A prospective parent wrote the other day, asking me to "briefly describe the profile of one of [our] campers." My response: "Which one?!"  Because the Kabeyun program (philosophy, mission) focuses on the individual boy and the opportunity for him to expand his horizons - socially, personally, skill-wise - the benefits can be accessed in as many ways as there are people types. At Kabeyun, we celebrate the generalist, the boy who is willing to step out of familiar territory and accept new challenges, face risks in an environment of caring support. The boy who loves competitive team sports and experiences success in that context can...  Read More

It is Sunday morning, the first Sunday of the 86th summer at Kabeyun and the end of the first full week of camp. And what a full week it has been. Families of the boys have been calling and e-mailing with concerns about the weather. But what is to be done, and how does that help anythig? Opening Day was a near-perfect summery day with sun and warmth. The gray descended until late in the week, but the spirit of the place remained high throughout. What's weather? A detail in the lives of boys who are more focused on friendships, food, and fun in new activities. There wasn't an activity that was interrupted in a major way by gray and wet - even...  Read More

A thoughtful parent writes, "...It makes me wonder if Kabeyun kids are challenged enough. Yes, going away, being away from parents and discovering oneself is challenging, especially for young kids. Doing new activities in a safe, nurturing environment is challenging. And maybe I'm trying to rush things; there is plenty of time for Tom to be challenged as he grows, to take on the wilderness (or what remains of it). But am I wrong to want my kid to be challenged physically, rigorously, outside of the organized sports venues, ...at camp?" It would be easy to dismiss such an inquiry as the worry of an over zealous parent, caught up in our cultur...  Read More