This just in: Jack seemed to be dominating in Magic, the Gathering. However, in their second face off, Madeline pulled out a never-before-used defense saving herself in the last moment, and made a huge comeback by playing another card from the new deck Emily gave her just this week. 

In other news, Howell Nature Camp, already a planet-friendly place by its very mission to save and care for injured or vulnerable wildlife, has become even more environmentally conscientious than ever. This summer, camper-led initiatives have spurred trash pickup hikes along the camp鈥檚 many trails, and food a new food scraps waste management system. 

Not-to-be-missed artistic offerings of this past July included a soaring a cappella rendition of Joni Mitchell鈥檚 鈥淏oth Sides,鈥� stand-up comedy routines managing to be both wacky and actually in good taste, and the most spirited cover of Pharrell Williams鈥� 鈥淗appy鈥� since the minions first came on the scene.

What in the world can all these wildly diverse events have in common? Well of course, these news flashes barely scratch the surface of a single week鈥檚 worth of Yunasa memories highlighting some of Yunasa campers鈥� many, and profoundly intense, passions.

Yunasa lets young people be the most concentrated and complete version of themselves, in the full support of a community, or 鈥渢ribe鈥� as we often call it, of others who appreciate and truly celebrate all the sparkling facets. When I first attended Yunasa about 17 years ago, I immediately went home and told my sister that she should attend as soon as she became old enough.  That was a surprising move only because, although coming from the same parentage and family, the crossover of our major interests is pretty much zero. She wouldn鈥檛 be caught dead watching a dance video, while learning a new dance is the thing that has always excited me most. And on the other hand, I couldn鈥檛 tell you the difference between a sci-fi novel or ones about sentient robots, and have probably never read a spy series, both of which would probably make my sister ashamed to even admit she knows me.

However, at Yunasa, it鈥檚 equally possible to meet a new trusted companion with whom you can finally go in-depth with into your specific passions, or conversely with someone who on the outside, you may have very little in common. They might even come from a totally different generation! Somehow still, when we come together around the campfire to begin and end every camp, you鈥檒l hear the words being sung out, 鈥淚t鈥檚 in every one of us, to be wise, find your heart鈥︹�� and it鈥檚 pretty close to a guarantee that each new and returning camper will have touched some part of that wisdom within themselves during the week. Best of all, they鈥檒l probably have some new skills to help them feel a greater confidence in their ability to reach it again whenever it鈥檚 needed throughout the year. 

Participating in Yunasa as a counselor now feels like a yearly dream. The consecutive years of camp are often as different from one another in highlight activities, favorite jokes, or warmest bunk memories as can be, and yet the through line of them all is seeing a place where each year more people reunite with a sense of deep belonging and acceptance for all they are and are growing into. Having a summer camp that brings people from all over the country, and sometimes the world, as part of 优蜜视频鈥檚 offerings is extraordinarily special. If you are interested in joining us at camp this summer, please apply with the link below to begin your journey of being a part of a special community.

In addition, if you are interested in contributing, any donation goes a long way toward making what was initially only a dream of the Fellows, now into a living reality. It is the opinion of a 10-year+ Yunasa veteran that the risk of some tears on the last day of camp, when you must bid farewell to friends you may not see for at least another year, is worth the opportunity of finding oneself and richly-cherished connections, which are so great a part of the Yunasa experience. 

Hi! My name is Cassie Kaplan and I am from Indianapolis, Indiana. I am currently a sophomore in college at Southern Methodist University and I am majoring in Biology and Anthropology. I attended Yunasa as a camper for four years in addition to two years as a leadership camper. I have also been a counselor at Yunasa for the past two years. My first year at Yunasa was at age eleven. I was having trouble fitting in at school and on my sports teams because I had different interests and saw the world differently than my classmates or teammates. But once I got to Yunasa, I found people just like me. For the first time in my life, I was surrounded by people who saw the world like I did. 

