 35 years, SuperCamp has helped students increase their grades, confidence and motivation. During these intensive summer camps, students acquire the academic and life skills necessary to compete in the 21st century. SuperCamp has made a difference in the lives of over 75,000 graduates worldwide. For more information, please visit www.SuperCamp.com or call 800.228.5327.

The post SuperCamp – A Family Affair for these Grandparents appeared first on SuperCamp.

By Daniel Shedd

If there’s one thing we know as a society, it’s that the best breakfast foods are also desserts. I’m looking at you, crepes. If there’s a second thing we know, it’s that confidence in yourself can and does contribute to higher levels of success in nearly everything you do. This is especially true for students. SuperCamp Facilitators, Team Leaders, and office staff all work together to instill confidence in every camper we encounter.

The SuperCamp curriculum is built upon a foundation of confidence through competence. In each activity, piece, and course room, campers experience some measure of success. For example, in Quantum Reading, campers often see huge gains in their reading speed and comprehension with just a few hours of practice. They see themselves being successful at a task that seemed daunting only a short time before. Students quickly realize that they are capable of success and begin to gain confidence in other tasks. With each new activity introduced at SuperCamp, students display a new competence and build confidence. By Day Ten at SuperCamp, many have experienced a transformation in their academics and life skills.

Outdoor Adventure Day is the pinnacle of this confidence-through-competence concept.  The entire day is spent creating, accomplishing, and surpassing goals. In both high and low events, campers overcome physical, mental, and emotional challenges. They learn to trust their own skills and strength, as well as their teammates around them.

Some events require a camper to literally lean on a partner high in the air, in addition to trusting the physical support via ropes of their teammates. Meanwhile, another event challenges the camper to climb a pole and overcome the physical challenge of the climb while facing the mental and emotional challenge of leaving an obstacle behind and trusting their support to catch them.

On the low events, campers are confronted with problem-solving and teamwork challenges with which they will experience success. Their accomplishments on Outdoor Adventure Day help show campers that they are capable of achieving whatever they set out to do. This again builds confidence, which we carry into the rest of SuperCamp and back home.

We know that confidence contributes to success in school, home, and work. At SuperCamp we provide a safe space where campers can practice new techniques that build and sustain competence in a variety of aspects of life. Through that competence, confidence is created, and students find themselves with higher self-esteem, better grades, and better relationships. This academic summer camp provides the perfect combination of academic study techniques and personal enrichment to help any student during their formative teen years and provide effective college prep.

Visit www.SuperCamp.com or call 800-228-5327 NOW to speak with an Enrollment Counselor and learn how to increase grades, confidence and motivation.

About the Author:
Daniel Shedd loved being a SuperCamp camper and Team Leader and has served as a Facilitator for many years.

About SuperCamp:
SuperCamp offers academic and personal enrichment programs for teens, including specifically designed summer programs for high school students, middle school students, and college students. These educational summer camps provide ideal college prep skills and help instill positive values for life based on The 8 Keys of Excellence by Bobbi DePorter. SuperCamp’s academic summer programs for teens help students increase their grades, confidence and motivation.

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