Can you believe that summer is only 3 months away?! The staff and faculty here at YMCA Camp Eberhart can't wait until the campers arrive. We have a couple new water toys from RAVE Sports that we're just dying to test out. As if summer wasn't going to be a wet and wild time without our new Turbo Chute slip & slide and rope swing! RAVE Sports simply offers the very best in quality and fun when it comes to water recreation offering the biggest, safest, most innovative products in the water sports industry.

Our equestrian programs combine trained horses, qualified staff, and excellent facilities to create a positive atmosphere where horse lovers can advance their horseback riding skills, expand their horsemanship knowledge, and enjoy riding with friends.

Often, the spark that is participation in our programs ignites the inspiration to become a horse owner. We encourage anyone who is interested in becoming a responsible horse owner to learn more.

“For many years, I have been concerned with the increase in sedentary and nature deficient lifestyles among Americans, especially among our youth,” writes Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) in a recent blog post. “Kids today spend less time outdoors than any other generation in history.  As a result, more kids are overweight and obese and suffer from stress, anxiety, and depression than ever before.”

We had the fathers and sons from YMCA Alfred Campebelli Adventure Guides visit YMCA CAMP EBERHART this weekend. YMCA Alfred Campebelli is located in Schaumburg, Illinois. The fathers and sons enjoyed their annual winter retreat with fun filled activities which included horse back rides, archery, tie-dying, even an egg drop. We had a surprise snow storm that turned everything into a winter wonderland and provided the boys with a chance to work on their winter survival skills.

YMCA Camp Eberhart's 2012 Summer Camp Brochure is now available online. With exciting programs all day, campfires and s’mores at night, kids love it! Come to this exciting, safe community for kids to explore, build self-esteem and make lasting friendships. Each week has a special theme. Many are quite popular and fill up quickly! Registration is happening RIGHT NOW!!!

Last year’s blockbuster book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua, and this year’s Pamela Druckerman book, Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting, seem to indicate that parents today are looking for some sort of instruction book for raising happy, healthy children.

We have a solution. We call it summer camp!

We had a busy weekend with three groups up at camp, but thank goodness we finally got some snow to do some fun outdoor activities. We were worried that mother nature might hold back on us this year but luckily she came through and our visitors took full advantage!

Bloggers Jessica Hagy and Seth Godin both conclude: WEIRD IS GOOD.

“You know who’s weird?” asks Hagy. “Astronauts. Saints. Nobel Prize winners. Scientists. People with hobbies you’ve never heard of or are afraid to try. People who speak their minds. People with both problems and (gasp) solutions. People who are (enviably) not like you. Being weird means being noticeably different. It means being or doing something that makes other people stare, or laugh, applaud, or boo. And it’s something we all need to cultivate.”

She notes that “weirdness” helps you to stand out, command respect of others, and do whatever you like. In other words, be yourself and be happy.

In his new book, We Are All Weird, Godin embraces the notion that everyone deserves the dignity and respect that comes from being different.

At YMCA Camp Eberhart, we know that kids benefit from more opportunities to discover their individuality. When they make more choices and develop more interests on their own, they operate in ways that reflect their own unique values.

It can be hard to figure out your place in the world. As a young person with your whole life ahead of you, having the right guidance and support can make a real difference in figuring out who you are and what you can achieve. When kids come to YMCA CAMP EBERHART, they can explore their interests and find support in navigating challenges.

During the Holiday Season, we take time to reflect upon our own good fortune & think about sharing that with others. In addition to the things we enjoy shopping for and giving every year, we often feel compelled to spend money and time on gifts with little meaning. Gifts which are soon forgotten. Why not give a gift to last a lifetime?