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About the Aloha Camps

The Aloha Foundation Philosophy

Aloha Camp

Aloha Hive

Lanakila

Horizons Day Camp

Ohana Camp

Hulbert Outdoor Center

Questions and Answers

What Parents Say

Enrollment Materials and DVDs

MissionThe Aloha Foundation is a Vermont-based nonprofit that provides summer camps, family camps and education programs emphasizing simplicity, the outdoors and living in community.

Our mission is to inspire people of all ages to learn, explore, grow andbe their best selves.

The Aloha FoundationThe Camps of

Table of Contents

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Aloha in Vermont?“Aloha” is an unusual name for a group ofcamps in the countryside of Vermont. Thenagain, creating a sleep-away camp for girlswas an unusual idea way back in 1905. Over100 years ago—when floor-length skirts andlace up boots were mandatory for womenplaying any sport—Harriet and EdwardGulick founded Aloha Camp for girls eagerto discover their most adventurous selves—paddling canoes in white water, cookingmeals over campfires, pitching tents onrough ground, sleeping outdoors under openskies. The Gulicks named their new camp“Aloha” to commemorate their family’s history of living and teaching in Hawaii.

Hive and Lanakila ArriveAloha Camp succeeded from the start,bringing out the best in the girls and youngwomen who gained skills, confidence,strength, tenacity and resilience in summersthere. In 1915, the Gulicks establishedAloha Hive to offer younger girls the kindsof life-changing experiences that kept Alohacampers coming back year after year. Andjust as Aloha and Hive challenged socialstereotypes by opening new pursuits toyoung women and girls, Camp Lanakila,established in 1922, was among the first toliberate boys from narrow expectations ofmanliness. While the programs of most early boys’ camps revolved around drill formations, physical training exercises, competitive sports and games, and adherence to rigid rules, Lanakila chose a different path. Here, counselors fosteredcampers’ social, emotional and spiritualdevelopment as well as physical, practicaland artistic skills, in the interest of cultivat-ing creative, responsibly independent “fineyoung men.”

From Three Camps to Four, Five and SixEventually, the time came for the Gulickfamily to retire from camping. But rather thansee their beloved camps close, alumni formedThe Aloha Foundation to sustain them forsucceeding generations, and whole new audi-ences. In 1978, the Hulbert Outdoor Centerwas born to employ the camps’ extraordinarynatural, educational and human resourcesyear-round, through school and communityprograms of environmental education, leader-ship training, wilderness adventure, familycamping, Elderhosteling, and a wide variety of special seasonal events.

Now the Foundation’s educational and natural resources were surely complete! Yet local families lacked good summertimeoptions for children unable to spend amonth or two at a sleep-away camp. In1995, therefore, Horizons Day Camp waslaunched to offer Fairlee area youngsters thefull range of outdoor fun and learning thatAloha, Hive and Lanakila campers enjoy—while going home to bed each night.

Finally, with over 100 years of alumni behindthem, the Alohas needed a place for all thosecamper generations to gather—from greatgrandfathers and grandmothers, who came toAloha, Hive and Lanakila in the early 1900s,to the offspring of their children’s children.And so, Ohana Camp came into being in2008, to bring old and young together toconnect and play in a family way.

The Ties That BindWhat do all the camps of The AlohaFoundation have in common? Spirit, tradi-tion, and a philosophy of living and learningthat inspires and sustains our campers fromgeneration to generation.

Vermont’s Finest Camps for Over 100 Years

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t r adi t ion

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Every summer over 1,000 campers and coun-selors from more than 30 countries, 40 states,and 400 cities and towns come together toplay, learn and grow with one another at thecamps of The Aloha Foundation—Aloha,Hive, Lanakila, Horizons and Ohana. In thefall, winter and spring, many thousands ofchildren and adults participate in education,recreation and community programs at theHulbert Outdoor Center.

How do our camps and programs foster fun,learning and growth, all at the same time? Notby chance, but rather by thoughtfully creatingand continually refining experiences and leader-ship practices that reflect our key beliefs:

Being happy in life is more about choicethan about luck.We have little control overwhat life throws at us, but we have the powerto perceive any circumstance in either a posi-tive or a negative light. “Success Counseling”is a powerful guidance technique pioneered by the camps of The Aloha Foundation. Itemphasizes our ability to choose how werespond to situations rather than being victim-ized by them—when a camper complains “Sam or Pam made me mad,” we ask the ques-tion “Do you want to keep feeling that way?”Every camp counselor is trained to use SuccessCounseling to help campers achieve goals andresolve problems by taking responsibility fortheir own actions, attitudes and feelings.

