Yesterday was another one of my favorite days – staff GaGa! You might think this is a stretch, but to me this event symbolizes the ultimate in feeling a sense of belonging! Most of these spirited, fun-loving, passionate staff members have grown up at Coleman Country – and that means they have grown up with GaGa!

And I watch our campers sitting around The Pit and cheering for their counselors or watching the live feed in the Palace Theater, knowing that they are setting goals, picturing success, and hoping to one day be just like them!

That’s what happens here. The roots of being connected are so deep that they provide nourishment for the soul, wherever you happen to be. At home with your own family. At school. At work. Anywhere – what you take away from The Ranch stays with you forever.

I know this to be true because we recently made a general request to counselors asking if anyone wanted to write a testimonial for our new website that we’re building (for release in a couple of weeks!), explaining to prospective staff members what it’s like to work at Coleman Country.  Here are just a few from the outpouring of emotions:

• Coleman Country takes kids by their hand, but touches each and every heart!
• The moment you step into CCDC, you feel like part of a family that wants to see you succeed and step out of the box.
• When I am at Coleman Country, I feel a million miles away from the “real world” – it is my “happy” place.
• I always come back to Coleman Country because it is like my second family. The best part is that family gets bigger every summer. With new friends and new campers, the experiences I have there are indescribable and irreplaceable.
• It’s really not a job to me – I come back for the feeling inside of me.
• Everywhere you turn there is someone smiling and having a great time. Besides the lifelong friends that I love spending all summer with, there is not another place where everyone can truly be themselves.
• Coleman Country is a place of warmth, love, and comfort that is contagious and stays with me all year long.
• Everyone is their own individual, but when put together like pieces of a puzzle, we don’t only form a unit but also a family.
• You’re given the opportunity to shine and to be accepted for the person you are. At Coleman Country I found my second family and discovered my spirit.

These are the people who are working with your children, being positive role models for them. Isn’t that gratifying?

By the way, would you and/or your camper like to share a few words for our website to give future families a feeling of life on The Ranch from your or their perspective? We’d love to hear what being a part of Coleman Country means to you. You can leave your thoughts in the Comment space below or e-mail me at blog@ColemanCountry.com.

Until then,
Happy Trails!
Marla

I promised you the inside scoop if you read Coleman Country’s blog, “Happy Trails.” So, here it is – strategies for getting your name on The Pit’s Wall of Fame!  Parents will have their turn in the Dream Dome on Wednesday evening at 6:45 pm. (please make sure you are signed up in advance!).

These tips, by the way, come straight from Ross, known on The Ranch as one of the savviest players and professor of the game!

Stretch, stretch, stretch! In the game of GaGa, you have to stay low to protect your legs from being hit. That, in combination with the reality that you don’t often find yourself in that position on a regular day-to-day basis, translates into stretching those hamstrings well.

And, don’t jump! Any good player knows that being in the air makes you a better target, because you’ll have to land – and that’s when you’ll get hit.

Don’t be overly aggressive. You don’t get points for getting others out; only for being the last one left!

Play with an open hand; you’ll have better control of the ball.

When the second ball comes in, be aware of your surroundings. If you are near the wall, there are fewer sides to protect.

Of course, the wonderful part of GaGa is that there still is a layer of luck; you could say that GaGa is the great equalizer of boys and girls – and on Wednesday night, of men and women, too! Strategy is as important, if not more so, than athletic ability.

One more thing I want to mention: be a good sport. Accept the referee’s call even if you don’t agree with it. That’s one of the important life lessons we teach your children here on The Ranch.

We are looking forward to a spirited, action-packed night, which historically is filled with lots of laughs and down-home family fun. Until then,

Happy Trails!
Marla

Howdy Kinfolk!

