| v> | | | | while physical activity has been shown to enhance it. |
| Today I walked into Sidleterra, | | | | |
| a place of wonder and imagination where children | | | | Campers also work on social |
| don’t just watch an adventure, they live it. | | | | skills as they plan, negotiate, build alliances and enlist |
| Upon arrival we entered the Gate of Destiny | | | | aid from others. Morgan Kuberry, the director of the |
| and were greeted with a loud Huzzah!. Gwen | | | | day camp, states that many of the children’s |
| (age 12) stated, It’s like we stepped back | | | | goals have nothing to do with martial arts, but are |
| in history! It’s weird, but a totally awesome | | | | actually more focused on improving social skills. |
| kind of weird. Actually, Sidleterra is the Wizards | | | | Playing a character gives the kids the freedom to try |
| and Warriors sleep-away summer camp, where | | | | out new things in a supportive environment. |
| children get to be the heroes of their own stories. | | | | |
| The site is a re-creation of a medieval village, tucked | | | | Most importantly, what do the kids think? Every hero |
| away in Charlton, MA. | | | | I talked to had similar things to say. When asked |
| | | | | what they liked best, most said, Everything! |
| It's hard to find summer or | | | | |
| after school activities that children enjoy which don't | | | | Adam, age 13 exclaims, It’s so awesome! I |
| involve TV or video games. The Guard Up Family | | | | love being imaginative. We even get to make |
| Fencing and Swordsmanship school of Burlington, MA, | | | | armor! |
| runs afterschool programs, classes, overnight and day | | | | |
| camps including Wizards and Warriors. In this | | | | John, age 11, who has gone to several other camps, |
| stimulating environment children get plenty of physical | | | | says he loves Wizards and Warriors camp much |
| activity, opportunities for social development and fun, | | | | more. It’s fantasy. It lets you use your |
| intellectual challenges. Their imaginations come alive as | | | | imagination. Instead of having to sit around all day, |
| they choose to be warriors, wizards, healers, and so | | | | you’re getting up and running around. |
| on and develop the history and personas of their | | | | It’s awesome! |
| characters. Every part of the camp is designed to | | | | |
| meet the individual needs of the campers. Those | | | | Evan, age 9 states, I love it! It helps me get my |
| who are combat fans can bound headlong into battle | | | | energy out. I like being with people that have the |
| with foam swords swinging. One camper stated, I | | | | same interests as me. I fit in here. |
| prefer to use the mind as a weapon, not the | | | | |
| body. He and his like minded friends can take an | | | | Two young maiden sisters agreed: It's great! |
| alternative approach as a healer or scout. There is | | | | Although, neither of them had been at sleep away |
| room for all. The motto, Honor, Courage and | | | | camp they both quickly fell in love with Wizards and |
| Compassion teaches the kids to understand that | | | | Warriors. |
| courage is not only about bravely going into battle, | | | | |
| but also knowing when to honor their own feelings. | | | | Besides being fun and exciting there is a deeper layer |
| | | | | of benefits that lie beneath the surface. The physical |
| In this setting, kids hone their | | | | and mental advantages of dramatic play are clearly |
| executive functioning skills without even knowing | | | | indicated by over forty years of research findings. |
| it. In Alchemy, for example, they use deductive | | | | |
| reasoning to combine potion ingredients. Organization | | | | There are many great forms of enjoyable physical |
| and attentional skills are constantly relied on as they | | | | activity. One impressive point about Guard Up is that |
| seek clues, solve puzzles, and develop strategies to | | | | the staff is trained in Positive Coaching; The |
| defeat monsters and villains. As one parent put it, | | | | focus on winning is secondary to learning life lessons |
| It promotes organization, initiation, and | | | | through activity. At the end of one skirmish, I |
| communication; all the things we want him to be able | | | | watched a counselor process with the kids what |
| to do at school. It teaches critical thinking. Thinking | | | | they did well and what they could work on further. |
| out of the box is promoted and encouraged. | | | | The kids recognized the importance of teamwork |
| | | | | and said they would have been more successful if |
| Participating in mock battles, | | | | they stayed together and communicated. |
| kids get a cardio workout and enhance their balance | | | | |
| and coordination. It's a place to be creative and | | | | As an Occupational Therapist, I |
| physical and not have to be competitive, | | | | am very aware of the power of meaningful activity |
| remarked the parent of one day-camper. At night | | | | in physical and mental development. As a mom, it's a |
| they return exhausted, but happy after a full day. | | | | pleasure to watch these kids so completely engaged |
| This is a huge bonus, as research has shown that | | | | in body and mind. |
| excessive TV or computer time can impair sleep, | | | | |