Close relationships based on trust and lovelie at the heart of our happiness. The worldtells us to do well; we intend to do good in it,too. But we don’t have to do it alone. Celebra-ting our interdependence and seeking help fromothers are signs of maturity, strength and wis-dom. The highest measure of a person’s worth isbeing known as a good and trusted friend.

Failure is a precursor to success.We gain awareness, build strength, hone skills, and prepare ourselves for future challenges by

consciously learning from our mistakes.Examining our failures breeds creativity andhelps us to transcend life’s greatest obstacle:our own fears.

Listening to others and to ourselves is thekey to awareness, empathy, perspective,and thoughtful action. The most importanttruths are within us. It takes time, discipline,patience and courage to hear our own truevoice, and to honor the voices of our friendsand acquaintances. Listening intentionallyinvolves slowing down, paying attention, andpausing for reflection. Doing so allows us toappreciate the gifts of others, see beauty in theworld, and find strength in the diversity of ourcommunity.

To be consistently honest is both thehardest and most rewarding of life’s manychallenges. Honesty is the foundation of self-respect, a source of personal pride, and anantidote to fear. Honesty also can challengerelationships, and may cause rejection or loss.In the long run, though, telling the truthfaithfully and compassionately is the best waywe can express our humanity.

With strong guidance from camp leadersschooled in Success Counseling, we strive tohelp one other become fine, resourceful people,building character as well as competence inevery challenge we undertake.

character The Aloha Foundation Philosophy

The highest measure

of a person's worth is

being known as a good

and trusted friend.

Aloha

By keeping things simple,

we focus on things that

really matter—the beauty

of nature, the fun we

create for ourselves,

the joys of community,

the lasting friendships

we forge.

for girls grades 6 through 10

What Kind of Camp Is Aloha?For more than 100 summers, girls from theworld over have shared the magic of Aloha,surrounded by pine forests, sunlit meadowsand Lake Morey’s sparkling waters. Aloha is atraditional sleep-away camp for girls who loveliving simply in nature, learning new skillsand making fabulous friendships. But Aloha isno ordinary summer camp: it’s a caring, learn-ing community where every young womandiscovers her personal strengths and best self.It’s also fun, every day and every night!

What Do Aloha Campers Do?Aloha offers all the familiar activities of summer: swimming, canoeing, sailing, hiking,tennis, music, arts and crafts—and less common ones, too: kayaking, crew, mountainbiking, rock climbing, archery, woodworking,theater and photography. Aloha also special-izes in wilderness tripping—week-long hikes,white water canoeing and kayaking, and back-road biking through the Green andWhite Mountains. Aloha campers consciouslychoose how to spend their days, trying outnew activities that expand their horizons as well as improving skills they’re already passionate about. Choice is a hallmark of theAloha experience that fosters independence,goal setting, and responsible decision makingin strong young women.

What’s It Like to Be a Camper at Aloha?One of the first things you notice at Aloha iscampers’ simple white and green uniform—aT-shirt and shorts or jeans. It’s our way of say-ing: “See who I am, not what I’m wearing.”You also notice the simplicity of the place:the dining hall in a lovely old farmhouse; the

arts and crafts studio in a handsome barn; the rustic assembly hall overlooking the lake.Then you hear bugles marking times of theday, from reveille to meals to activity periodsand rest hours. No cell phones, computers oriPods distract campers from hearing the songof the wind in the pines. By keeping thingssimple, we focus on things that really matter—the beauty of nature, the fun we create forourselves, the joys of community, the lastingfriendships we forge.

The Aloha Magic Every summer scores of returning campers and counselors welcome girls who are new to Aloha—and who are sometimes a little apprehensive. We pay special attention tohelping each newcomer feel at home and atease in the camp community, and in her tentor cabin “family” of three or four girls. Aloha“families” live in camp “units” with girls of allages, participating in cookouts and overnightstogether, planning surprise parties for the restof the camp, and entertaining their camp-mates in special programs and ceremonies.

Campers and counselors say their Aloha experiences have changed the way they handle life’s challenges for the better, andhelp them to succeed at home and in schoolall year long. In camp evaluations parents frequently praise the new depth and maturitythey see in their daughters: “I can’t believethe girl who came home is the same one whowent to camp just a few weeks ago!”

