Bumper Boat Fun!

When the weather turns warmer, kids get excited about spending time on the water. Bumper boats are one of the most popular activities at summer camp. Most parents are familiar with canoes and kayaks but seldom connect water and bumper cars. So, when they see the boats hit the water, it brings big smiles to everyone’s face! Bumper boats are exactly what the name implies. Kids love steering them around on the water while bumping into their friends. As you make your summer plans, below are a few ideas on helping your camper enjoy a little bumper boat fun this season.

Get Your Kids Comfortable in The Water

One big reason why families send their kids to camp is to provide them with an environment where they can step out and take safe risks. Diving into a lake is intimidating for many kids. Bumper boats offer a gentle way to get acclimated to spending time in natural bodies of water. And, since the boats are equipped with fun water “squirters”, kids can get wet without the pressure of being fully submerged.

Make Sure Everyone Practices Water Safety

Every activity at camp is carefully planned with safety in mind. Kids learn all about water safety when they climb onto a bumper boat. From putting on their life jacket to wearing a seatbelt, they learn how to respect the water and still have tons of fun. For added water safety, sign your child up for swimming lessons. They can be in a traditional pool as well as natural bodies of water. Then, always make sure trained staff members are on the water with the kids to supervise their bumper boat adventures.

Encourage Teamwork and a Sense of Community

Classic bumper boats hold two kids at a time. They take turns steering and squirting. Everyone gets a kick out of turning it into a team sport. And working together is a great way to encourage new friendships. Bumper boats are a form of open-ended play. This allows kids to make up games with their own rules within the camp community. Counting points for bumps or hitting their targets with a blast of water are just a few of the ways kids turn this fun activity into a friendly competition.

Extend the Fun with Party Options

Day camp gives youngsters the chance to enjoy bumper boats after school and during the summer. But they just can’t get enough of this activity. For this reason, you will find that it makes the perfect activity for any celebration. The joy of bumping each other across the water generates tons of laughs and memories. Whether celebrating a birthday or winning a championship, it’s a great way to highlight special occasions. It also is the perfect end to a day of team building.

When you arrive at camp, you never know what kind of fun is in store. The look of excitement on a kid’s face when they first see a bumper boat is amazing. And their smile just gets brighter as they steer their boat across the water. When it comes to filling those summer days with new and exciting experiences, everyone should have bumper boats on their itinerary.

Let your kids enjoy bumper boat fun at Maplewood Summer Day Camp. Experienced staff will keep your child both safe and busy with arts and crafts, games, water sports, gymnastics and more. Visit the site at http://maplewoodyearround.com/summer-camp/summer-camp-activities/  to see the fun your child will have at Maplewood Summer Day Camp.

The Importance of Team Building for Adults and Children

Cultivating a team mindset is an important part of your role as a leader in any group. Whether you coach beginner’s soccer or manage a large corporation, you know that getting your team to work together is the key to meeting any challenge. However, it is important to remember that teamwork does take work. Every individual in your group must learn how to trust others while also respecting their differences. For this reason, it is always important to have a few team building tricks up your sleeve. Ones that will get everyone on board for using their combined skills to meet those goals.

Learn Skills That Foster Teamwork

Teamwork is a broad term that encompasses many skills that all must come together for your group to be successful. When your group takes part in a team building exercise, it always starts with a few ice-breaker activities. These allow everyone to get over their initial nervousness and start trusting the facilitator as well as their teammates. Once trust is established, your group will then hone their problem-solving and communication skills. Everyone will work together to accomplish special tasks that challenge their physical and mental abilities.

Explore New Types of Team Building Activities

Camps offer guided rock climbing and ropes courses as ideal types of activities to both adults and children. This is because climbing a rock wall or attempting to make it to the top zip line platform provides plenty of opportunities for participants to set goals and encourage each other to reach them. Whether a teammate offers a helping hand to boost their partner to a new level or the whole group cheers when someone overcomes a fear, getting everyone to step out of their comfort zone allows new leaders and supporters to emerge within the group.

Establish a Community Mindset

Often, members of a group lose sight of their common goals as they strive to achieve their personal best. For adults, this might happen when several employees are vying for the same promotion. For kids on a gymnastics team it might happen when they focus more on individual recognition. But, as a team leader, your role is to teach them to achieve goals working together collectively. High-elements courses serve dual purposes. Individuals are encouraged to conquer their fears and build self-esteem while ascending high above the ground. And, at the same time, they experience a sense of community as participants cheer and encourage each other through the course.

Recognize the Power of Play

Reinforcing the positive feelings generated during a team-building day is important. It helps ensure that everyone can carry what they learned into their future endeavors. Add a refreshing spin to the end of your rock climbing and ropes activities by inviting your team to “play” awhile. Whether hitting the bumper boats or kicking back and fishing around the lake, your group will always remember the rewards that come with working as a team.

When those meetings are no longer effective, finding new ways to keep your team connected is important for their overall success. You can get your group moving and putting their heads together with interactive activities facilitated by an energized staff that knows how to encourage communication and a team mindset. As your group climbs, runs and carries each other through the course, they build a bond while discovering how everyone’s unique traits can be used together to accomplish any task.

Enjoy corporate and adult team building at Maplewood Summer Day Camp. Participants will be encouraged to bend boundaries and extend comfort zones while closely being guided by our professionally trained facilitators. Visit the site at http://maplewoodyearround.com/