As a counselor, I have been able to help provide the same space that brought me so much joy and community during my formative years. One of my favorite moments from Yunasa this summer was the variety show, which is an open setting that allows anyone who wants to share one of their passions to do so. Performances range from singing to stand-up comedy to magic tricks. The variety show was one of my favorite activities as a camper, and it continues to be one of my favorite activities as a counselor. 

If these events and the community-feel sound like something you are interested in, I encourage you to apply to Yunasa through the application link below. We are excited to meet you and have you join the Yunasa tribe!

Being able to return to Yunasa is such a privilege, and it is only through the generous donations given to 优蜜视频 that I, along with the other counselors, are able to do so. Without the help of donors, this wonderful camp would not be able to continue to provide the home that it has been for me, and many others like me.

Thank you,

Cassie

Yunasa campers have started their day off with yoga for 20 years. Senior Program Coordinator, Qiao Li, has seen the benefits of yoga firsthand on our gifted campers and how it sets them up for success for the rest of the day. Because gifted children tend to receive stimuli more intensely () it is essential to find ways to connect the mind, body, and spirit to help ground them and give them tools to focus and relax. Li says that practicing yoga for half an hour settles the overactive mind typically found in gifted children and helps campers to welcome the day with a balanced mind and body. She says that sometimes they are so relaxed that they fall asleep in Savasana, corpse pose, the final resting posture of a yoga practice.

Yoga means to join, or to yoke, or to unite. Most yogis agree that through yoga, we can find a union of mind, body, and spirit through pranayama, breath, and the asanas, postures. Through this connection, we can calm the active mind and bring peace to the body. Controlled breathing techniques help signal the nervous system to calm down. The inhale is linked to the sympathetic nervous system or our fight-or-flight response, and the exhale is connected to the parasympathetic nervous system, our body’s relaxation system.

Consider practicing this simple breathing technique with your child the next time you like them to slow down.聽 While sitting in a comfortable position with eyes closed, inhale for 4 seconds and hold at the top for 2 seconds. Then exhale to a count of 6 and hold at the bottom for 2 seconds. Repeat several times and focus on expanding and emptying the belly with the breath. The circular nature of the technique gives the mind something to focus on, and the longer exhale gives the parasympathetic nervous system time to calm down.

Added benefits of breathing techniques are you are giving your body a chance to recuperate and heal. They promote less stress and better digestion. And deeper focused breathing helps to bring more awareness to the present moment.

We would love to hear in the comments how yoga and breathing techniques help support your child’s ability to focus and relax.

After two years of not being together in person, Yunasa and Yunasa West 2021 marked a smooth and graceful transition back to our traditional week-long sleepaway summer camps.

The pandemic has taught us many valuable lessons, and throughout camp, I witnessed many of these great qualities. Campers and staff demonstrated incredible kindness, understanding, and support to one another. We have learned to treasure the beauty in everyday small moments, to pay attention to nature, appreciate what we have and who we love, and to extend a helping hand to those in need. Despite the lack of social interaction during shelter-at-home, it took no time for campers to reconnect and find common interests. They were courteous, respectful, considerate, and kind.

Leading up to camp, 优蜜视频 took many steps to prepare for a safe and fun week for all participants. Partnering with our host camps 鈥� YMCA Camp Shady Brook in Colorado and YMCA Camp Copneconic in Michigan 鈥� we thoroughly studied the federal, state, and local health guidelines to make modifications for our residential summer camps. We made thoughtful changes to comply to the 鈥渃ohorting鈥� guidelines while creating safe opportunities for all campers and staff to connect throughout the week. Additionally, our host camps held themselves to the highest cleaning standard by implementing strict cleaning procedures daily and weekly to ensure that all campers can safely enjoy all camp activities.

Throughout the planning process, 优蜜视频 kept close and frequent communications with all parents. We made sure that there are no questions left unanswered, and that all families know 鈥渨hat to expect鈥� during this special year.

Though we had a lot of modifications this year, both camps offered a much-needed reunion after all that we have endured. We are able to ran both camps safely and successfully due to a combination of teamwork, leadership, improvisation, and good faith. I especially want to thank all of our parents for their trust in 优蜜视频, persistent partnership and understanding throughout this camp season.

