A week later, I was with some of the greatest educators in the country, educational policy makers and educational experts in Washington DC at the Summit for 21st Century Learning. The p21.org organization was formed by some of the leading corporations in the world, including Disney and Apple, who wish for there to be better prepared young adults entering the workforce after their schooling.  After only a few hours there, it became abundantly clear that the most progressive and acclaimed educational programs and schools in the country are ones which look suprisingly like CAMPS!  If you’d like to learn more about this organization, or what the future of education holds, check out their website and subscribe to their “blogazine” – certainly every teacher should subscribe!

The whirlwind continued into April, as I was asked to be one of the keynote presenters at the Inaugeral Chinese Camp Education Conference in Beijing, China. I took the non-stop flight from Newark Airport over the North Pole and landed in one of the oldest, largest, historic and amazing cities in the world. The growth in China in business, education and economics has been staggering over the past two decades. China is the physical size of the USA, with over a BILLION more citizens- so when they want to get something done, they can do so quickly, borrowing from the best knowledge and practices from around the world- and yes, they have heard of Liberty Lake Day Camp! My speech focused on how I see the Camp experience as teaching young people the skills of life, filling in the gaps that aren’t necessarily taught by parents and schools- and it was VERY well received. China has embraced the 21st Century learning models, and calls the camp experience “Camp Education” – quickly creating inroads with the government and schools, positioning the Camp Experience as a vital component of a whole child’s learning experience (the way most Liberty Lake families feel). The Chinese have been sending tens of thousands of children and teens oversees in the summer for Camp-type experiences, and are now creating a camp industry of their own in China. I look forward to helping be a part of it!        

Last week we had our first Leadership Meeting with the 30 top administrative staff at Liberty Lake Day Camp, and we are finalizing groups, bus routes, staff orientation and new facility initiatives. My hope is that the inspiration I’ve gained across the country and around the world transfers over to the staff this season for what we expect to be the best summer at Liberty Lake Day Camp ever!

Sincerely,

Andy Pritikin

Owner/Director, Liberty Lake Day Camp