I wish you could have been here to see the kids’ faces when they high-fived Brett Gardner! We had invited lots of media – and they all came! – because we wanted to spread the word that a positive role model could be such a touchstone for children to recognize that they can set and then achieve their goals. We’ve posted much of the coverage on our Facebook page, so you can get a flavor of this memorable day; but I also wanted to share another perspective with you, one that goes way beyond the fanfare of the event.

Of all the video, online, and print reports of the day, which included NBC and ABC, the one that told the story most poignantly for me was Newsday’s Tony Olivero, whose angle was that “Brett Gardner still sees himself as one of the other Yankees.” Humble and modest, Brett, who is third on the Yankees and ahead of Jeter and Rodriguez in batting average, fielded questions from campers about his two up-until-now more famous teammates with grace and humor.

Meanwhile, “Brett the Jet” as he is nicknamed, who gave the kids base-running tips, is fourth in the American League with 26 steals!

“He doesn’t see himself as a star,” Oliveri reported. Yet the campers did acknowledge him as a celebrity. That was the story.

Brett Gardner, at 5’10” and a college walk-on, is a great example to children that you can overcome obstacles, that you can “Dream Big,” that you can work hard and smart, and that you can re-invent yourself at any stage of life.

That’s why Brett Gardner was here.  You might say he gave new meaning to our Field of Dreams.

Happy Trails!
Marla

Camp is all about “stuff” – that’s what makes it so special. It’s the “stuff” we do that makes each of us a part of a richly connected network of friends. And it’s the rituals and traditions that punctuate those feelings.

When our electronic lightning alert system forced us to cancel one of our four Parent Visiting Pow-Wows the other night, and I saw the deep disappointment on the face of the campers as well as the staff and parents, too, I realized just how significant this ritual is for every member of the camp community. Before I go any further, I want to assure readers – both those who saw or will see a ceremony and those who unfortunately could not – that the show still went on! We gathered in the Circle of the Pow-Wow this morning, and although parents couldn’t be there to witness the solemn ceremony, I can report that it was just as touching as all the others.

That’s because we stand shoulder to shoulder in the Circle of the Pow-Wow, where we are all equal and where we are all friends. We pledge to ourselves and to each other that we will be unified in our determination to Stand Up for what is right. It is in the Circle that we find the path to understanding and hope. It is in the symbolism of the unending circle that we build our wall of collective strength, that brick by brick, we cobble together the values that tell the backstory of Coleman Country. It is within the circle that we dance to the same melodies, both literally and figuratively.

Many years ago, I heard Mary Pipher, the author and anthropologist, define the word “community” – community is when people share the same story, she explained. And every time I see a Pow-Wow take shape, or a dance party gather energy, I am reminded of our connectedness. Inside the barn doors at this place we lovingly refer to as The Ranch, we feel capable, we feel belonging, and we feel loved.

It’s contagious. It’s what creates a sense of family, of common purpose; where everyone knows what’s okay and what’s not. It’s where we share our stories…where we know what’s expected of us… and where we feel accountable.

It just doesn’t get any better or any more powerful.

Happy Trails!
Marla

I love Frivolous Friday! And it’s not because of the prizes!

Today is one of those days where kids get to make a statement with their clothes about their uniqueness. Okay, so in some cases, it’s the parents who are using their creative influence! To be honest, it doesn’t really matter which way we get there – either the camper has an idea of who he wants to be or a parent is functioning as a role model for spirit, teamwork, and creativity; and the child is proud to sport that look and feel a sense of belonging when she gets to camp.

So – congratulations to all who got into the act today! Of course this gives me an opportunity to also comment on the flip side of what we wear at camp. On most other days, we ask campers to wear camp t-shirts. There, too, we appreciate the parents’ role in modeling the importance of respecting the request.

Here’s the thinking: Since camp is a distinctive community, uniforms really say, “We all belong to one family;” and the camp t-shirts, emblazoned with the spirit of camp, represent a bond we have to each other. Believe it or not, wearing the same shirt helps kids relate better to one another, according to child development experts. It’s an especially great message in combination with our theme, “Stand Up.” Dressing alike is a physical symbol of standing “shoulder to shoulder.”