I wish everyone a refreshing and joyful start to fall, and look forward to another great camp season in 2022!

鈥�Asking if Yunasa is worth it is like asking if a diamond sparkles. This camp has given me so much and I truly hope that I can give back a fraction of what I have received from it. I took many things away from this week, but what I learned most is that even when we are far apart and cannot hold hands or link arms or hug, this community endures, and it continues to give its gifts to all who participate in it. I am so grateful that I can return for another year and I truly hope that I will see everyone in 2021.鈥� 鈥� Virtual Yunasa East camper

Another powerful season of Yunasa and Yunasa West, another year of extraordinary growth for all that鈥檚 involved. What鈥檚 more? This summer, both of our camps were virtual.

Even just three months ago, we held on to the slim hope that we might be able to run camp in-person. When we eventually found out that both of our summer camps had to cancel, we were devastated. At the same time, the team knew that we have to do something for our campers and families.

The past few months have truly uprooted our lives in unimaginable ways. More than ever, we want to surround our children with a world that is stimulating, wholesome, safe, and filled with connection.

With this in mind, we built our virtual camps on the framework that we must create a safe virtual space for all campers, to encourage open, honest and respectful dialogue. True to Yunasa鈥檚 mission, we wanted to embrace and nurture each camper for who they are 鈥� the intellectual, social, emotional, physical and spiritual – so they can explore balance within and throughout. 

Even though this virtual experience is new and different, all of our campers 鈥� new and returning 鈥� embraced the magic of this new beginning with an open heart and genuine curiosity. They shared laughter, made friends, and supported one another in cheerful yet profound ways.

This year our camps鈥� theme is kindness. During these difficult and often confusing times for families, the ability to be kind to ourselves, attuning to our physical, emotional, and mental needs, combined with possessing an empathetic and compassionate view towards each other, are critical elements to restore balance, bring peace, and spread love.

At camp, we did a project called kindness rock. It鈥檚 a meditative art project that not only encourages campers to think about the bright moments in their day, the finished art piece also sends random acts of love and kindness to the world.

We also hosted a Variety Show during each camp. With most of the campers being at home, it actually lends a special lens to their home life where many campers chose to showcase their cooking skills and musical talents that otherwise may not be possible at camp.

Our entire Yunasa staff is very grateful for this unique opportunity to work with all campers and families. We hope everyone continues to stay safe and healthy, and we look forward to seeing everyone again in 2021!

camps are designed to work with gifted and highly gifted children to nurture balance and stimulate growth in the whole self.

At Yunasa, we work with experts in gifted education to provide a week-long camp that is filled with self-exploration, connection with nature and each other, and most importantly, FUN!聽聽From campers to counselors to staff to Fellows, Yunasa is a multi-generational community that cherishes every person’s unique talents and recognizes the power of their potential. At a camper-to-staff ratio of 4-1, we can meet each campers’ individual needs by using personalized support and strength-based interventions.

This year the Yunasa theme is kindness. Practicing kindness is scientifically proven to make people鈥檚 life happier and healthier. At camp, we will focus on facilitating discussions and workshops on the various ways to cultivate, give and receive kindness, as well as how does kindness relate to the nurturance of all aspects of self.

Yunasa is a special place for gifted children. So many times, I hear the campers say they meet friends who truly “get them”, who share similar joys, challenges and quirkiness. We foster an environment of creativity, respect, integrity, perseverance, and compassion, so all children can be comfortable with who they are and have a place to belong.

If this sounds like what you are looking for, you can

Yunasa West will be from Saturday, June 6 – June 13, 2020 at YMCA Camp Shady Brook in Colorado, and Yunasa East will be from Saturday, July 25 – August 1, 2020 at YMCA Camp Copneconic in Michigan. We hope to see you there.

It鈥檚 hard to believe it鈥檚 already July! With the summer flying by, it鈥檚 never too early to start thinking about fall activities. Whether your child is looking to expand their resume, find a hobby or make new friends, the extracurricular activities listed below can serve as great opportunities for all.

