Last month we hosted an Indiana Youth Institute lunch at our CRUX facility. We had 45 youth workers in attendance who were there to hear the speaker talk about the importance of Grit. What is grit the speaker asked? It is good old fashioned hard work and determination. His presentation was based on the book and research of Carol Dweck. The book is Mindset: Teaching a growth mindset. What Carol and her research team found was that grit had more to do with success than IQ, economic status, or education. While the research was mostly targeted at post-secondary education, it could be applied to any area of success. As I was listening to the presentation, I was thinking to myself this is what Camptown does! We help develop grit in our participants. Things like Confidence, Teamwork, Leadership, and Respect. These are the key impacts of what our participants walk away with at Camptown. For example last year 93% of our participants reported growth in their leadership skills, 97% reported improved teamwork skills, 95% reported improved confidence, and 95% reported a better respect for their peers. In addition, 75% reported that they had been moderately or greatly physically challenged during their Camptown adventure. This grit development also comes through the testimonials our students write; I learned I am a leader, I can do more than I thought, I can do anything I put my mind to, I learned to be more confident in myself, I learned I can be very helpful, this trip is really hard, I learned to be more patient, One thing I would do different is my attitude, I learned I control my actions better. So how does Camptown develop grit into our participants? We use the outdoors as our classroom. Here students are taken out of their comfort zone, away from the pressures of home and school, and outside their norm in an unfamiliar surrounding and environment. Ideas and attitudes formed through these direct experiences are a greater influence on choices and behaviors in the future than those formed through indirect experiences. The intensity of a wilderness experience creates an ideal environment to influence attitude formation and to teach these skills. All of these skills are essential for learning how to thrive with life no matter what the circumstance. Last year Camptown served 2,953 unduplicated youth, of those 71% came from impoverished homes, 85% came from urban Marion County and Camptown provided financial assistance to 88% of our participants. Imagine a world where our children grow up confident, respectful, cooperative, and willing to step up and take a leadership role. That is what we at Camptown are striving for. We appreciate all of your support. Thank you for joining us in our mission to lead youth to a better path.
