Slovenski Camps

Camp Philosophy

Slovenski Camps are guided by the Liberal Arts traditions of Western Civilization. We believe in helping campers learn what we call the Liberal Arts for Children: swimming, dodgeball, capture the flag, singing, dancing, paddling, sailing, manners, thoughtfulness, reading classics, and cleaning up after ourselves. Summer camp should be a place free from the distraction of glowing screens. Campers will learn to have fun the way their parents and grandparents did — playing outside. They will engage in unique, exciting activities that teach real-life skills such as mental toughness, how to work alone and in teams, how to quickly adapt to new rules and conditions, and how to defend yourself with Battle Rockets and dodgeballs.

A week at camp includes an important and long stretch of time away from technology, phones, and social media when the brains of children and teenagers are developing mental habits and pathways of thinking. Campers enjoy in-person conversations all day. They are also participating in games, education, and exposure to the arts including classic literature, music, dance, and poetry. Campers hear and often learn to memorize poems such as "No Man is an Island" by John Donne, "If" by Rudyard Kipling, "The Happy Warrior" by William Wordsworth, and "The Walrus and the Carpenter" by Lewis Carroll. Camp also includes free time periods similar to the freedom children have during school recess or while playing with friends in the neighborhood.

Our talented staff is trained to inspire fair play, good sportsmanship, bravery, and exercise. We play a lot of active games. We use exercise for fun, and exercise for consequences. Similar to an old school athletic team practice, our activities often include running, push-ups, or swinging a lap. Counselors, campers, and even camp directors participate in the active games and exercise. In the fun of competition campers will create new friendships.

Each evening concludes with a campfire that features contests, singing, dancing, recognition, stories, and encouragement for good standards of self-reliance and friendship that we remember from our Protestant Sunday school classes. "Thoughts for the Day" are read aloud at campfires each night, and include wisdom of the ages such as George Washington's "It is better to be alone than in bad company", and "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" from Jesus in the Book of St. Matthew.

Children's Mental Health

Our summer camp program has been positive for childhood mental health. We stayed open all through summers 2020 and 2021. Our camp helps children enjoy childhood, while also learning a lot of things that are good for mental health. Learning activity skills and how to clean up after yourself are excellent elements of childhood self-confidence.

Camp life is the opposite of social media. Brain researchers say, “neurons that fire together, wire together.” Children at summer camp are firing on the pathways that are involved with conversation, clean-up responsibilities, reading, singing, activity choices, game choices, decision-making in games, and humor. Campers who spend time at summer camp have to learn how to use their brains, make decisions, and interact in person with dozens of other children and adults. No cell phones or social media opportunities are involved.

Our counselors coach campers in character development activities such as meeting new people, welcoming new people, overcoming challenges, dealing with the adversity of not getting what you want all the time, being brave (in a safe setting), embracing high standards of conduct, and learning the joys of self-reliance. Our program emphasizes mental toughness and grit.