SuperCamp’s Senior Forum is a summer program for students entering grades 9 to 12. Senior Forum is a transformational experience for high school students, most of whom are feeling the stresses of needing to achieve good grades, but who are doing so as much for their parents as for themselves. This “have to” feeling changes at SuperCamp, as students get inspired and self-motivated to want to learn and to set and achieve goals.
One of the great things about attending SuperCamp is that we provide each student with an established path for personal growth and learning. Students who attend Senior Forum have the opportunity to return the next year on the Senior Forum Leadership Team. “L-Team” takes students deeper into the learning and life skills curriculum, while incorporating leadership skills that help them develop their personal leadership style.Students with one year of SuperCamp experience (Junior Forum or Senior Forum) who are at least rising 10th graders also have the option of attending our Leadership Forum program. This 7-day program will take their leadership training to the next level as the focus is purely on leadership and life skills.
Students experience many personal insights during their time at SuperCamp. We help them build self-confidence and motivation and teach them the value of strong relationships. Topics covered include positive communication, self-reflection, habit formation, self-expression, and FIMAGE (fear of image). We inspire students to value themselves and to believe in their ability to excel in all areas of their lives.
Leadership development is a priority throughout SuperCamp. It begins with first-year campers and, in Senior Forum, it continues with returning students who can join our Leadership Team, which supports further leadership skills development. SuperCamp grads that are at least rising 10th-grade students also have the option of attending Leadership Forum.
The 8 Keys of Excellence are integrated into all aspects of the Senior Forum program. These Keys teach students to match their behavior with their values, learn from their mistakes, speak honestly and kindly, make the most of every moment, make their dreams happen, take responsibility for their actions, be flexible, and live their best life. When students embrace these principles, they are inspired to strive for personal excellence.
We believe that to be effective learning must be fun. At SuperCamp we utilize research-based educational practices to create a joyful and engaging learning environment. We include music, fun activities, entertaining skits, and energetic games, and students participate in their learning at SuperCamp, they don’t just observe! We know that when learning is meaningful, memorable, and joyful, students excel.
On opening day, students are either met at the airport by our staff or are brought to registration by their parents. After registration students and parents say goodbye as the students begin activities that get them interacting with other campers and staff. Music soon fills the room as team leaders facilitate “get to know you” activities. Students get an overview of the week ahead, participate in a team-building activity, and learn their first memory strategy. After dinner students are introduced to the 8 Keys of Excellence, the guiding principles at the core of SuperCamp, and focus on the Key of Balance—about making choices that enable us to live our best life. During team time each student has an opportunity to tell others a little about themselves, and then they experience their first closing session that includes journal time, shares, announcements, and a Let-It-Go song.
This morning we look at the Key of Speak with Good Purpose—about the power of words and speaking with honest and kind intentions—as well as the importance of maintaining positive relationships. In academic break-out sessions that begin today, students are coached in clear communication, brain basics, and creative thinking. After lunch students learn specific communication strategies to maintain positive relationships. In the evening session students participate in a team-building activity where they learn more about each other as they each share something about themselves that will help others to know them better. Finally, in our closing session students learn about using a “theta scan’ to help their brain move information from short-term to long-term memory while they sleep!
In a fun maze activity on the morning of day four, students learn first-hand about the Key of Failure Leads to Success and the concept that failure = feedback. This is followed by academic break-out sessions where students are coached in the subjects noted above for day three. Later students participate in a series of trust and confidence-building activities and consider what they can learn about themselves and about life during tomorrow’s Outdoor Adventure Day.
Today’s Outdoor Adventure Day is a metaphor for life. Students challenge themselves to move out of their comfort zones in a safe physical environment where teammates/friends cheer each other on to success. As participants find the inner courage to step out onto a high wire and climb to the top of a pole, they start to experience a new level of confidence in their ability to take risks and succeed. In the evening, students share their “I can do it” breakthroughs and celebrate their achievements.
Today students build on the feeling of exhilaration from Outdoor Adventure Day and learn how to translate their physical accomplishments into the mental arena of the academic world. Day six is a big day as students realize the classroom is no different from the high ropes and requires the same combination of risk and fear to be successful. This morning we explore the Key of Ownership and the concept of “living above the line,” helping students learn the importance of taking responsibility for their words and actions. In our morning and afternoon sessions today we focus on academics including reading (to increase speed and comprehension), the Creative Discovery Process (a technique that helps students generate and refine ideas), and brain-friendly strategies for review, focus, and note-taking. After dinner students build self-awareness as we look at the masks we all wear and labels—self-labels, labels we give others, and the labels others give us—and how to handle them.
This morning we learn about the Key of Integrity and how to make sure that the way we live our life is a true reflection of what we value. And then we learn, learn, learn! Today students dive deeper into academics and experience success moments that build their competence as well as their confidence. Their reading speed and comprehension increases, they acquire invaluable new learning strategies, and they learn to effectively handle a variety of writing assignments. After dinner we consider one of the most important relationships we have, that of the child and their parent/guardian.
In our exploration of the Key of Flexibility this morning, students learn about the value of being willing to consider a different approach when something isn’t working! In our morning and afternoon sessions today we’re still focused on academics and considerable learning takes place! In the evening students are given an opportunity to explore their inner self, find their voice, and express themselves through poetry.