• Arts:  recommends gifted children partake in musical or artistic activities for a few different reasons. Artistic and creative pursuits can build problem-solving skills, provide a safe environment for socializing and relieve stress.

• Sports: Exercise is known to have a multitude of physical and emotional benefits. For a gifted child, physical activity can provide a break from rigorous academics and aid in social development. However, it鈥檚 important when choosing a sport to consider the physical, emotional and social challenges that might apply to your child. To read more about some of these challenges and how to choose a sport for your gifted child, check out this .

• Service activities: Volunteer and service opportunities are a fantastic way to teach your child how to give back to the community. Additionally, according to , clubs and colleges often look for volunteer experience when reviewing a student鈥檚 application for admission.

• 优蜜视频 Academy: provides exceptionally creative learning opportunities that encourage in-depth exploration of topics outside of the typical school curriculum. Classes cover a wide variety of STEM, arts and humanities topics, often taught through an interdisciplinary lens.

• Yunasa: Geared toward the unique needs of gifted children, while offering all the enjoyment of a traditional summer sleep-away camp, provides a combination of traditional camp activities and special workshops designed specifically to help gifted children learn more about themselves as they develop greater awareness and self-acceptance. While this isn鈥檛 a fall activity, it鈥檚 never too early to start thinking about registering your child for Yunasa 2020. Be sure to not miss the opening of Yunasa 2020 application by .

• Academic competitions: Academic competitions like spelling bees and quiz bowls can serve as an opportunity for your child to expand their knowledge in a subject of interest. also suggests that competitive activities can prepare children for the inevitable wins and losses that occur throughout life while also helping them develop self-esteem and tenacity.

• I[d]EA Day: 优蜜视频 is hosting an exciting new event this Fall in Pasadena! is built to inspire our next generation of innovators. Over light bites and drinks, become a part of the 优蜜视频 network while gaining exclusive access to local STEAM professionals and experts in gifted education.  about I[d]EA day! 

For more extracurricular activity suggestions, check out the on our website!

Whenever I try to tell my friends back in California about the week I鈥檝e spent in Colorado every summer for the past three years, words fall just short. I describe to them the intense friendship, the emotional growth, the tight-knit community and the sheer happiness that make up my experience at . Then I say: however good this sounds, imagine it 10,000 times time better.

Yunasa is a truly special place. I have never felt more free to be myself than on the grounds of Camp Shady Brook. Almost everywhere else in my life, there are parts of me I feel the need to hide, fearing that I鈥檒l come across as weird or condescending or attention-seeking or annoying. I worry that if I let out these suppressed parts of me, it鈥檚 all people will be able to see. My personality, my complex emotions and my varied interests will be reduced, made less than the sum of their parts. At Yunasa, I feel no such fear. I am so easily and fully myself, speaking up when I might have remained silent at home. The result of this is a wonderful kind of understanding between my fellow campers and I. It is culture of complete acceptance, and love, and I鈥檝e never experienced anything else like it.

I wasn鈥檛 expecting any of this the first time I came to Yunasa. In fact, as my mother and I wove between the wide, graceful river and the tall pines that line the road to camp, I remember anticipating the exact opposite. There were a lot of qualities and ideas associated with the word 鈥済ifted鈥� that I didn鈥檛 connect with at all, and so I worried that, even here, I wouldn鈥檛 fit in. I鈥檇 be stuck a thousand miles from everything I knew, unable to make friends, bored out of my mind without cell phone service and only a single book to read. After an excruciating, anxious hour, we arrived at Camp Shady Brook. I stared at the ground as we checked in and hauled my luggage up to the cabin. Before I could process any of it, my mom was hugging me goodbye as I begged through tears to go with her.