Becoming your best self—in the world and for the world—that’s the essence of an Alohasummer.

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Aloha Hivefor girls grades 1 through 6

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Why Hive?Girls come to Hive to explore new interestsand discover new strengths in a supportivecamp community. Campers grow here asindividuals, developing important relation-ships with peers and counselors, sharing thejoys and challenges of playing, learning andliving together, and having loads of fun!

Living at HiveCampers live in tent or shack “families” ofthree to five girls, with one or two counselors.Twelve to fourteen “families” of campers ofabout the same age make up a “unit” that doesspecial activities together—an important partof the Hive experience that widens everyone’sidea of who can be a friend.

Fun and Learning at HiveEach day with guidance from a counselor,campers choose their activities from a widevariety of exciting options. Every activityoffers opportunities to learn, workingtogether with friends and skillful instructors.

On the WaterBeautiful Lake Fairlee is the setting forHive’s many waterfront activities. Camperstake swimming lessons daily so they feelcomfortable and safe in and around thewater. With the help of experienced activityleaders, they learn to canoe, kayak and sail,and participate in camp races and regattas.Every waterfront counselor is a certifiedRed Cross Life Guard.

On LandHive’s playfield, ball courts, woodland trailsand quiet clearings are favorite places fordeveloping a deep love of nature, for learningand having fun. Lessons, practice games, andtournaments help our campers develop skillsin soccer, lacrosse, basketball, tennis, archery

and gymnastics. Horseback riding instructionfor beginners and trail rides for campers withmore experience take place at a nearby stable.

On Wilderness TripsThe magnificent mountains, lakes andrivers of Vermont, New Hampshire andMaine offer unlimited opportunities for girlsto explore the natural world. Campers mapout hikes or canoe trips together, and planthe food and equipment, taking specialpride in preparing the way for excellenthiking and canoeing and adventures—and meeting the challenges they pose.

In Art, Music and SongArts and crafts activities tap into a girl’s creative side, opening doors to self expressionin many media. An airy art studio is Hive’swaterside learning place for ceramics, weaving,stained glass and jewelry making, drawing andpainting. And music is at the heart of every-thing we do. We sing loud and funny songsin the dining hall at meals, and quiet, reflec-tive songs around camp fires at night. Skits,talent shows and dance recitals happen atHive all the time. And there’s a big musicalproduction during the first half of camp withcostumes from our own fabulous collection,sets we make ourselves, and a role for anygirl who wants one.

And much more! A summer at Hive is filled with traditionsand wonderful surprises—from celebratingHive’s birthday and having “lazy breakfasts”together to playing Hive’s own version ofQuidditch and taking care of the chickens,goats and pigs in our mini-farmyard. All inall, Hive is a joyful place for every camperto be a fun-loving girl while beginning to dis-cover the young woman she wants to become.

All in all, Hive is

a joyful place for

every camper to

be a fun-loving girl

while beginning

to discover the

young woman she

wants to become.

Who’s Lanakila For?Lanakila specializes in boys: their interests,energy and the challenges that help themexcel. It’s a natural place for a boy to shed thedistractions of wired 21st-century life, andlive simply, discovering the best he can be.Do you like sports, art, building things,singing, joking, leading, following? No matterwhat, you’ll fit in, have fun and surprise your-self with your accomplishments. At Lanakilathere’s no one way to be a boy or a man—great ones come in all shapes, sizes, colors andabilities. Lanakila values you for your specialqualities.

What’s There To Do at Lanakila?Campers try something new or hone longtimeskills at Lanakila every day. Want to sailacross the lake in the Viking Ship? Climb amountain, enjoy a trail lunch at the top, and

sing funny songs all the way down? Drawa picture of something beautiful or

make a paddle out of wood? Zoom100 feet down a zip wire from thetreetops to the ground? Play aninstrument or put on a funnyact in a Talent or Skit Night?Sing and dance in thecamp musical on ShowWeekend? Lanakilacampers participate

in all these kinds of activities andmany more oftheir choosingeach camp day.And we’ve creat-ed our own gamesand traditions forchallenge and fun:American Ball,

archery-golf, baseballand street hockey

tournaments, the Lanakila Arts Festival, a 4th of July Carnival, and a marathon swimaround Lake Morey that we call the PurpleAlbatross.