This morning we explore the Key of Commitment and then learn about the importance of commitment in goal-setting with a focus on how to set achievable goals. Students also prepare for the “Trade Show” to be held during the Parent Workshop tomorrow, where they will teach parents the skills they learned at SuperCamp. After lunch, we return to goals and with one goal in mind, students participate in a barrier-breaking activity to break through whatever obstacles they perceive may be stopping them from achieving their goal.
We start today with a look at tips for creating a smooth transition from SuperCamp to home and effective utilization of new SuperCamp skills. This is followed by the Parent Workshop and the “Trade Show,” and then during the emotional closing ceremony, students share SuperCamp moments that stand out for them. Students have learned a lot about themselves, about learning, and about life, and today their transformative SuperCamp experience comes to a close. The closing ceremony ends with great joy and a few tears shared with new friends, parents, and staff members as students celebrate their experience and their growth.
Its opening day and staff is excited to greet students at our well-marked registration area on-campus and as well as, the airport for those arriving by plane. Following registration, students transition into “getting to know you” activities, facilitated by our Team Leaders. After lunch, SuperCamp officially kicks-off with an opening session. Students get an overview of the week ahead, learn how to get the most from their experience, participate in team building activities, and learn their first memory strategy. After dinner, with their teams, students are introduced to the 8 Keys of Excellence, the guiding principles at the core of SuperCamp, and focus on the Key of Balance—making choices that enable us to live our best life. During team shares each student has an opportunity to tell others a little about themselves, and they wrap up with a closing session that includes journal time, shares, and announcements.
Teams are a critical part of the SuperCamp culture, and on Day 2 students continue to build their team spirit and relationships. We explore the Key of This Is It! where we focus on making the most of every moment, keeping a positive attitude, and having a growth mindset. During this session we emphasize looking for opportunities when they arise and stepping out of our comfort zone. We also focus on “Big Brain Basics,” where we begin to learn about how our brain works, the learning process, and how this knowledge makes life and coursework easier. We practice brain-friendly note-taking strategies. After lunch, we look at the Key of Speak with Good Purpose and discover the power of speaking honestly and with kind intentions, as well as, specific communication strategies to maintain positive relationships. Students experience their first afternoon activity time where they can choose from various sports, going to the campus book store, or hang out with staff and other students in the main room listening to music. The day wraps up with a team-building activity where we deepen our relationship with our team members.
We start the morning off by exploring the Key of Ownership and the importance of taking responsibility for our words and actions. On Day 3 students focus on academics including Quantum Reading (to increase speed and comprehension), Quantum Writing through the Creative Discovery Process (a technique that helps students generate and refine ideas), and Quantum Strategies (brain-friendly strategies for review, focus, and note-taking). To close out the day, teams support one another as we participate in the trust building sequence activities, which enables team members to create impactful and lasting relationships while also preparing them for Outdoor Adventure Day.
Throughout Outdoor Adventure Day, we practice the Key of Commitment while completing the high ropes course with our teams. On the high ropes course we show commitment to our physical goals, supporting our team, and stretching our comfort zones. Throughout the day, we draw association to the combination of risk, commitment and overcoming fear as keys to achieve a successful life. In the evening, we have the opportunity to explore our inner selves, find our voice, and express ourselves through poetry.
The Key of Failure Leads to Success is a huge part of life. Within our teams, we participate in “The Maze,” a team building activity that challenges our teams to utilize constructive feedback, effective communication, creative thinking, and learning from mistakes. We utilize the exhilaration from Outdoor Adventure Day to translate our physical accomplishments into the mental arena of the academic world, and spend the afternoon continuing with reading, writing and academic strategies. Later on, we master the Key of Flexibility by approaching things differently when something isn’t working. Teams collaborate in the “House of Cards” activity to solidify the learning. The evening will conclude with discussing one of the most important relationships we have in our lives; the relationship between students and their families.
The focus in the morning for Day 6 is the Key of Integrity and how to ensure that the way we live our life is a true reflection of what we value. We ask ourselves, do our choices and actions accurately reflect our beliefs and values? The action continues as students dive deeper into academics and experience success moments that build their competence as well as their confidence through practicing their academic skills. Students also prepare for the “Trade Show” to be held during the Parent Workshop, where they will teach parents the skills they learned at SuperCamp. After dinner, we continue to build self-awareness and emphasis around the power of words. We look at the labels that are given to ourselves and others and the impact of what it means to build others up with positivity.
We start today with a look at tips for creating a smooth transition from SuperCamp to home and effective utilization of new SuperCamp skills. To allow time for parking, parent arrival begins at 9:30am. The Parent Workshop and “Trade Show” begin at 10 a.m., followed by an emotional closing ceremony from 12 – 1 p.m. where students share SuperCamp moments that stand out for them. Students have learned a lot about themselves, learning, and life. The closing ceremony ends with great joy and a few tears shared with new friends, parents, and staff members as students celebrate their experience and growth. Today their transformative SuperCamp time together comes to a close, as they leave to apply what they learned…until they come to deepen their experience next year!
CAN MY CHILD RECEIVE SCHOOL CREDIT FOR ATTENDING SUPERCAMP?
SuperCamp is accredited by both AdvancED and WASC (Western Association for Schools and Colleges). These are the same agencies that give accreditation to our schools and colleges. Although there are exceptions, most high schools approve elective credit for students who participate in SuperCamp. After completion of SuperCamp we provide parents and students with documentation they can use to request elective credit from their school.