Summer camp is a time for children to make new friends, try new activities, and learn important life skills. One of Camp JORI’s most popular activity areas is sports, which can provide a fun and engaging way for kids to stay active and develop important values and character traits. Our sports program is more than a game of GAGA (Israeli Dodgeball). It is an opportunity to teach our campers important 21st-century skills (Soft Skills).
At JORI, a game of soccer can turn into a lesson on winning and losing with grace, the importance of teamwork, and the opportunity to become more resilient. In this post, we’ll share some of the values our sports program teaches.
Teamwork:
Sports at summer camp are often played in teams, which teaches children the importance of working together towards a common goal. They learn to rely on their teammates, communicate effectively, and support each other through victories and losses. This sense of teamwork can translate into other areas of life, such as school and family, and help children become better collaborators and problem-solvers.
We train our staff to provide formal and informal prompts to help our children understand teamwork’s importance. Such as asking the kids, “Who do you think should play x position? And what are each of your cabin mates’ strengths? In addition, we push to get our groups to look at the whole picture and think about others and themselves. Thus preparing them to be future leaders in their communities.
Sportsmanship:
Winning and losing are both important parts of sports and learning to handle both with grace and dignity is a significant value taught at summer camp. Children learn to respect their opponents, follow the rules, and accept victory and defeat with humility. They also learn to encourage and congratulate their teammates and opponents, creating a positive and supportive sports environment.
Whether you win or lose, we wish each other a good game at JORI. We take the time to praise each other’s achievements and appreciate the fun we had together.
Resilience:
Sports can be challenging, and learning to persevere through difficulties is an important life skill. At summer camp, children are encouraged to try new sports and activities outside their comfort zone. They learn to push themselves to improve their skills and overcome obstacles, which can help build resilience and determination.
We ask campers to do their best in everything they do. We don’t believe that winning is everything. Instead, we focus on the growth of our campers. We find opportunities to show our campers how they went from struggling to hitting a tennis ball. This journey separates us from other programs and leads to highly resilient children.
Leadership:
Sports can provide a platform for children to develop leadership skills, such as communication, decision-making, and problem-solving. In addition, they may be encouraged to take on a leadership role within their team, such as team captain or coach, which can teach them important leadership qualities that can be applied to other areas of their lives.
We look to find ways to allow kids to engage with their peers because no matter if they are a natural extrovert or introvert, they have tremendous value to share. Through our program, we find ways for them to show what they got while being supported by excellent staff.
Equity of experience:
Sports at summer camp are played with a focus on equitable opportunity. Children learn to respect and appreciate differences in skill level, gender, and ethnicity. They learn to treat others with kindness and respect, regardless of whether they are on their team or their opponents.
No matter if you’re your team’s star at home or have never thrown a lacrosse ball. We try to meet the camper where they are and allow them to grow, learn, and push themselves.
If you have not noticed, summer camp sports can provide a valuable platform for children to learn essential values and life skills. They learn to work together as a team, handle victory and defeat gracefully, persevere through challenges, develop leadership skills, and treat others fairly and respectfully. If you’re considering a camp that stresses personal development over technical skills, JORI’s sports program is right for you.
How to Register
If you want to know if Camp JORI is the right partner for shaping your child’s future. Then, Please complete our contact form (click here), and one of our directors will reach out to you.
Financial Aid
Did you know one of the core beliefs of JORI is that camp is for everyone, no matter their financial situation?
Please contact Kara (kara@campjori.com) for more information about our unique scholarship program and financial aid.