What’s a Lanakila Day Like?Lanakila boys live in tent or cabin families ofthree campers and a counselor, in units calledBrookside, Woodside, Hillside and Lakeside.When the bugle plays reveille at 7:30 eachmorning, it’s time to rise and shine for anotherbusy day! First there’s great food that boyslove, served “family style” in the camp diningroom. At breakfast and lunch campers makeactivity choices for the morning and after-noon. Free times, rest hour, and frequent special events round out the day. After dinner,there might be a free evening to do as youplease, a camp-wide game, or a Council Fire,a respectful ceremony that feels importantand different from the fast pace of the day. Attaps it’s time for a story and a quiet conversa-tion with your counselor—or a tent familyovernight under the stars. You feel good atthe end of a Lanakila day, and proud of your-self for everything you accomplished.

The Power of TraditionThe power of honored tradition keeps Lanakilacampers returning year after year. Newcomersare warmly welcomed and made to feel includ-ed right away. Each summer more than 80 percent of Lanakila’s counselors return, too,from all over the world, bringing years ofexperience to the job of creating a safe andcaring environment for every boy. Longtimecampers sometimes say Lanakila is “the placewe leave home to come home to”—a placewhere they learn more about themselves thanalmost anywhere else in the world, and makeamazing friendships that last a lifetime.

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Longtime campers some-

times say Lanakila is “the

place we leave home to

come home to”—a place

where they learn more

about themselves than

almost anywhere else in

the world, and make

amazing friendships that

last a lifetime.

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Lanakilafor boys grades 3 through 8

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Horizons DHorizons campers benefit from the same rich array

of activities that children at the renowned sleep-

away camps of The Aloha Foundation enjoy—

then go home to bed at night, tired and happy.

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What Makes Horizons a Different Kind of Day Camp? Horizons is a day camp for girls and boys who liveor vacation in the Upper Valley of the Connec-t icut River in Vermont and New Hampshire.Horizons offers three summer sessions of two weekseach, Monday through Friday, from late Junethrough mid August. Campers may enroll in one,two or all three sessions. Horizons campers benefitfrom the same rich array of activities that childrenat the renowned sleep-away camps of The AlohaFoundation enjoy—then go home to bed at night,tired and happy. The camp’s exceptional recre-ational resources occupy 90 natural acres of rivervalley land on the quiet shores of beautiful LakeFairlee. From the Horizons waterfront it’s an easypaddle to Hive, The Aloha Foundation’s sleep-away camp for younger girls, and to Ohana Campfor families—both great destinations for campercanoe outings. (Horizons was built as a completesleep-way camp in the 1920s; many local folksremember it as Wyoda.)

What Happens Every Day at Horizons?Each summer morning Horizons campers arrivefrom home by car or bus for a fun-filled day ofplay and learning. In small groups named forfavorite north woods creatures—the Bears,Raccoons, Wolves or Coyotes, to name a few—campers join children of their own age in water-front activities, land sports and creative arts ofmany kinds, led by counselors chosen for theirteaching skills and their interest in fosteringyoungsters’ growth and learning. Many Horizonscounselors live, teach, work or go to school inthe Upper Valley, and many return to Horizons

summer after summer to share their wealth ofcamp experience with children and younger staff alike.

Horizons revolves around the welcoming waterfront, where every child learns to swim, or improves on swimming skills. Campers haveopportunities daily to take canoeing, kayaking or sailing instruction and go boating. Off thewater, campers play hard and fair on tennis andball courts; learn to tumble, vault and balance in an airy gymnastics studio; shoot archery on arange with a three-mile valley view; create craftsin an arty old barn; join all-camp tournamentsand games; and have snacks and lunch inbetween, in a rambling former farmhouse with a cool, wide porch.

What do Horizons Campers Learn?At the close of a Horizons session your child maylead you confidently to the edge of Middlebrookand astound you with all she’s learned about thelife there. Or show you an arrow-hole amongdozens on an archery target where he hit themark he aimed for. Or tell you tales of joyful swimtimes, while you recall how frightened she seemednear the water’s edge, just a few weeks ago. Eachsession ends with a mini-musical productionstaged by campers for a final parents’ assembly.Amazingly, the cast learns and rehearses theshow, and the crew creates the sets and costumesin just one week.