We wear our uniforms, campers and staff alike, with pride! It’s not an issue of individuality or conformity. And besides, at a time when every child’s body is growing at a different pace, isn’t it nice to say, “No matter?” When campers are faced with the challenge of fitting in, isn’t it great to declare, “We all belong?”

Our camp tees help punctuate that we are a separate culture, one that tells the story of a community rooted in connections and equality. Dressing alike actually makes kids more accepting of their own bodies, less likely to be teased, and in the case of little ones, easy to be independent and get dressed on their own.

Wearing the red and tan Coleman Country shirt is as liberating as Frivolous Friday!

Happy Trails!
Marla

Howdy Kinfollk,

All the child development experts tell us that one of the best ways to motivate positive behavior is by giving kids choices. That’s the great thing about camp; we give children practice in making their own choices and then being responsible for their own decisions – but they can only make a good choice!

Coleman Country is what I like to call an intentional community – everything we do is for a reason; we can create the rules, sculpt the village, set the expectations to be just the way we want them to be. That said, we coach our counselors to give children only good choices.

Why am I sharing this right now? Well, today was signup for Club Cycle 2. Parents sometimes wonder why we don’t send home a list of club options, especially when we are so communications-oriented. Now you know the reason, and it is deliberate. Think about it – there isn’t a bad choice among the 50+ clubs that we offer! How can you go wrong between scrapbooking and movie-making, or between soccer and tennis? It’s a perfect opportunity to let kids pick what they want to do.

I encourage you to try the “choices” technique at home when you expect compliance: provide two (or three for older children) good choices, and then don’t be invested in which choice is made! Just know that there can’t be a bad outcome from the good choices you’ve made available.

“Would you rather ____________________ or ______________________?” The trick is to offer the choices and then disengage. Kids feel powerful but actually appreciate the boundary. It helps them feel self-confident about their own abilities to make good decisions on their own behalf!

I hope you find this tip helpful; I can tell you it works here hundreds of times each day!

Good luck, and please let me know how it goes.

Happy Trails!
Marla

It feels like camp just began – that is, until you walk around The Ranch and see that campers and staff are strutting around like they’ve been here for a year! You’ll see what I mean when you come for Parent Visiting, which is either next week or the week after, depending on your child’s group.

They can’t wait to have you visit their own special world, to show you what they’ve learned, and to introduce you to their friends and counselors. Can I give you some tips for maximizing that experience for both yourself and your camper? (And please, veterans of visiting, share your ideas below – what works and what doesn’t.)

You will receive a schedule just prior to your visiting. Know that we have very carefully orchestrated the plan to optimize visiting time and minimize distraction, so it helps everyone if you follow it just the way we’ve set it up. That means that for Pioneer visiting you arrive a few minutes before 2 pm. Try to be punctual, as a supervisor will lead you to the first activity right at 2. The children are anxious to spot you; once they do, they get into the groove with their activity. While it might instinctively feel better to come over to them, it’s really more comfortable for them if you stay with the parent group and allow the counselors to work with the children as they do every day.  Your job is to smile, clap, and take photos – then have a snack together and go home with your child at 3:30. We do that because it is hard for many children to then say goodbye to their parents; so we plan visiting to end just before the end of the camp day.

If possible, it’s best to let older children remain at camp and come home on their regular bus. Of course if it is logistically impossible, please let us know before 1 pm that you plan to take siblings home with you at 3:30.

One point I want to make for sure – please don’t ask for those older siblings to leave their group and come to Pioneer Visiting with you! First of all, they will be missing their own group fun; and second, this is a special time for you and your Pioneer!

