For 90 years, the Louis August Jonas Foundation has been committed to helping young people grow intellectually, ethically, and globally through Camp Rising Sun, our full-scholarship, summer leadership program for teenagers from around the world. In the upcoming weeks, we will take a deeper look at our curriculum that has inspired, in so many young people worldwide, a commitment to compassionate and responsible leadership for the betterment of their communities and the world. 

In this issue, we will focus on how our curriculum provides self-structured opportunities for project management and collaboration that contribute to a stronger community. 

Grab your hammer and safety goggles then let’s get to work! 

At Camp Rising Sun, participants have an opportunity to co-construct tangible projects that will improve the Camp community. If you could build something new in your neighborhood, what would it be? Over the years, our campers have painted large-scale murals, forged new hiking trails, and even built a wood-burning sauna. 

Each project is thoughtfully designed by youth to make a meaningful contribution to the Camp community. While campers have produced some spectacular concrete products over the years, the real objective of project time is to provide multidimensional opportunities for collaboration,  learning, exercising, and refining leadership skills. 

Projects can have a long-term impact such as a boat storage rack, bridge, or lean-to; or short-term seasonal contribution such as a garden, clearing hiking trails, or cooking a meal.  

In order for a project to be approved, it must go through the following steps:

1. At the beginning of the season, counselors guide participants through brainstorming sessions to generate ideas 

2. Participants draft a proposal for a project that improves the campus or supports the needs of their micro community

3. Facilities staff work closely with participants to develop and fine tune the logistics of their project 

4. Proposals are reviewed by staff for feasibility, safety, impact on the campsite, and sustainability 

Campers whose proposals are approved become project leaders who are responsible for leading a group of peers to implement a proposed project from start to finish. Throughout the entirety of a project, youth leaders experience setbacks and challenges, but learn to persevere and follow through on their commitments even when it becomes challenging. A staff member is assigned to each project to provide safety oversight, technical training, and strategic guidance; however, the bulk of the project responsibilities fall upon the youth leaders. 

In the process of managing a group project, youth leaders also develop experience in motivating peers through unexpected challenges. A project leader might assume it will only take a week to construct a circular bench. Once the project starts, the leader realizes that calculating and measuring the angles for each wooden slat might take a week on its own and will only require 3 of the 6 group members. How can the project leader ensure all group members are meaningfully engaged and excited to continue on the project with the adjusted timeline? These are the types of practical project management questions that youth leaders must navigate. 

Constructing a Community Inside and Out

Strong relationship skills and the ability to effectively communicate and listen to others is a core tenant of the social and emotional skills that participants practice at Camp Rising Sun. That’s why, as with instructions, the end of each project period is set aside for daily feedback and reflection. During this time, team members reflect on what went well, what could have gone better, and what should be done differently moving forward. This is a great opportunity to track progress towards the project goals and also resolve any interpersonal concerns or conflicts that are impacting the functionality of the team.

The best projects are those powered by a group of campers coming together as a team to accomplish their goals and make a difference in their community. Setting aside intentional time for reflection encourages constructive conflict resolution, which leads to stronger communication and better relationships among team members. 

In fact, the entire project experience facilitates community development. The ability to make enduring physical modifications to the grounds contributes to a collective sense of pride and responsibility for the micro-community that campers develop throughout the summer season. 

According to Jackson and Oliver, two 2018 alums, “Working on the projects as well as being able to utilize them throughout the days as new parts of the campsite provides an amazing platform for campers to bond.” 

Many participants have never used a hammer, saw, or power drill before arriving at Camp Rising Sun. Oliver and Jackson wrote that “As we are removed from where we feel comfortable, it makes the members of each project group become more dependent on one another.” Stepping out of your comfort zone and relying on peers to teach you new skills is part of what makes project time such a great environment for making new friends.

Projects also connect campers to the broader LAJF community by leaving a legacy for future seasons. Some large-scale projects are even started in one camp season and completed or improved upon in years to come. These multi-year projects build connections with the broader LAJF community and serve as hallmarks of their experience. Alumni look back fondly on the projects they worked on during their time as campers and enjoy seeing how future generations build and expand upon their ideas.

Structured Opportunities for Self-management

It is not uncommon for campers to want to continue working on a project even after the allotted daily project time has ended. Especially toward the end of the summer, campers may choose to work on projects in their Self-Structured Time (SST) in order to complete their goals before the program ends.

At least 1 hour, though often more, is set aside each day for Self-Structured Time. SST provides an opportunity for campers to engage in activities that are not scheduled elsewhere in the program. It is tempting to refer to this program area as “free time;” however, SST is more meaningfully constructed to prepare campers with experiences in managing time, expectations, and personal care needs.  

Being able to manage one’s own time in constructive and meaningful ways is a sign of mature leadership and self-management. Participants use SST in a variety of ways, including to:

• Prepare for an upcoming instruction

• Continue an existing project

• Take time for self-care and relaxation after a busy morning

• Organize a campus-wide soccer tournament

• Paint a portrait in the art cabin

• Practice a musical duet for the upcoming evening program

Learning how to prioritize self-care and structure one’s own time can be challenging at first. It is important for adolescents to find a balance between taking care of personal care needs while also taking on new challenges and opportunities. Counselors are available to provide guidance and support in this realm.

Ultimately, campers are encouraged to use SST to pursue activities that further the program goals and take advantage of the unique opportunities provided in the program by making new friends, learning new skills, and expanding perspectives. 

Excerpts of this article were derived from the Camp Rising Sun 2020 Curriculum Guide. To read a full copy of our curriculum, please email contact@lajf.org