But once I wiped away those tears and entered the dance hall, where campers talked and played games while the last few arrivals trickled in, it took all of ten minutes for me to find a friend. My fears of a miserable week were gradually replaced with a thrilling excitement – I still had no idea what was coming, but based off the enthusiasm of the returning campers, it was something amazing. That first friend, Hannah, introduced me to her friends from the previous year, and we started talking, laughing, sharing stories and silly jokes. I realized I was opening myself up in a way I didn鈥檛 know was possible. As the blazing Colorado sun fell below the horizon to reveal the most beautiful view of the stars I鈥檝e ever seen, I knew that I had stumbled upon something extraordinary.

After talking to many of the friends I鈥檝e made at Yunasa, I realize that this is not a unique way to begin one鈥檚 first day. We鈥檝e all struggled with feeling alienated and disconnected from our peers at one point or another, but on top of that most of us have also felt different from the stereotypical gifted kid, so we expect that same lonely disconnect to follow us to camp. Instead, we find a community that is incredibly diverse and welcoming, where everyone can feel valued and included. There is no singular gifted experience. At Yunasa, we connect over what we have in common – you鈥檒l hear a lot of finger snaps and whispered agreements during group dialogues, when one person鈥檚 experience resonates with many – but it is understood that there is great variety in our experiences as well. People here are a lot like me, but not exactly like me. That would be boring. I think the relationships formed at Yunasa are so strong and deep in part because the experiences we do share allow us to receive the unique, unfamiliar qualities in each other with total acceptance and understanding.

And the relationships I鈥檝e formed are so meaningful! It鈥檚 strange to reflect upon the bonds I鈥檝e formed with other campers and think that I鈥檝e only spent three weeks total in their presence. I mean it when I say that my friends from camp are some of my best friends in the world. They make me laugh so uncontrollably hard that my jaw and stomach end up sore. They encourage me to step out of my comfort zone, to push myself just a little further, and once I take that terrifying first step off the edge of the cliff I鈥檓 rappelling down or stand up to perform my original song in front of everyone, they cheer me on so enthusiastically. They listen to me and care about me, simply checking in on how I鈥檓 feeling that day but also supporting me with whatever bigger problems are on my mind. And I do the same for them. These friendships are so intense, so equal, so beautifully intimate. I think back to a moment from last summer when I sat on the cabin steps with my friend Vince, again under those glorious stars. We talked for hours. At Yunasa, everything I鈥檝e bottled up in the past year seems to find a way out, and so I told him things I thought I鈥檇 never feel comfortable telling anyone. It was exactly what I needed. I felt relieved and released and loved and full of love for others all at once. I am lucky to have amazing friends back home, but none of them understand me or really hear me the way my Yunasa friends do.

Emotional growth and healing occurs at Yunasa, in Heart of the Matter sessions and workshops led by our incredible fellows and long, late-night conversations. But there鈥檚 also no shortage of lighthearted fun. That aforementioned side-splitting laughter follows me everywhere, shaking me out of my early-morning daze in the dining hall, bouncing off the surface of the lake as our canoe spirals the exact opposite direction I want it to, escaping from behind my hand as Carissa and I try to stifle our giggling and not wake the entire cabin. I get the chance to rappel down a rock face, zipline, do yoga; I write slam poems and learn basic martial arts. We play Egyptian Rat-Slap and we take it very, very seriously (probably the proudest moment of my entire life was the one time I beat my friend and defending champion Mya). During our unstructured afternoons, Gwen plays her ukulele and we harmonize along to a song we both love. These are my simplest, most favorite joys.

I always end up crying on the last night of camp. It鈥檚 so bittersweet. For one wonderful week I can exist exactly as I am and be understood. Though I miss my family and my California friends, going back to them is hard: I鈥檓 leaving one home for another.

Still, I am not returning to the exact same situation I left. Each Yunasa changes me. I leave with new ideas and techniques for dealing with the difficult parts of my life. I leave having made new friends and having deepened the friendships I made in the summers before. I leave more certain of who I am. I could reminisce for hours about every amazing thing that makes Yunasa what it is, from the mundane to the truly profound (and I have, over FaceTime, to my Yunasa friends). I feel like the the luckiest person in the universe to have spent even a single day there, tucked away in the mountains in a perfect world.

