“We must not oppose what is new and try to preserve a beautiful world that is inevitably perishing. Nor should we try to build a new world of the creative imagination that will show none of the damage of what is actually evolving. Rather, we must transform what is coming to be. But we can do this only if we honestly say yes to it and yet with incorruptible hearts remain aware of all that is destructive and nonhuman in it. Our age has been given to us as the soil on which to stand and the task to master.”
― Romano Guardini, Letters from Lake Como: Explorations in Technology and the Human Race
“Summer camp is a perfect place for children to experience the type of autonomy and self-reliance that they need to grow into capable, confident adults. When kids are trusted to make decisions on their own, they learn responsibility, leadership, and the value of their own judgment.” – Dr. Jonathan Haidt, PhD
This reflection is the fruit of a walk in the woods. I’ve included a video and some quotes from Romano Guardini and Dr. Jonathan Haidt that capture and echo my initial thoughts. Peace and grace be with you in abundance!
Do you want your child to know the satisfaction of a job well done? Our brother / sister camps are dedicated to authentic community, the freedom of choice in our fun and engaging activities, and the joy of acquiring hard skills which are hard earned, tested, and proven in our backpacking, paddling, rock climbing, and mountain biking programs.
The ever growing presence of AI leaves open questions for us – especially when it comes to education. These powerful tools can write a paper for a savvy student guided by a simple prompt. However, we must not rob our children of opportunities to test their developing minds through honest efforts, the pain of being corrected, and the entire process of creative and independent thinking which hones and supports a beautiful and mature mind. A child (or adult) who becomes entirely dependent on technological aid when making decisions may be missing the gift of their full development.
While we celebrate the many beautiful fruits that come from technological advances, we must also remember that education is meant to make men free. We at CKC see it as a benefit to a healthy human society to maintain places where young people grow in confidence from achievements and skills growth that directly corelate to their own efforts. There is no better teacher here than the rocks, rivers, and wilderness. And it is our honor to accompany our campers on this journey of growth through hard work towards noble goals and the joy of adventure.