How Sugar Bay raises leaders at camp

Are leaders born or are they made?  

We're close to 4 decades since the act of  absolute bravery displayed by the courageous South African youth in 1976. In celebrating this heroic act, we cannot help but wonder what the future holds for our youth at this moment in time. In the spirit of youth month, the big question on our Bay is,

"What efforts are we making to encourage sound leadership and teamwork among our children?"

In light of this, Youth Day gives us a few things to ponder when it comes to leadership and reformation. While there is no formula or scientific theory to raising children, the small lessons and experiences in daily life have the power to transform a life, no matter how small. 

At Sugar Bay our response to the question of raising leaders is found in our vision for camp:

To create a nurturing environment: Not only do we strive to promote a fun environment for children, but our core vision is to invite children into a space where they are nurtured mentally, physically, psychologically and emotionally; as these highly affect their capacity to succeed in any area.     
                                                                                                                                      

Build strong self confidence and boldness: The wide range of activities we offer at camp means that there is something for everyone, from the 'sporty kid' to the 'artsy kid'.  Children can grow in their different capacities, and at camp they have the opportunity to acquire new skills by being free to engage in other activities.

Build sound interpersonal skills: The ability to interact with other people from various backgrounds is an essential skill to have in a global age. The more we move into being a global community, the more important it is for children to be able to work with others and be part of a team. Our group and team building exercises have worked wonders in this area, especially for shy children.

Encouraging Independent Thinking:  Allowing children to choose the activities that they would like to take part in goes a long way in encouraging independent thinking and responsibility. Children will learn to become responsible for themselves, and the decisions they make. We also have activities, such as (but not limited to), arts and crafts which motivate children to think out the box.

 Our campsite also offers the opportunity for children to take part in the President's Award which opens doors for various leadership opportunities.  

It is pretty clear that our response to the question at hand is that every child is born with the ability to lead, but it takes effort and dedication to raise a thriving leader!