优蜜视频 is currently taking applications for it’s 2019 summer camps.

It鈥檚 hard to believe, but we鈥檙e already well into the new year: 2019. Despite heavy rains 鈥� much-needed and welcomed throughout Los Angeles County 鈥� in 优蜜视频鈥檚 home city of Pasadena, CA, the future looks bright! With the rainfall comes the opportunity to recalibrate, reflect, and reenergize for an exciting year ahead. We have some incredible new initiatives and programs on the horizon and are looking forward to continuing to serve and support our amazing students, families, educators, and community partners.

We hope you鈥檙e as excited about this list as we are!

1. Celebrating Heart, Fostering Hope: On February 9, 优蜜视频 will formally celebrate its 20^th anniversary with a gala fundraiser at the Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena. We鈥檙e so excited to share this incredible occasion with those that have helped shape 优蜜视频 for two decades. If you鈥檙e unable to join in person, please consider donating, sponsoring, or providing us with a silent auction item. All money raised will go towards continuing to help serve the nation鈥檚 brightest and most deserving students, who drive our mission on a daily basis. For more information, please click .
2. 18 years of Yunasa! Since 2002, and across 22 sessions, has been providing gifted youth with award-winning programming, embracing them for who they are and helping them understand and work with the unique joys and challenges they face. This summer, Camp Shady Brook in Colorado and Camp Copneconic in Michigan will host campers, counselors, Fellows, and 优蜜视频 staff for a unique, week-long experience like no other. Interested in applying? There鈥檚 still time!
3. Academy Additions: We鈥檙e introducing two new NAGC-award-winning Shelagh Gallagher curricula to our Academy offerings: Black Death and It鈥檚 Electrifying! 鈥� and that鈥檚 just in the spring session! Stay tuned for more additions in the summer and beyond, including a course for our youngest students, ages 6-9: The Penguin Predicament: A Problem about Animal Habitat and Survival.
4. Ready, set, make! On June 22, 优蜜视频 will host its first-ever Maker Faire. Details about this one-of-a-kind event with makers, tinkerers, and creative minds coming soon!
5. Community: Now entering its second year of providing an academic and social home for the gifted community, 优蜜视频鈥檚 Learning Center at 540 S. Marengo is excited to welcome 鈥� and welcome back 鈥� families, educators, Externs, Bradley scholars, and community partners through programming, free events, open houses, workshops, trainings, and tours. Check out our page to see what鈥檚 on the horizon!
6. Our third content guide: In June, 优蜜视频 will release its third content guide, which will focus on high schools throughout the United States that serve gifted students. We look forward to being able to provide our families with a well-researched, informative guide for their rising high schoolers. To view our two content guides released in 2018, please visit our .
7. Calling all volunteers! 优蜜视频 is launching its first-ever program! Volunteers are an integral part of 优蜜视频. We rely on our volunteers to help support a variety of services for our community. Whether you鈥檙e working with students, engaging with guests at events, or performing administrative tasks, our volunteers help our programs thrive! Join 优蜜视频鈥檚 mission to ensure that each gifted child鈥檚 specific needs are met so that they can reach their full potential.
8. Brilliant scientists, brilliant students: (Learning Among Brilliant Scientists) is in its second program year! Since its initial launch in March 2018, LABS has continued to build momentum with a great line-up of STEM professionals from Caltech, Cal State Los Angeles, and USC. They鈥檝e shared their innovative work and research on such topics as astrophysics, molecular biology, computer science, ecology and evolution, biology and mathematics! The new year kicks off with an exciting LABS on Cancer Cells in the Blood! There are still spots available for the February 16 LABS Series:
9. Streaming live, coast to coast! meetings have gone digital! 优蜜视频 is now livestreaming our meetings on Facebook and YouTube. We鈥檙e excited to be able to expand our outreach to non-local families and share gifted professionals鈥� amazing insight with our community. The next meeting, on January 31, will focus on social emotional imagination in gifted education.
10. EXPLORE-ing a new location: is launching a program in Northern California! The program continues to garner great interest from applicants in NorCal, so this summer we鈥檙e hoping to make the leap up north to host students at 1 or 2 mentor sites. We鈥檒l be able to expand our reach and serve more talented high schoolers!
11. Hot off the presses: 优蜜视频 now has a 3D printer! Thanks to a generous grant from the Ahmanson Foundation, which is providing us with funds to transform our Learning Center, our programs are now equipped to provide students with 3D printing technology, design, and coding. Check out our first test print from Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship Coordinator, Mallory Aldrich:
12. Speaking of hearts: Academy is hosting it鈥檚 first-ever Valentine鈥檚 Day card-making event the week of February 4. Stop by during business hours to make cards for family, friends, teachers, and other special people in your life. Free of charge! Details located .
13. Beakers and Bunsen burners and bacteria, oh my! Within a few weeks, construction will be complete on 优蜜视频 Learning Center鈥檚 new wet lab! With three working stations, sinks, and a flat screen monitor, Academy and LABS programs will be able to provide an authentic science lab experience for students and educators. We look forward to seeing this amazing space transform into a space of hands-on inquiry that has been years in the making.
14. Student-led workshops: 2018 was a fantastic year for student-led workshops and there are already two planned for February: the third workshop in CDB Scholar Luke Gialanella鈥檚 Votes and Voices series 鈥� A Presidential History of the U.S. Two-Party System 鈥� and The Wonderful World of Poems with Cassidy Kao. We鈥檙e so grateful that our students love sharing their knowledge and experiences with each other!
15. Family and fun: When not working with and serving our incredible students, 优蜜视频 staff enjoys cultivating their hobbies and pursuing their interests. Marketing and Communications Coordinator Nicole LaChance is looking forward to joining her family for some rock and roll excitement this summer: 鈥淚 am going to see Aerosmith in June at their residency in Las Vegas with my family. Aerosmith is a special band for us and I have probably seen them at least 8 times already. It will be awesome to spend time with my family and see a great show we are all super excited about. Maybe I鈥檒l even get lucky at the casino!鈥�

