Today is the day that we set aside time to express our gratitude for all that Moms do.  Moms are special, they are patient and supportive and most importantly there when we need her most.  The great Stevie Wonder said "Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness.  If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love."

You have decided to send your child to a specific overnight camp summer. Now, the next big question is, "How long should I send my child to overnight camp for?"

Most overnight summer camps offer a variety of session length options, usually one to eight weeks and everything in between. In this blog post we'll explore some questions that you can answer for yourself that will assist you in finding the ideal session length for your child.

The sport of mountain biking is growing exponentially, and this is especially true for kids and teenagers.  Here are some of the reasons that mountain biking is good for kids and teenagers:

Kids “Unplug” and Reconnect with Nature:

Kids and Teens today are often referred to as “screenagers”. According to a report by Common Sense Media tweens age 8 to 12 spend 6 hours a day in front of screen while teens spend 9 hours on screens.  Mountain biking inherently takes place in nature.  Kid and teens who mountain bike reconnect with nature often without even realizing it. There really isn’t anything like being outside and breathing fresh air.  Kids who take time to unplug connect with nature can have a positive effect on their entire mind, body and spirit.

For many Americans attending a summer camp of some sort what a huge part of their childhood.  For those who attended an overnight summer camp in their tween and teen years the impact of camp on their lives is even greater.  Here are five life lessons you can learn at an overnight summer camp:

Build Relationships and Make New Friends

The friendships that you build at summer camp are strong and enduring.  When you attend an overnight camp, everything is new:

• You are sleeping and living in a in a new place
• The food you may be eating is different than what you are used to
• Your daily routine is totally different and new
• You are trying new activities everyday

When have all these experiences you can’t help but feel connected to the people you are sharing them with.  The memories, the friendships and the bonds built at summer camp are unique, special and enduring. 

All of us at Stone Mountain Adventures (SMA) would like to take a moment and wish you a Happy Valentine's Day!

Earlier this year Blue Knob Ski Area announced that they were hosting the First Annual "Snow Fest" From Friday 2/8/19 through Sunday 2/10/19.  Events included the following:

Stone Mountain Adventures Teen Summer Camp will be in Cherry Hill, NJ on Monday, February, 11th to attend a Teen Summer Expo!

When: Monday, February 11, 2019 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Where: Milton & Betty Katz JCC (map)

How can You Help an Anxious Teen Look Forward to Summer Camp?

If your child has anxiety about attending a sleepaway summer camp there are some strategies that you as a parent can use to help them prepare and stay calm in the weeks leading up to the opening day of camp.  More than one in 20 kids and teens in America have anxiety or depression and for the majority, this won’t stop them from going to camp. If your child is excited about their upcoming adventure but is a little worried that anxiety may stop them from making the most of the experience, how can you help them keep their ‘fight or flight response’ in check?

Making Arrangements with Friends

Kids who have anxiety can feel much more comfortable about going to camp if friends they know will be joining them. It probably won’t be difficult to get friends excited about a camp at Stone Mountain Adventures, where kids can take part in so many amazing water and mountain activities. Even if friends are doing other things, let your child know that Stone Mountain Adventures is special because there are only about 60 campers per session. Therefore, there is a warm family atmosphere that will help your teen feel protected at all times.

SMA Teen Summer Camp Director and Owner Jud Millar will be traveling north to attend a Summer Opportunities Camp Fair hosted by the Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.  The Summer Opportunities Camp Fair will be help on Sunday, January 27, 2019 from 12pm to 3pm.  The will be the 29th year that the Phillips Academy has hosted this camp fair.   This fair is designed to give middle and high school students and their families the chance to meet with representatives from approximately 100 local, national and international summer programs.  A wide range of programs will be represented here, including those that focus on academics, language study, community service, sleepaway teen camps, sports, mountain biking summer camps for teenagers, arts, research, internships, outdoor adventure, and international travel.

What: Summer Opportunities Camp Fair

When: Sunday, January 27, 2019 from 12pm to 3pm

Where: The Phillips Academy, 180 Main St, Andover, MA 01810 

SMA Summer Camp for Teens Director and Owner Jud Millar will be in Darien, CT on Saturday, January 26 for a Camp Fair.  The camp fair will be hosted by Tips on Trips and Camps and is designed to be a place where families with kids ages 8 to 18 can learn about sleepaway camps, creative and performing arts camps, sports camps, internships, community service opportunities, travel programs and more.  