We call these strides the Aloha magic, and ithappens for Horizons campers every glorioussummer day.

ns Day Campfor girls and boys, grades K through 7

Happy Camping for Generations“Ohana” in Hawaiian means your family, community, or circle of specialfriends. The camp we call Ohana is a simple, natural place for generationsof families and friends to relax and play together in the beautiful outdoors.Ohana was built in the early 1900s as a family vacation lodge. An earlybrochure described the camp as a collection of “cozy little houses for twoor more, and a main hall with a view unsurpassed in New England.”Restored to their original charm, Ohana’s rustic cabins and historic dining lodge still overlook that spectacular vista, from a high hill at thecenter of 100 waterfront acres, open fields, forests and rural countryside.

Comfy Rooms with a View and Farm-Fresh Food, TooEach comfortable Ohana cabin contains a living room with a fieldstone fire-place, one to four bedrooms, a modern bath and kitchenette, and a porchwith a country view. For canvas-loving campers, six spacious platform tentsshare a bathhouse and common room with a fireplace. In July and AugustOhana guests share homemade breakfasts and dinners in the camp’s classicdining hall. Lunch fixings are provided each morning to pack for the day.Ohana’s meals are prepared with fresh produce from local farms and thecamp’s own gardens. In late spring and early fall Ohana’s cabins are avail-able for housekeeping stays without meals. The camp hosts meetings, con-ferences, retreats, and social and community events from mid-May throughlate June, and in the month of September.

Play’s the Thing by Day—S’mores and Stories by NightBetween delicious meals, Ohana campers swim, fish, canoe, kayak and sailin Lake Fairlee’s quiet waters; play tennis, volleyball and basketball on thecamp’s own courts; try their hands at archery or a variety of arts and crafts;take hiking, biking, and sightseeing excursions through the New Englandcountryside; or just rest and read in a rocking chair. Summer eveningsbring campfires, music making, story-telling and s’mores; amateur talentshows and spirited contra dancing; expert talks on cultural and naturalhistory; and other community entertainments.

Families Value Ohana“Our extended family looked for several years for a place to come togetherto enjoy one another,” a grandparent has written, “—parents with children,brothers with sisters, cousins with cousins, ages 1 to 78. Then Ohana camealong: the perfect spot for all of us to gather each summer. At Ohana ourfour generations were able to share the love for this lake and environmentthat many of us first felt as campers and counselors at Aloha, Hive andLanakila. It’s the closest thing we can imagine to our by-gone summers atcamp—the aroma of pine needles and ferns, and the earth after a rainshower; the peacefulness and simplicity; the bonds between people andnature—and the incredibly gracious staff who helped all of us to have themost enjoyable family gathering ever.”

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Ohanafor families and friends of every generation

The camp we call Ohana

is a simple, natural place

for generations of families

and friends to relax and

play together in the

beautiful outdoors.

I Hear, I Forget—I See, I Remember—I Do and I UnderstandThe Hulbert Outdoor Center conducts programsof experiential and outdoor education that fosternatural learning, self-awareness, self-confidenceand community cooperation. Hulbert’s year-round lodging and dining facilities host programsfor school, homeschool, community, adult and family groups, including:

• natural history and environmental education

• hiking, canoeing, kayaking, high-ropesand rock climbing

• winter sports and skills• multi-generational family camping• wilderness search and rescue, and outdoor

emergency medicine • leadership development and team-

building.

For SchoolsHulbert School Programs offer cooperativelearning experiences to more than 2,000 children from over 60 public and privateschools annually. Children and teachers takeon projects and solve problems as teams forperiods of up to a week, in the natural environ-ments surrounding the Center. Hulbert’s staffworks closely with School Program participantsto set and achieve personal and group goals,guiding them through diverse physical and creative challenges that build individual andcollaborative skills.

For HomeschoolersHulbert has served as a gathering and learn-ing place for homeschoolers from around thecountry for more than 20 years. Homeschoolstudents aged 9 to 17 come to Hulbert forweek-long programs encompassing ecologylessons, camping skills, mountain hikes, highropes experiences, arts, crafts and music activities, talent shows and community eventsand celebrations.

For FamiliesHulbert’s family-oriented activities includecanoe trips and hikes for children, parents andgrandparents. Family camp weeks in Augustand December offer rich program menus (andgreat food), outdoors and in. In the summer:swimming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, hiking,high ropes, arts, crafts, photography, singingand contra dancing. In the winter: snowshoe-ing, cross-country and downhill skiing, lakeskating, tobogganing, dog sledding, horse-drawn sleigh riding, and winter tenting arounda woodstove.

