Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County & The Inland Empire’s Post

This one time… at band camp… #waybackwednesday This picture was taken during the summer almost 30 YEARS ago at band camp. Band camp had pros and cons I remember, but so so did many different camps I attended: basketball camps, wilderness camps, theatre camp. I have fond and fun memories of all of them. But attending summer camp was more than just fun—it ended up being a foundational experience that equipped me with essential skills that I use today. Here are four of them…. 🌟 Leadership: Summer camps often provide opportunities to lead groups in activities and projects. As a camp counselor, I learned to guide and mentor younger campers, a skill that has translated well into leading teams in the workplace. Whether managing projects or inspiring colleagues, the leadership skills honed at camp are invaluable. 🤝 Teamwork: Working together to achieve common goals is a cornerstone of the summer camp experience. From organizing a camp-wide game to collaborating on a group performance, I developed a strong sense of teamwork that I now use in professional environments. Effective collaboration with diverse team members is crucial for success in any career. 🌍 Problem-Solving: Camp life is full of unexpected challenges, from navigating outdoor adventures to resolving interpersonal conflicts. These experiences sharpened my problem-solving skills, enabling me to think on my feet and find creative solutions. This adaptability is essential in today's fast-paced work environments. 🎨 Creativity: Camps often encouraged creativity through arts, crafts, and innovative games. Designing and participating in these activities for campers nurtured my ability to think outside the box. This creativity is now a key asset in my professional life, allowing me to approach projects with fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. How have your early experiences shaped your professional skills? What camps did you attend? #Leadership #CareerSkills #Teamwork

At Chicago Voyagers, all of our work follows a unique program model with four focus areas: Mindfulness, Relationships, Growth Zone, and Experiential Learning. Experiential Learning is learning by doing. We could tell our Voyagers all about the great outdoors and explain activities that would challenge them in new ways—or we could take them out in a canoe, on a hiking trip, or out on a sailboat. By giving young people the opportunities to experience the outdoors and the skills needed to navigate challenges successfully, we help expand their understanding of what is possible. Novelty and new experiences are important to adolescent development, fostering critical skills like communication, teamwork, and self-control. To learn more about our program model, visit https://lnkd.in/g-TUx2A4.

Now, I can officially claim the "Coolest coach" title 🏆 🏆 🏆 Last Sunday, I took my 5th grade Destination Imagination (DI) team to the Indoor Water Park at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions to celebrate a season of hard work and team spirit! I have always aspired to build high performing teams and this team is so far the best that I have brought together. Their strengths, you ask? Well, all the things that 5th graders are good at, combined with the coolest coach. • Challenge each other • Push the limits of their coach to see how much more the team can learn • Creativity through silliness • Always want to improve their work by not settling to check off boxes Their achievement validates these strengths - they got a perfect score (100%) on their main challenge which is unheard of, as a first time team participating in such a highly competitive tournament as DI in the Austin region. I am personally proud of • Earning the parents' trust that I can handle six kids in a huge park while ensuring that it is 200% fun (no injuries or lost children, at the end of the day 😜) • The unwavering trust that these kids have in me • Watching the kids grow through the season In their own words, the kids shared what they thought they learned: • I am not shy anymore to talk to new people • I did not know that I can be so comfortable performing in front of an audience • I now know that I can contribute a lot to a big team project • I know how to manage my time better • I guess I love to learn - says the kid who was always enthusiastic about DI homework and would ping me on Chat if I was late in assigning it 😄 On to the next season but I know 6th graders are a whole different ball game. I will be dealing with tweens next. #coaching #teambuilding

Reflecting on the Power of Mentorship As a Residence Mentor, had the pleasure of spending a fantastic evening with one of the student groups at the park. It was an opportunity to foster connections, engage in meaningful conversations, and further enrich our mentorship journey. The park excursion was more than just leisure; it was an opportunity for meaningful conversations. We kicked off our day with delicious pizza, a universal favorite! Over slices of pizza, we engaged in meaningful discussions, exchanged ideas, and created a warm, inclusive atmosphere that encourages personal growth. These interactions are at the heart of UWC's mission, fostering empathy and understanding among future leaders. Having a pizza party together was a universal gesture of unity. Sport has a unique way of bringing people together, wrapping up the day with an impromptu volleyball game was a testament to that. Whether we won or lost points, the joy of teamwork and collaboration was evident on everyone's faces. It's a reminder that working together transcends borders and backgrounds. This experience reinforces my belief in the transformative power of education and community. It's incredibly rewarding to be part of a community that promotes not only academic excellence but also personal development and intercultural understanding. Let's keep making the world a better place, one conversation, one game, and one slice of pizza at a time! #UWCMaastricht #GlobalCitizenship #Education #Mentorship #CommunityBuilding #Inspiration #ChangeMakers

TEACHERS Vs MENTORS Teachers vs Mentors: Teachers are experts in a particular subject or course and teach others the knowledge what they gained. Mentoring is guiding or assistance by working professionals based on their real world experience. 3 Types of mentors in life: Type 1: Whom we can talk/meet on daily basis- You can say your college senior or work senior/junior whom you take inspiration from and try to learn from. Type 2: Whom you can talk to on weekly/monthly basis. They don't have that much time to give you but you know if you need help or have some questions regarding your professional/personal life you can reach out to them. Type 3: People you have never talked to but still you take inspiration from them for the way they live life. You see yourself to be like them one day. Happy teacher's day to all my teachers who made me who I am today...