What: Camp Fair for kids ages 8 to 18

Where: Darien High School (cafeteria)

      80 High School Lane, Darien, CT
When: Saturday, January 26 from  1 to 3:30 

Stone Mountain Adventures will be attending the Greenwich High School Camp Fair know as the "Summerfare" on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM.  Come see Camp Director and Owner Jud Millar at the Summerfare!

When:
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
6:00 - 8:00 PM

(snow date, Thursday, January 24, 2019)

Where:
GHS Student Center
10 Hillside Road
Greenwich, CT 06830

Camp Director Jud Millar will be on hand tonight at the Main Line Camp Fair.  You will find him at the SMA booth chatting with families about the summer:

When: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 from 5:30pm – 8:00pm

Where: Conestoga High School, 200 Irish Road, Berwyn, PA

One lucy person who attend will win a $350 voucher towards any of the participating camps.  The winner will be chosen at the end of the evening.

Irrespective of whether you are an new camper eight year- old battling with anxiety, a 12-year-old veteran camper struggling with concentration and expressive regulation, or a counselor who is just anxious and astounded, these three simple practices and breathing exercises can lessen tension, increase contentment, and generate permanent behaviors for wellness and pliability.

In February of 2018 one of Pam's prized horses was selected by Hope in the Saddle as the Therapy Horse of the year!  

Selected from more than 120 entries, Ebony was chosen as the grand-prize winner of the contest. Ebony (along with her human friend, Pam Hayes-Houldin) received a one-year supply of Nutrena feed, a $250 Tractor Supply Co. Gift Card, Hope in the Saddle gear and a commemorative trophy.  In addition a film crew traveled to Horsepower Farm from Boulder, Colorado to shoot the following video: 

Camping is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, especially among millennials, with 77 million households having at least one person who camps occasionally. And what’s not to love? Being surrounded by nature, enjoying fresh air, and creating memorable experiences is all a part of the journey. Plus, being around nature has a very positive impact on kids and teens, and with organized trips such as Stone Mountain Adventures, you can rest assured that safety is guaranteed.

The article appeared in the Huntingdon Daily News on July, 17 2018.  This article was written by form SMA Camper Molly Biddle:

"Stone Mountain Adventures (SMA) summer camp, nestled in Donation, Oneida Township, has had a long tradition of hosting international campers and counselors since the mid-1980s.

The camp, founded by Pam and Biff Houldin and now run by their son, Jud Millar, brings teenage campers, 12-16 years old, from all over the country and all over the world to water ski on Raystown Lake and hike the Thousand Steps, among other activities. The camp has hosted international campers from about a dozen countries, including Colombia, Peru, Italy, Spain, and France, but, this summer marks a new first.

Here are our 2019 Dates:

Choose from any combination of 1, 2, 4, 6 or 8-week sessions!

2 Week Sessions                     Enroll Online    

• Session 1 (SMA1)         Sun 6/23           to       Sat 7/6
• Session 2 (SMA2)         Sun 7/7             to       Sat 7/20      
• Session 3 (SMA3)         Sun 7/21           to       Sat 8/3
• Session 4 (SMA4)**      Mon 8/5             to       Sun 8/18** Tuition Discount

4 Week Sessions                          Enroll Online   

• Session 1 + 2                Sun 6/23           to       Sat 7/20       
• Session 2 + 3                Sun 7/7             to       Sat 8/3  
• Session 3 + 4                Sun 7/21           to       Sun 8/18

6 Week Sessions                      Enroll Online

• Session 1 + 2 + 3          Sun 6/23           to      Sat 8/3
• Session 2 + 3 + 4          Sun 7/7             to      Sun 8/18

8 Week Session                          Enroll Online

• Session 1 + 2 + 3 + 4     Sun 6/23          to       Sun 8/18

1 Week Sessions                         Enroll Online

• Session 4-1 (SMA4-1)    Mon 8/5           to       Sun 8/11
• Session 4-2 (SMA4-2)    Mon 8/12         to       Sun 8/18

All of us at Stone Mountain Adventures are so excited to share the Session 1, 2018 Slideshow with you!

I love to spend time with friends sitting around a campfire.  My favorite things to do around a campfire include: telling ghost stories, playing the guitar and making smores.