For Day and Resident Camps
Based entirely on new research about the brain, we’ve designed 5 Radical Minutes for Camps to connect each camper with every peer in the group in a compassionate, mindful, and meaningful way.
Start using 5 Radical Minutes at Day and Resident Camps
$1 / camper
How It Works
Summer camp is a dream come true for most children. It provide new opportunities for friendship, exploration, and resiliency skills. Camp allows kids to discover new interests, develop talents, and deepen values.
Whether it’s a day or resident camp, 5 Radical Minutes encourages children to grow socially, emotionally, and intellectually in the camp environment. You’ll lead your campers through a 5 minute communication activity to gain increased interaction and connection. The activity ends with a fun daily challenge.
No matter what sort of camp you’re running, 5 Radical Minutes can enhance the experience.
Does your summer stretch out endlessly with a myriad of campers to entertain? Our program can be used whether you have a weekly turnover or a three month program with the same daily campers. Consistent use of the program shows measured results, including an increase in connection and a decrease in disruptions.
Special needs doesn’t mean a campless summer! We incorporate a variety of prompts for various learning styles that all encourage greater listening skills. We’ll walk you through how to handle each 5 minute session, give suggestions and tips for an even more enhanced experience, and end each session with a daily challenge.
Whether your campers are archers, horseback riders, or dribblers weekly, our program compliments the values and principles you teach, while also reinforcing teamwork, increased communication skills, and greater camaraderie.
These not-for-profit camps are some of our favorites! Backed by organizations like YMCA, 4H, and JCC, these camps can use our prompts to build greater camper engagement. The camp experience is a lifetime memory; we help provide lifetime connections as well.
Are you teaching campers all about the great outdoors? These prompts not only highlight the beauty of nature and encourage children to quiet themselves, observe, and appreciate the world around them; they also encourage peer-to-peer interaction and meaningful connection.
Campers with illness have unique challenges, both physically and emotionally. But that doesn’t mean they can’t have outrageous fun! We address these needs carefully and provide positive interactions as well as safe places to share.
We build on the 5 Radical Minutes foundation in our faith-based camper program by incorporating prayer and reflection time. Each 5 minute interaction encourages positivity and connection while still allowing you to stay true to the tenets of your faith.
Whether you’re privately-owned or uniquely focused, we can build prompts to suit your needs. The principles and format remain the same, but we can typically adjust terminology to support your cause or educational agenda.
Grow Self Esteem
Camp introduces children to new experiences and exposes them to new adventures. Many go to camp without knowing anyone, so they’re forced to figure out how to make friends and connect with their peers. This “out-of-their-comfort-zone” experience helps children realize just how resilient they are, exposes them to new things they’re good at, and shows them what they have to offer the world as far as personality and friendship.
5 Radical Minutes for Camps prompts them to talk about these fears and triumphs with each other. This interaction builds teamwork, comradery, and confidence.
Enhance Peer Relationships
Whether it’s a camp for kids with similar issues (medical needs, behavioral issues), similar interests (horse camp, sports camp) or just kids who happen to end up together, we know that the better everyone gets along, the more fun they have.
5 Radical Minutes for Camps activities pair campers with all others in their group over time, increasing respect and trust. Additionally, these activities enhance peer relationships and encourage self-responsibility for behaviors.
“When you know someone’s story, it is impossible to hate them.” Tracey Erin Smith
Develop Independence
Most days, parents and teachers call most of the shots for children. Camp provides the opportunity for children to make many of their own decisions while still holding them in a safe environment. This shows children that they’re capable of taking care of themselves! Our camp program encourages independent thinking while also teaching about responsibilities and outcomes.
Build Compassion and Civility
When children come together in the camp environment, differences are broader than in the typical school classroom. 5 Radical Minutes for Camps helps unite these differences and uses them to build compassion, encourage teamwork, and enhance civility towards one another.
Get Unplugged
Spending time outdoors away from electronics can reveal a whole new world to children. UCLA conducted a study of sixth graders and found that those who spent just five days away from their screens (at camp!) changed immensely. They were able to identify emotions and read non-verbal cues much more readily than those who didn’t reduce screen time.
Unplugging increases opportunities for social interaction and helps create deeper, more meaningful relationships. 5 Radical Minutes for Camps helps campers talk about emotions and learn to share feelings more openly and honestly.
Make New Friends
There’s nothing like going on an adventure with new people. Whether it’s at a day camp or at an overnight resident camp, kids are able to relax in this new environment. Camp removes them from the athletic, academic, and social competition they typically experience at school.
5 Radical Minutes, whether used once a day or at two different times through the day, allows for deeper connection more quickly, both one-on-one with peers and also with the whole group. This can mean lifetime connections for many!
The Neuro-Biology of Kindness
Acts of compassion or love exercise the vagus nerve. Research shows us that teaching kindness to children is essential.
Campers who have a high vagus nerve response will voluntarily work together more quickly and build compassion more readily. 5 Radical Minutes for Camps gives you brief instructions that help campers engage this nerve, relax the body, and listen from a place of kindness. This transformative program takes the positive outcomes from the mindfulness and gives them life. Campers actually practice these positive skills in their relationships every day.
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH:
Dacher Keltner on the Vagus Nerve
Vagus Nerves and Diaphragm
5 Radical Minutes Research Support
Check Out Our Parent Program
A supporting parent program is available to teach parents how to listen to their children, how to provide a safe space for their children to speak their truths. This positive reinforcement at home will only enhance outcomes at school and increase resilience in school youth.
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Sign up to access our e-books, templates, and worksheets and start building your resilience today.