Why Yoga And Kids Go Together

There is no better time to find inner harmony than as a child. Yoga is the practice of accessing and integrating all aspects of our true self - body, mind and spirit. Kids who participate in yoga are introduced to cornerstone values such as truthfulness, cleanliness, gratitude, and self-discipline. Here are a few other areas in which yoga helps improve your children's overall well-being:

Enhances physical flexibility. Yoga helps teach your kids to use their muscles in new ways. Whether a pose is done standing, sitting, or lying down, each one challenges various muscle groups and helps your child become aware of their body and how it functions.

Refines balance and coordination. Poses in yoga help promote mental and physical strength, as well as clarity and stability. Even with difficult poses, if kids can stay calm and try again, they are improving their mental and physical balance.

Boosts self-esteem and confidence. Yoga teaches kids to persevere, be patient, and work towards their goals, which helps build their self-esteem and confidence. Yoga also provides tools for practicing compassion, focus, mindfulness, and generosity.

Strengthens the mind-body connection. Yoga helps kids achieve a sound mind in a sound body by exercising the physical body and calming their mental state. Yoga functions as a release from the very fast-paced life that children live in now.

​Your child can continue their yoga skills at Camp Tioga, or they can choose from one of our many other activities. Your child's physical and mental health is our first and foremost priority. Prior to camp, our medical staff contacts every camper to discuss their medical history. Want a camp that takes health and safety seriously? If so, enroll your child at Camp Tioga. Call 516-938-0894 today to inquire about enrollment.

A Day In The Life Of A Camp Counselor

Being a camp counselor can be one of the hardest, yet most rewarding experiences of your life. While your main goal is to make sure that every happy camper has the best summer ever, counselors also end up making unforgettable memories and bonds that last a lifetime. Here’s a look into a busy counselor’s day at Camp Tioga:

Daily Activities
Activities vary day by day, which makes the days, weeks, and summer go by that much quicker at Camp Tioga! After the counselors help the kids clean their bunk for inspection in the morning, it’s time for the fun to begin. Counselors will move around with the campers and help them get involved in each activity. Even during rest hour, if someone would rather play an activity then wind-down and relax, they’re there! Campers versus counselors basketball game anyone?

Meals
Meal time is a chance for everyone to relax and enjoy a great selection of food. Even the pickiest eaters find themselves diving back in for seconds  - no one at our dining hall leaves hungry! This time can get a bit chaotic, so the counselors will sit at the tables with the campers and make sure the food is going in their stomachs and is not thrown across the room!

Evening Activities
After dinner there will be an evening activity that involves special events, games, prizes, and much more! Compared to the other daily activities, this will give everyone the chance to be with other campers and counselors that they haven’t worked with throughout the day. Eventually, the counselors will head the campers to canteen for a snack, get ready for bed, and start the fun all over again the next day!


This powerful role gives you confidence and teaches you how to be grounded, kind, and responsible. So, on top of all the amazing memories you will make, holding this position can help prepare you and provide you with future job opportunities outside of camp. If you’re looking to become a camp counselor this summer, check out our website for more information.

Camp Tioga is much more than just a camp. Campers and counselors alike are apart of the Camp Tioga family. We are confident that Camp Tioga is the right fit for any child. This is due to our superior staff, picturesque grounds and the 80 activities we offer. If you would like to become apart of our family, call 516-938-0894 or visit our website to enroll today! 

5 Ways To Keep Your Child Active During The Winter

Thanks to the colder weather and shorter days, snuggling up on the couch is more tempting than usual. And although it’s important for your kids to get some rest, they still need to remain active. If you’re having trouble getting your kiddos to workout in this chilly weather, try some of our indoor activities. They’ll surely enjoy them and you will, too!

1. Book-Worm Workout

Story time doesn’t have to be just before bed. Pick a book that has a specific word repeated often. Every time that word comes up in the story, have your child do a jumping jack. The more books you read together, the more difficult the workout.

2. Freeze Dance
Who doesn’t love a good dance party? Have your kids show off their best dance moves to their favorite music - a guaranteed way to get them off the couch. Try incorporating freeze dance into the mix, it will help brush up on their listening skills.

3. Boot Camp Blast
Set up different workout stations around your house. Try one minute of shuttle runs, jumping jacks, and knee-ups. You can also be more involved in the workouts by partnering up for sit-ups or teaching them yoga poses. Once the buzzer sounds, move to the next station.

4. Indoor Hopscotch
This fun outdoor activity will be a hit indoors, too. Use masking tape to set up the board and make the game last longer by creating more than 10 squares - try going up to 15 or 20. Create an incentive to those who win - i.e. free of chores for one week.

5. Yoga JENGA
Write down a yoga position on each JENGA block. Set up the tower and play the game as usual, but this time when a block is pulled out, every player has to do the specific yoga move written down. If the tower falls, create another workout - i.e. hold a plank for 30 seconds.

For more fun indoor activities, click here.

Counting down the days until warmer weather is here? We are too because that means it's time for camp! If you’re looking for the best sleepaway camp in all of Pennsylvania for this summer, call Camp Tioga. Camp Tioga is the perfect way to provide fun, friendships, and education for your kids.. To learn more about all we have to offer or to schedule a tour of the camp, give us a call at 516-938-0894 or visit us on Facebook.

Top New Year's Resolutions For Kids

The new year is a prime time for children to create goals and focus on forming new habits. With a little help and self-discipline, your children can achieve their resolutions and learn the value of creating them in the process. Here are some New Year’s resolution ideas for your children for 2017.

Get Unplugged
Children today are more involved with electronics and technology than any other generation - they may know more about it than you do! While technology provides many advantages, including fun games to occupy them during play time, unplugging from technology can benefit your children in more ways than one. It can lower stress levels, help sleeping patterns, and promote creativity. Set a goal of spending at least one hour a day without any gadgets - cell phones, television, laptop, etc. Your children will appreciate the free time. 

Exercise More
With a family’s busy schedule, it’s hard to fit exercising into the routine -- the weather in the winter months doesn’t help either. But, if you create fun goals, kids will make it their top priority. Creating small goals related to your child’s favorite sport can help - i.e. get a hat trick in hockey or master a cartwheel in gymnastics.

Participate In Chores
Assigning chores for kids may feel like a chore in itself, but if you make it their choice it may engage them to participate more freely. Try keeping a jar filled with different chores they can help out with each week. Your child will learn about responsibility, time sensitivity, and respect.

Get More Sleep
Children need at least 10-12 hours of sleep every night in order to reach their full potential throughout the day. Sometimes they are distracted and it’s hard for them to get some shut eye. Have your child create a bedtime routine checklist to help them settle into a better sleep schedule. 

Be Kind To Others
Every child could always use more time in practicing their manners. Put an end to bullying and remind your little ones of the importance of kindness. Keep in mind that kids learn while they watch, so practice what you preach and their actions will reflect. 

Children need goals to help them succeed and grow to become a successful adult. A great way to allow children to keep developing is to sign them up for summer camp. At Camp Tioga, your child can continue to grow as a person while also still having fun on their summer break. For an in-depth look at what Camp Tioga has to offer take a look at our website or call 516.938.0894 to learn more.