7 Scroll Down 7

Letters from Camp: Job Training at Camp Colley

Nov 28, 2016

Perspectives from Youth in the Camp Colley Job Training Program In Phoenix, 1 in 5 of our young adults ages 16-24 are neither working nor in school. It is the highest rate in the nation. This demographic is referred to “Disconnected Youth” or “Opportunity Youth.” In 2015 Camp Colley partnered with ACYR to provide job training and work experience to disconnected youth as a continuation of our mission to help youth transition successfully into adulthood. There are three main aspects to the Camp Colley Job Training and Social Emotional Learning for Disconnected Young Adults Program: “soft skills” training, on-the-job training, and life-enriching experiences in nature. Soft skills training, such as preparing a resume, learning how to interview for a job, and basic communication skills are taught at ACYR before the intern goes to camp to have on-the-job training. The third component of the work experience program is the life-enriching experiences that come from time spent in nature. The outdoor activities and immersion in nature is available to the work-training participants during off-work hours. For many of the young adults in this program it is the first time they have been exposed to outdoor recreation and the transformative effects nature has on mental and emotional wellbeing. Included below are the experiences and perspectives of several interns from Camp Season 2016. “I learned how to communicate better with my peers, and I made many new friends.” -DD  “I felt I grew more as a person there to be able to finally mature and see why it’s so important to follow and lead.” -CB “Going to camp was a good experience for...

Letters from Camp: Social-Emotional Learning

Nov 23, 2016

Camp Counselor Perspective: Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is Paramount One of the counselors at Camp Colley this summer was a graduate student pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) at ASU. She shares her insight about youth development through participation at Camp Colley. Learning happens on two levels at camp. There are skills that campers know they are learning through participation in each day’s activities. These include shooting an arrow at the target, paddling a canoe correctly, and making a bird feeder. Although campers may not realize it at the time, they are also developing life skills. Through these same camp activities, youth are transformed as they learn to work as part of a team, cope with new challenges and adversity, assess risks and analyze possible outcomes. This social-emotional learning will help them be successful in all their endeavors throughout life. One example is teaching boating safety. Skills to participate in the activity- such as paddling, positioning, and three points of contact are taught alongside the lifelong skills that are naturally incorporated such as teamwork, sharing the spotlight, cooperation, and patience. Incorporating social-emotional learning into activity instruction is a natural fit and one of the reasons the nature experiences youth have at Camp Colley are impactful for life-long learning and success.   Connect disadvantaged youth to what they need to succeed. Donate...