A New Idea for a Great and Easy to Create Summer Camp: Camp Think

Here's an advance look at my next column in the Mensa publication, The Intelligencer:


The Life Well-Ledby Marty Nemko
Camp Think
There are camps for sports, arts, science, and religion. Why not a camp that focuses on improving thinking skills, a Camp Think?
It could contain such activities as:
a camp-wide effort to develop a plan to solve a societal problem, for example, substance abuse. The resulting White Paper could be submitted to an appropriate local, state, and federal official. A debate on such issues as: Should taxes be raised?  Soda banned? Marijuana legalized? Contests: Which team (and/or individual) can make the robot that wins a 20-year dash? A rocket that flies highest with parts that cost under $50? Develop the best idea for a reinvented elementary school? Win a logic-problem quiz show? Create the best skit? Museum exhibit? Develop the best improvement for next year’s camp? Because life isn’t just about thinking, there would be time for songfests, talent shows, storytelling, and yes, even traditional camp arts and crafts--I still fondly remember learning how to make a lanyard using the diamond and box stitches.None of these require fancy facilities. You could have a small day camp in your home or apartment complex’s community room.
If you’re looking for something to do this summer, you could do much worse than plan a one- or two-week summer day camp for at least a small number of kids.