About our Kids Windsurfing Camps (parents please read this):
Education,
Motivation, Participation. Our kid’s camps are
a great way for children to experience the ocean in a social and
entertaining atmosphere.
Camp Structure
The camp structure
is designed to develop the student’s natural desires and
curiosity in a non-threatening, and socially interactive
atmosphere. Each child will have a mixture of intrinsic and
extrinsic motivation. The camp will help the individual to
develop a set of positive experiences that will become the
foundation for their lasting connection to the activity. Our
coaches try to identify each student’s comfort levels and
constantly adjust the lesson pace and structure to accommodate
individuality. Our kids camps always emphasize fun.
Social Development
Young participants
are developing their fundamental social skills and relationships
with their peers and coaches. Each student is included in a
smaller cell of up to 4 students of similar age or ability.
Group exercises encourage interaction, communication, and
cooperation. Interacting within a dynamic group helps a child to
develop their self esteem in the social context.
Tandem Team
Building
Tandem sailing is a
team building exercise that is fun for the kids and creates a
social motivation for their participation. Kids assist each
other and switch roles as captain and crew. Play time is
learning time for kids. Kids need to have fun to be kids. Doing
a fun sports camp like this encourages a positive attitude
towards the activity, and will help a child to develop a healthy
attitude towards participation in sport. The early experiences
in the ocean will shape a child’s attitude for their entire
life. So their future success will depend on receiving a gentle,
positive, and motivating exposure to the benefits of outdoor
exercise.
Parental
Interaction
Some parental
interaction is encouraged. But it must be positive. The best
thing a parent can do is watch from a discreet distance, and be
unobtrusive during the lessons. We encourage parents to be
present at the end of each session to acknowledge the students
improvement, and be present at the graduation ceremony. We do
not believe that it is beneficial to be over-involved in the
lesson. It could interrupt the lesson dynamics. Any input and
feedback on the lesson can be given to Suzie of David after the
lesson unless an urgent situation arises. Sometimes well meaning
parents become too pushy and overlook the minor achievements of
the student, and forget to be encouraging and supportive.
Parents should always be supportive of the student’s
achievements no matter how small they seem. All of our students
thrive on their parents support and encouragement.
Student
Participation
Students are
encouraged to attend the entire camp from start to finish. This
way they meet a new group on the first day and learn and grow as
a team. Each of the students can participate in each others
development and see their growth. Each student can then find
their comfort level in the group and receive the benefits of the
group dynamic. We do not force the students to participate
beyond some gentle encouragement. Some students will need some
time to get used to the activity & to overcome any shyness or
water related anxiety. Through play like “wobbleboard”, and
other fun activities they develop confidence and will welcome
the chance to participate without any coercion. Kids will often
alternate between rest breaks on shore, and on-water play or
sailing. Kids will often tell us when they want to rest and when
they want to play. We encourage them to think for themselves and
express their needs. If kids are cold they may decide to play on
shore and warm up a little. Some kids are happy to be
chauffeured around on someone’s board, or to do taxi rides for
each other. It is better to allow the student to take breaks
when they want, so that they stay motivated when they want to
sail. Forcing a student to sail when they are tired or cold will
de-motivate them very quickly.
Empowerment through Choice:
Again I need to
stress to well-meaning parents that we encourage the students to
decide how much sailing is enough for themselves. During an
early camp a new student may be a little more timid, and
watchful. Testing the water, and making a few preliminary
attempts. Kids are also feeling out the group. Kids will in
their own time find their comfort level and the right amount of
sailing-time vs. shore-time for them. No one else can decide
what is right for the students comfort level. Example: We
have seen parents yelling at a child to get back on the board
and do more sailing, this doesn't actually motivate them, in
fact it usually does the opposite.
Playtime is
learning time
Kids learn through
play. Our Kids camp program has been so successful because of
the positive, fun and encouraging atmosphere. Kids will discover
their world through play, the learning part is just part of the
fun. Water confidence, physical coordination and balance skills
are naturally acquired. An understanding of the natural elements
like the wind and water are assimilated through experience and
experimentation. Kids will even learn while they are falling off
the boards. If falling off becomes fun they are never
discouraged to try new things or make more attempts. The
student’s level of enjoyment is directly related to their future
success in the sport.
Kids Camp Evolution
The Maui Sports
Unlimited Kids Camp has been the basis of many windsurfing
athlete’s future careers. Most of our instructor team has grown
up with the camps and have stayed connected to the wider
windsurfing community. Our camps are about so much more than
just windsurfing. They are about helping kids to develop a
healthy and happy attitude toward ocean sports. This will
encourage them to choose healthier and more active lifestyles.
We believe that sharing our joy for the ocean through these
activities is the best way to do this. We enhance the student’s
natural affinity for these outdoor sports through positive role
models and positive experiences. And this will ultimately assist
in their evolution to become lifelong water-lovers.
