As you can tell, we come up with lots of stuff for kids to do at camp. But sometimes, kids like to do their own thing. And that’s why we have Team Time, a blend of “free choice” time and Counselor-led activities based on what campers want to do! Here’s when they come up with group names, make up skits and games, learn to lace a lanyard, design a SMILE Card service project, or just beat their all-time knock-hockey score.

What are SMILE Cards?

Camp is a perfect place to build character skills that last a lifetime! Everyday we reinforce the importance of kindness, generosity, honesty and respect. Once a week, during our Team Time, we also help kids come up with creative ways to brighten the world of those around them. One way we do this is we teach kids about an organization called SMILE Cards whose mission is to encourage people to pass on anonymous acts of kindness. As you'll see on their site at www.helpothers.org:

"For these experiments in anonymous kindness, you are the scientist and the world is your laboratory. Is kindness truly contagious? There's only one way to find out..."

We help kids develop this spirit of service and help them come up with fun ways to do nice things for their family, friends, neighbors and community. Below are just a few examples of activities we do to help make kindness contagious:

Make an unexpected present for someone special (esp. when it's NOT a holiday or their birthday!)

Make a card telling someone what they like about them

Thinking about what a family member's favorite things are and then making something to represent it.

Thinking about people in your community who give good service but who might not always get recognized (the checker at the local grocery store, the maintenance person at your school, the mailman, etc) and leaving an anonymous gift of thanks for them.

Making an anonymous cheer card to be delivered to a convalescent home or a children's hospital

Sharing something nice that someone else at camp has done for you that week