What 优蜜视频 programs or events are you most looking forward to in 2019

鈥淣o act of kindness 鈥� however small 鈥� is ever wasted.鈥� 鈥� Aesop

Today is ! At 优蜜视频, our means that we see gifted youth as much more than their minds and deeply value their unique perspectives on the world. The young people we serve are of course very bright, but they鈥檙e also extremely compassionate. To celebrate World Kindness Day and our extraordinary community, I gathered 优蜜视频 staff members鈥� memories of kind acts by our students that will continue to stick with them for years to come:

• 鈥淭his past summer, two students donated a bunch of their stuffed animals to as part of the camp鈥檚 Yunasa Buddies initiative. (New campers get to choose their favorite Yunasa Buddy to keep them company while they鈥檙e away from home.) They also get to take their buddy home! I thought it was such a kind gesture for them to initiate that donation.鈥�

• 鈥淚 travel with a pillow one of my clients made for me when she was six because she wanted me to be comfortable when I got on planes and slept in hotel rooms. The pillow has a picture that she drew of a castle (because she was six and liked princesses) and my dog Megan so I would always have Megan with me.鈥�

• 鈥淪everal years ago, two of our Yunasa campers held a lemonade stand and then donated the profits to Yunasa.鈥�

• 鈥淎t Yunasa West this summer, one camper spent all $60 of his camp store dollars on ice cream tickets for campers and staff.鈥�

• 鈥淎 six-year-old Academy student remembered my birthday from a conversation early in the session and then made me a card weeks later when it came!鈥�

• 鈥淥ne of our Yunasa campers, age nine, was on his flight home from camp and thought the flight attendants looked tired/stressed, so he wanted to help them. He took his towel out of his carry on and went to the back galley where he taught them yoga and guided meditation. (It is also kind that the attendants let him do this!)鈥�

Check out the World Kindness Day website to browse for people of all ages. Tell us in the comments how you鈥檝e seen the gifted children in your life show kindness to others!