For AdultsHulbert takes adults of all ages on backcoun-try hiking, canoeing, skiing and snowshoeingtrips—some to explore remote locations andindigenous cultures such as the Cree of JamesBay in Northern Quebec.

Meetings and EventsOutdoor enthusiasts with many interests gatherat Hulbert for workshops and conferences onwilderness paddling, “snow-walking,” conserva-tion, environmental education, forest andwildlife management, and training in wildernessleadership and medical skills. Groups involvedin a wide variety of arts, crafts, music, dance,and natural, historical and cultural pursuitsalso find Hulbert a congenial gathering place.

Lodging and DiningThe Hulbert Outdoor Center provides modernbunkroom-style accommodations in all seasonsfor up to 80 people, and operates a dining hallcapable of serving meals ranging from the mostsimple to country gourmet. Meeting spacesinclude the dining hall for gatherings of up to150; a historic barn with a large fieldstone fire-place, main floor, loft and stage for up to 200; anda variety of smaller rooms for groups of 10 to 50.

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Hulbert Out for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages

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door Center

Hulbert's staff works

closely with program

participants, guiding

them through challenges

that build individual and

collaborative skills.

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Questions & Answers about Aloha, Hive & Lanakila

7 weeks at camp or 31⁄2? Our veteran camp directors enthusiastically attestto the value of a seven-week experience. By thefourth or fifth week of a full summer session,campers can see for themselves the progressthey’ve made building new skills, gaining self-confidence and forging important relationships.Youngsters can and do grow in ability and makegreat friends in a half-session at camp. But in ourexperience they reap more than twice the rewardin seven growth-filled weeks as they do in threeand a half. While some families’ summer planspreclude a whole summer at camp, we urge thosefor whom it’s possible to opt for the full season,knowing that children realize lifetime benefitsfrom the experience. Please call any of our direc-tors to talk over your child’s readiness for sevenweeks at camp—or your own.

Why do campers wear uniforms? “See who I am, not what I’m wearing.” That’sthe philosophy behind the camps’ simple uniforms. There’s so much to do at camp that noone wants to worry about what to wear, anyway.It makes life easy just to put on white T-shirtsand green shorts at Aloha and Hive, and grayshorts at Lanakila, or jeans for cooler weather.There are lots of chances to wear other kinds ofclothes, for costume parties, talent shows,Sunday cook-outs, and on some trips.

What’s the camper-counselor ratio? The Aloha Camps maintain one of the highestratios of counselors to campers in the field: morethan one counselor for every three campers.

Where do campers live? Campers live in spacious tents on woodenplatforms or in rustic cabins, with three to fivecamp mates and one or two counselors. Thecamp directors and senior counselors devotespecial care to arranging campers in groupsthat will enjoy great times together. Camp“units” composed of around ten tents and cabins share a washhouse with hot watershowers and flush toilets.

What do campers eat? Our chefs know what kinds of food keepactive campers fueled and happy. We take special care to make sure our meals are nutri-tious and tasty. Weekly menus include cereals,eggs, breads, pasta, pizza, chicken, turkey, roastbeef, burgers, sandwiches, soups, tacos, andplenty of salads, vegetables and fruits. Eachkitchen provides vegetarian alternatives, andwe take pride in the supplier relationships wehave established with local growers and farmstands nearby in Vermont and New Hampshire.While we encourage campers to try everything,we never force children to eat foods they don’tlike. The dining program not only feedscampers but also involves them as tablehelpers, recyclers and composters. The campkitchens can accommodate many, though notall medically-dictated dietary requirements.

Is there water skiing and motor boating? The Aloha Camps emphasize self-poweredactivities that pay large dividends in compe-tence, self confidence and self esteem. On the water, campers enjoy motor-and fuel-freecanoeing, kayaking, rowing and sailing. Thecamps’ engine powered boats serve exclusivelyas safety and utility craft.

Can I bring electronic devices to camp? Cell phones, computer games or toys, CD orDVD players, video cameras and the like distract attention from the natural environ-ment and outdoor activities children come tocamp to enjoy. Away from electronics campersget in tune with the world around them andbecome more connected to the communitythey share. Therefore we ask that campersleave their electronics at home.

What’s the role of competition at camp? The Aloha Camps encourage children toexperiment with new activities and challengesin a primarily non-competitive atmospherefree of performance pressure. Campers canchoose to pursue activity “ranks” or specialhonors by acquiring or refining skills theychoose to develop, or by designing a personalprogram of learning and fun for the summer.

