Towering Pines Blog

When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world. -Harold Kushner

Camp Towering Pines is excited to participate in #CampKindnessDay #KindnessEvolution. We are joining camps across the country on July 24 to intentionally focus our programming around kindness.  Acts of kindness occur every day at camp, and the best part is that campers take that spirit of kindness with them out into the world and spread it around. Kindness in the camp community is visible in every smile, every word of appreciation, and in countless acts of empathy and friendship. It happens every day, but we are taking time to recognize it on July 24.  We hope to fuel a positive cultural shift to more fully incorporate the practice of intentional kindness and care into every aspect of our society.

To kick off #CampKindness, Towering Pines used the theme of “empathy” for vespers on Sunday, July 22nd.  Cabin 7  shared their reflections with us on empathy, and their main message is that empathy is “truly trying to walk in someone else’s shoes.”  One of the Cabin 7 counselors summarized empathy in a simple yet powerful way, “caring for other people’s feelings and others caring for your feelings.”  We hope that these lessons will encourage our entire camp to live the message of spreading kindness while we are here and taking it with us into the world wherever we go.

Here are some ways that campers FEEL kindness from others this summer:

• People tried to get to know me and become my friend when I didn’t know anyone
• People accept me at camp in ways that I don’t feel accepted at school
• Encourage me to try new things and help teach me when I don’t know how to do something
• Teach me about nature
• Say it’s “ok” when I make a mistake or don’t know how to do something
• Check on me when I am sad
• Cabin mates help each other with cabin clean-up

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. -Maya Angelou

Here are some ways that campers SHOW kindness towards others:

• I teach other campers the rules so that they are safe and don’t get hurt
• We are trying to use good sportsmanship with each other
• I try to use my manners when we are together like saying please, thank you and you’re welcome
• I am very willing to share my things with other campers
• I help other people in the cabin with their jobs
• I try to include other people in games and activities so they don’t feel left out

A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. -Amelia Earhart

Angie Wenzl Ziller

• Mom at TP
• Office Manager/Leadership Staff at TP
• Marketing TP/Woodland
• Assistant Waterfront Director at Woodland
• Counselor at Woodland

(Thank you to the American Camping Association, Kim Aycock/Camp Woodland and to TP campers for sharing their thoughts.)