I am happy to share the valuable experience of Co-curricular Activities Camp, which I attended in December-22. 🗝️The seven day Co-curricular activities (CCA) camp at college proved to be a transformative experience, leaving an indelible mark on participants' lives. It challenged individuals to step outside their comfort zones and embrace new perspectives, fostering personal growth and development. Engaging activities such as adventure sports, competitions, team-building exercises, and interactive sessions, participants learned valuable life skills such as leadership, communication, coordination and problem-solving. 🗝️The camp encouraged collaboration and fostered a sense of unity among diverse individuals. Bonds formed during this period transcended social barriers and created a supportive community. Participants discovered hidden talents and passions, unlocking their true potential. Immersed in nature, the serene environment enhanced self-reflection and encouraged mindfulness. 🗝️The camp instilled a deep sense of responsibility towards the environment and society, promoting sustainable practices and community service. 🗝️As a participant, I gained a broader understanding of global issues and developed empathy towards different cultures and perspectives. The experience ignited a lifelong love for adventure and exploration, inspiring me to embrace new challenges fearlessly. 🗝️Ultimately, the Co-curricular activities camp left an enduring impact on me, shaping my personality and outlook on life. It taught invaluable lessons beyond textbooks, empowering me to become well-rounded individual ready to contribute positively to the world. After participating in this camp, I found myself more proactive, motivated, and engaged in both academics and extracurricular activities. The camp's impact on my personality was evident in my improved interpersonal skills, empathy, and appreciation for diversity. Undoubtedly, this co-curricular camp was an enjoyable and transformative journey that shaped me into a more well-rounded individual. #CCA #JMI #development #growth #experientiallearning #activities

In honor of #MentoringMonth, I feel inspired to share a glimpse of the incredible journey I’ve embarked on with my little’ through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. I’ve realized that one of the most crucial lessons we can impart to our young ones isn’t always taught explicitly: the art of self-love and self-belief. Every quarter, my little and I set goals that transcend academics or extracurriculars. Our current focus? Learning to extend grace to oneself and to approach every challenge with determination and enthusiasm. It’s a journey about nurturing inner strength and resilience, about growing together. I encourage anyone looking for a meaningful way to contribute to their community to consider becoming a mentor. Your impact can extend far beyond what you can imagine – it’s about shaping a brighter, more confident future, one child at a time. It’s not just about changing their world, it’s about enriching yours too. Let’s help shape a brighter future together! #bbbs #mentoringmatters

The way I adapted while participating in this awakening program, I asked more questions from my mentor and several colleagues in my awakening class, apart from that, I also introduced myself so that the mentors and other colleagues knew me and could adapt better when implementing it. . program. For me, this awakening, adapting to a new environment is very good for our abilities and it is not awkward to meet other people, by adapting it really makes it easier for us to broaden our horizons and friendships too, as long as I follow this awakening. I have adapted the program even though it is very difficult because this program is held online. As we adapt to a new environment, we know that getting started is important. To adapt better, I also often invite my colleagues to get up immediately, even though it's a bit odd because the position is online, apart from that, we have to establish good relationships with the new environment and have to be open to spending money if the position is in a school or campus environment. Apart from that, we also have to seek help if someone needs it. We also have to take quite a long time to adapt, so we can't rush because we don't know whether our opponents who have adapted will be able to understand the conditions. Apart from that, we also have to learn the local culture so that there are no mistakes in pronunciation and the norms that exist in that environment, still bringing the atmosphere of our old place and applying it to the new place so that we don't feel awkward when adapting to the new environment and new people we haven't seen yet. Knowing their nature and character, in order to adapt well, we also have to maintain our speech patterns while adapting to these new people.

Back from a highly exhausting at the same time a highly rewarding week - teaching the fundamentals of Organisation Development (OD) at ISABS ODCP The experiential pedagogy that ISABS ODCP follows, makes the journey, not just for the participants but also for the faculty, extremely consuming. With a constant eye on the processes that emerge at all levels (of one-self, other, inter-personal, group and systems), one needs to immerse oneself into the process. The reward in this kind of work is two folds: 1) the company of liked minded professionals, who are ready to challenge (and also get challenged) the work you do, constantly. Keeping one on the edge (of learning), always. Plus, quick revisits to the design to change and adapt to the emergent needs of the participants in the here and now makes it exciting. Thanks to Sankarasubramanyan rachna Gauri mukul and Payal for your openness and for the dance of playing with the emergent, with a sole purpose of meeting the needs of the participants. 2) the other rewards is the shifts that the participants experience, which is a lived reality, not just for the participants themselves but for us as the faculty too. And a week later, when i look at all the posts that some of the participants have posted on LinkedIn, the learnings seems to be well grounded and the impact is gratifying. Here are some of the posts that i noticed. https://lnkd.in/g2QnYh7A https://lnkd.in/gw36abWn https://lnkd.in/gAdSWDHQ https://lnkd.in/gk-uYxwx https://lnkd.in/guP2a9bf https://lnkd.in/gSVJd3gz https://lnkd.in/ghbCv7iG Feeling very grateful for the experience 🙏