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Healthy competition does have a place atcamp, in games, tournaments and sportingevents that also put a high value on team playand good sportsmanship.

Are the camps religiously affiliated?No. Each Sunday morning campers and counselors participate in a non-denomina-tional gathering which highlights specialmoments of the week past, features musicalperformances by campers and counselors, and incorporates readings and topical talks.Sunday gatherings are times for everyone toreflect upon their camp experiences and cometogether in a quiet, spiritual way.

What is “Success Counseling”? How does it help campers grow? Being a camp counselor is exciting, rewardingand enriching—and it’s demanding work whenit comes to dealing with infinite varieties ofyouthful concerns and behaviors. Our counsel-ing staff comes to camp with good naturalinstincts for working with children; but just asnatural athletes need coaching and training toachieve consistent excellence, naturally capablecamp counselors need education and practice to

do their best advising and mentoring. To thatend, The Aloha Foundation has devoted morethan 25 years to developing and refining a com-prehensive program of staff training and camperguidance that we call Success Counseling.Based on a thoughtful understanding of humanpsychology, Success Counseling helps staff andcampers alike to address opportunities and chal-lenges reflectively, and to respond creatively inways that best serve their own interests, thoseof their peers and the camp community at large.

The central concept of Success Counselingholds that individuals have a greater abilitythan most people believe to choose how to feelin any given situation. The object of SuccessCounseling is to help people make good decisions and act constructively to fulfill theirdesires and achieve their goals. SuccessCounseling focuses on self evaluation and creative problem solving rather than ineffectivereactions to personal problems, such as blam-ing, shaming, excuse-making or inappropriateanger. Campers and counselors tell us they usethe lessons of Success Counseling often,throughout their lives: “In difficult moments I ask myself the questions I was always asked atcamp, then I know what to do...”

Lanakila

Horizons

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What Parents Sayabout Aloha, Hive, Lanakila & Horizons

Aloha

Hive

“I’m always pleased by the absence of electronics, the emphasis on girls having funwith each other in old-fashioned ways, andlearning to get along together. The great letters we get from the counselors showhow Aloha's excellent principles are putinto action every day.”

“By working through a challenging situation at camp, my daughter learned she has thepower to solve difficult problems herself. Ihave already seen her use this new-foundconfidence in her daily life—what a gift!”

“It is so wonderful to know that my daughterhas made “real” friends at camp—girls she'llbe friends with for the rest of her life.”

“With the support from her counselor, ourdaughter successfully navigated her waythrough her homesickness to really enjoyherself. Her swimming really improved andshe found a new love for gymnastics. Herconfident participation in an overnight trailride and her success negotiating the ropescourse are terrific examples of her skilldevelopment.”

“We thought the camp and her counselor did a simply superlative job of nurturingevery side of our daughter, and for that we are exceedingly grateful.”

“Our daughter's counselor was a transforma-tive presence in her camp experience. Shewas loving and sensitive, and she helpedthe girls become reflective about themselvesand their relationships.”

“I knew my son would have fun. But as a newparent I was not prepared for the deepdevelopment I see in him as a person. He’smore self-reliant, kinder to his sisters, andthough it sounds kind of lofty, he seems onthe way to creating a personal code hewants to live by. My neighbors have heard a lot about Lanakila this fall!”

“Where do you get these counselors? Theyare exactly the kind of role models I want for my son. He felt they were always thereto help, especially his tent counselor (‘SO awesome,’ he told us). He especiallyenjoyed the three overnight trips he tookwith his tent mates. Can I come as acamper?”

“Our boy gained a lot of confidence inswimming and camp crafts this summer. He also came home a big fan of UltimateFrisbee and ping-pong. Next year he wantsto finish working for his Loki award, and goon more canoeing and hiking trips. Insteadof playing computer games, he discoveredhis own talents and made his own fun, anddidn't miss them at all.”

“Our son discovered kayaking at Horizonsand LOVED it. He loved anything aboutboating, in fact, and can't wait to do morenext year.”

“I will ALWAYS be extremely grateful for thewaterfront staff this year. They really helpedboth our sons to improve their swimmingand really love being in the water.”

“My daughter loved her counselors this year!In fact, she seems to adore them every year.Horizons does a great job of attracting goodleaders.”