Mondamin Lessons In Difficult Times

by Robert Danos on March 19

Mondamin Lessons In Difficult Times

To Mondamin campers everywhere,

As we sit here at Mondamin, we know that you are going through challenges and changes in your normal routine.

We hope that some of the experiences from camp and some of the lessons we talk about during the summer can be of help right now. Maybe you have already remembered some of your camp lessons? If you have not, here are a few we have thought of:

  1. Help others who are having a harder time than you are. We talk a lot about this during the summer – that the real test of who we are is how we act when things are hard, not just when it is easy. We also talk about being grateful for what we have and keeping in mind those who have less.

Sometimes kids & teenagers can wonder how they can help people in need, but if you ask your parents you will discover that there are ways. You probably know that in your town there are groups helping some elderly people who need assistance more than usual right now. And you also probably know that there are more people in your town who will need help getting groceries because the businesses where they work are not doing well right now. Can you make even a small donation to help one of these groups helping? Every small donation counts! Are you old enough to volunteer? Pitching in a bit of your birthday money or your time can add up to a lot of help for those in need.

  1. You know how to entertain yourself without just staring at video games or the TV! Going for hikes, exploring nature in your own yard or nearby park, riding your bike, create some art; these are just some of the ways. Have you thought of any others? Be a leader! When your parents are ok with it, take the lead in organizing other kids to play some soccer or other healthy outdoor stuff. Both your brain and your body WANT to be outside!

  2. Get in touch with your camp friends! Did you lose your list from last summer? No problem, let us know and we will be happy to send you a new one. Reaching out to your camp friends around the world at a time when everyone is dealing with the same stuff can be really helpful.

  3. Try harder than usual to get along with any brothers or sisters! Ha! Yes, we know that this can be hard sometimes but isn’t that what we talk about? Remember how we talk about how so many of our arguments come from little things that we could talk out instead? Well, right now is a great time to practice that skill. Another way to help your family is to step up more than usual and do at least one thing every day that you wouldn’t normally do to help your family out. (for example: Do everyone’s laundry, read to a younger sibling, cook a meal for your parents, etc…). That is also showing leadership and real teamwork.

We’d be happy to hear from you anytime. For now, best from all of us here at camp!

Your friends,

Andrew and Robert

About Robert Danos

I first came to Mondamin from South Louisiana as a camper in 1979 and spent the next 9 summers here all the way through our Counselor In Training program. While attending Tulane University, I was a counselor each summer and have now been on the year-round staff for over 30 years. Before joining the year-round staff, I spent time both in teaching and child psychology. .

My wife, Susan, spent eight years on staff at our sister camp, Green Cove, and we have two girls and a boy all of whom have attended Green Cove and Mondamin, respectively.

Robert Danos