When the Junior High class
visited Camp Tecumseh, we learned about the Five Foundations for Success. These
foundations are trust, communication, self-confidence, leadership, and problem
solving. The Camp Tecumseh staff taught us these foundations through a series
of fun and exciting activities. Through the trip we were encouraged to utilize
these foundations in a productive way. Below, some Junior High students shared
their reflections on how they learned to use these foundations.
Trust
“Trust
is the chief component in teams, marriage, and most friendships. Gaining the
respect of others by treating them in a responsible way is the true meaning of
trust. I learned that I could trust people to a certain extent and some more
than others. This foundation was used at Mt. Wood, the climbing wall. We had to
trust our belayer and the crowd below for foot and hand holds. We also had to
trust our partners in the optimist’s challenge. The optimist challenge was an
obstacle course that one blindfolded person had to maneuver by following their partner’s
instructions. I improved my level of trust between my classmates and myself.”
-Joseph Kawauchi
Leadership
“As
far as my leadership skills go, the field trip to Camp Tecumseh really put them
to the test. It was pretty hard for me to maintain a decent manner when trying
to instruct other people in what to do, especially when my entire group of 8
people tried to stand and balance for two whole choruses of Row, Row, Row Your
Boat standing on a very little box. It was hard because you can’t just shriek
at them if they don’t do what you want them to. They aren’t your brother. You
see, I have a bad habit of not thinking before I speak,, so whenever I feel
like I have a great idea, I just say it out loud, not bothering to listen nor
are for anyone else’s. When my idea turns out to be wrong or dumb, I just sit
there like an idiot saying something like “oops”. But overall, I enjoyed
working alongside my peers and listening to their ideas. I’ve learned that not
everything has to be the Sydney way.”
-Sydney Anzelc
Problem Solving
“The rock wall was
also a time when I needed problem-solving. Whenever I was stuck I had to find
the best place to put my foot or hand so that I could get to the top. Not only
did I have to help myself, I had to help the other people climbing so that they
could get to the top. We had to help them and encourage them. This really
helped improve my problem-solving skills and will help me later in life.”
-Ammaar Basher
Communication
“Communication is very
important when working with a team. The sharing of ideas from one to another in
an understandable way is always key. I learned that I could share my idea for a
situation that might help make progress. Communication of our ideas was very
important in the team building course, the optimist challenge, Mt. Wood, and
obviously in the communication station. I need to improve on this tremendously
because I am very outspoken and when I do talk, I talk with a flare to it.”
-Joseph Kawauchi
Self-Confidence
“Self Confidence is a
huge issue for a lot of teenagers. They often they don’t look right, or wear
the right things, or listen to the right stuff. When I got to Camp Tecumseh, I
wasn’t expecting to develop a new found self-confidence. A time at Camp that I
really felt self-confident was when my group was doing the Survival Simulation.
I was in charge of the making of the fire, I failed, but people were
encouraging me, and believing in me, so I felt confident in my ability to light
a fire. It felt good to know that people believed in me, even though I failed,
they still gave me things like, ‘Good effort’ or ‘I wouldn’t have gotten near
what you did’. That boosts your confidence levels a lot.”
-Cameron Pierce
Valeria arrived here on September 15, 2014. Her father is a
visiting professor at the University of Notre Dame and Valeria came to spend this
time with him during her break from school in Chile. So what would any
adolescent want to do during their vacation from school? Well, find a new
school in a foreign country to attend with a group of strangers, of course! But
Valeria and the students in the Junior High weren't strangers for long. In
fact, after her first day in school, she was invited to join the volleyball
team, was given gear to wear and could be found in the gym at her first
practice. She says she is very happy and has lots of friends. At school, her
classmates are always kind and try to help her. Sometimes it is a little
difficult for her because English is her second language, but that hasn't been
a big problem because she feels she can
understand more every day. And on the day of our first snowfall, she repeatedly
got up to ask Mr. Kelly if she could go outside. You see, she hadn't seen snow
since she was four years old. And her new friends in the Junior High were more
than happy to accompany her. She has quickly become one of the Junior High
family. The students and teachers are so happy to have her and we’ll really
miss her when she has to leave us this week! 