For Scouts, Explorers, and 49ers, the design is that your child remains after camp when the buses leave. They enjoy a cool-down time in our air-conditioned movie theater, followed by pizza dinner, and then the ceremonial bestowing of five-year camper sweatshirts (a very big deal if you haven’t already heard!). You are invited to meet them at 5:50; first activity begins at 6. Please, please, please – the same guidelines apply as for Pioneers. Keep a respectful distance from your own child and stay with the pack of parents on the sidelines – unless, of course, you are invited by the counselor to join in the game! So wear camp-appropriate footwear just in case; and just a friendly reminder – let the kids win!

Looking forward to welcoming you to The Ranch. Until then,

Happy Trails!
Marla

Yankee Outfielder Brett Gardner hit his first career grand slam and an inside-the-park home run the other night – he must be getting pumped for his visit to Coleman Country in two weeks!

And we’re getting pumped, too. Brett is a great role model for our campers. At 5’ 10’’, he was a walk-on at the College of Charleston. The coach told the aspiring ball players that he would call them if they made the team. But Gardner, without hearing from Coach Pawlowski, came to the field the next day for the first official practice, wearing his high school uniform. When Coach asked Brett why he was there, the self-confident Gardner replied that he knew he was capable of playing at the Division 1 level. Pawlowski told Brett he could stay and practice with the team, but at any time, if he saw that Brett wasn’t cutting it, he’d have to let him go.

The rest is history. After being a three-year college starter, Gardner was drafted by the Yankees. In 2009, he beat out Melky Cabrera for the starting center fielder position. Today, Brett is considered one of the fastest players in Major League Baseball. He’s best known for stealing bases and for being very disciplined at the plate. He makes contact with 93 percent of his swings, which is third best in the American League.

Brett Gardner clearly said to himself that day back in 2001 when he was a college freshman, “Stand Up.” He wasn’t full of false self- admiration. He set a goal, and he pictured success. Then he worked hard to make his self-talk a reality.

There are lots of Brett Gardners out there. They are people who believe in themselves, have the courage to leave their comfort zones and the resilience to test their own mettle. Many of them are staff members here at Coleman Country.

What are you doing tomorrow evening after camp?! I have an idea for your consideration – how about grabbing an easy dinner on the road and heading over to Grant Park in Hewlett to watch the first staff softball game of the season? (The game starts at 6p.m.)  You might see the next Brett Gardner playing; or, better yet, your son or daughter may decide to become the next Brett Gardner.

You never know where that inspiration may come from. Our job is to provide the opportunities; theirs is to Dream Big! I hope to see you at the game. Until then,

Happy Trails!
Marla

Howdy, Kinfolk,

Here’s the scene from my window as we approach the end of our first week of camp: happy and relaxed campers intent on their fun, friendships, and skill acquisition; enthusiastic, safety-conscious, and engaging counselors; competent, responsive, and caring supervisors… and I’m thinking – how can I communicate to parents that they can take a deep sigh of relief because their kids are happy and safe?

I know that in a way I was fortunate to have raised my children in a pre-9/11 world, and maybe even in a time when the lack of technology forced me to rely on others (no, we didn’t have cell phones!). We clearly are living in a world of high anxiety. But here’s the great news:

Coleman Country isn’t really “the outside world” as we know it! We mean it when we say that it’s more than a place – it’s an attitude; an “inside world” that is protected in many ways. It’s kind of like Willy Wonka or the Land of Oz – you just know that good stuff happens. That’s why people often say that camp is magic. Well, it’s not really magic; it just feels like magic because of all the “stuff” we do!

So what does all this mean for you? Hopefully, that you can feel comfortable that we are making good decisions on behalf of your children, training our staff with the best child development tools, and giving you some well-deserved peace of mind. Of course, we consider ourselves partners with parents, so you should always feel free to call us with questions.

In fact, please “talk” to us right now (in the comment field below)! I’d love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have… Because during camp, your children are our children; and while I can’t meet you for a cup of coffee at Starbucks, I sure can take a few minutes to give you the scoop from inside The Ranch!

Until then…
Happy Trails!
Marla