independence

At the HEART of WeHaKee is Relationship!

A tagline is meant to capture one's attention in hopes of getting them interested in what you have to offer.  The WeHaKee tagline is so much more however! It is truly at the core of what we do so well each and every summer.  We help girls and young women enhance and refine their relationship building skills so that they can not only create meaningful friendships at camp, but vibrantly maintain those friendships throughout their lifetime.   AND, this also provides girls with the skills to create and build strong, positive relationships well beyond camp and well into their future!

When it come to girls and women portrayed in the media, the overwhelming majority of messages and images out there are focused on physical appearance.   Not nearly enough is presented highlighting the accomplishments of women beyond their percieved beauty or sex appeal. We share a short video featured at the Sundance Film Festival which makes one think and perhaps consider how far a WeHaKee experience could go in countering the demeaning, sometimes oppressive messages that are bombarding girls constantly.   We also follow-up with a fun clip of girls and women takin' it to the streets!

There are people who have gone to camp or have sent their kids to camp - they get it!   And there are those who who haven't been to camp and don't understand the lure and power of the camp experience.   We in the camp business often respond to this scenario "It's a camp thing", which unfortunately comes off as being inclusive, patronizing or worse, implying 'we're better than you'.   That is so sad, because the camp experience is so much more and those of us who 'get it', need to do whatever we can to help others get it, too.   The growth and development of our children is way too important for us to keep this 'an inside job'!   So let's talk about that this week, shall we?!!

All girls deserve respect and no girl should ever be bullied.   A recent message sent to local newscaster, Jennifer Livingston, here in La Crosse, Wisconsin was both surprising in the sender's ignorance and maddening in his thoughtless & mean tone.   Although we do not know Jennifer personally, we have seen her out and about supporting and promoting the community in a variety of positive & meaningful ways.   For anyone to suggest that she is not meeting her community responsibility because in the eyes of another she is not managing her weight appropriately is appalling and shocking!

Now at this point you may expect that her response might be nothing more than an indignant rebuttal, which certianly would be justified.   But no, she chose a much different path... a much more direct, yet positive response with a very important message for all of us.   She methodically demonstrated that messages such as this are occuring all the time, that they are really the work of bullies and that no one should have to accept this type of behavior.   And she took it further by challenging everyone to examine their own words and actions to ensure we ourselves are not thoughtlessly feeding these mean spirited words and attitudes in our children and those around us.

Wait a second...   isn't this a little exclusive for WeHaKee Camp for Girls?   I thought 'All Are Welcome' at WeHaKee?   No worries!   WeHaKee is still the welcoming and inclusive community it has always been.   Take a moment to enjoy our Sunday Snippet for this week and see what we are really talking about:

Girls, since the day of their birth, are bombarded by remarks from well-meaning friends and relatives about their appearance. "What a cute baby", "Isn't she adorable in that dress?", "What a lovely smile she has", "I just love your hair", and on it goes.   Most of us are conditioned to respond in this way when we see and meet a baby, toddler or other young girl.   These 'compliments' seem like the right thing to say, yet they can send a message that appearance is the most important quality a girl should have.   And when a girl is fed a steady stream of these seemingly harmless and well-intentioned comments, it becomes nearly impossible for her to avoid quickly and deeply internalizing these messages about her looks.