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

There will be some slight changes to kick-off Yunasa 2022. We鈥檙e excited to share that Yunasa Michigan will be moving to a new more intimate location in July. Building partnerships with organizations who share the same values in supporting our campers鈥� emotional, physical, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being are important values to 优蜜视频 and we feel lucky to be able to share this with a new place.

This summer, Yunasa Michigan will be held at Howell Nature Center in Howell, MI. Campers will get to witness some of their key landmarks from their Pleasant Lake, their fun-filled Tree House, to the beautiful greenery that surrounds the site! The Yunasa team has been collaborating and preparing for this upcoming season with the staff at Howell Nature Center and at YMCA Camp Shady Brook, and we are thrilled to connect with teams who are enthusiastic and passionate in serving the needs of our campers.

This is an exciting time for our families whether new or returning. If you鈥檙e interested in applying to our Yunasa program, the application is live!

You may find the link to the application听.

Please note that the deadline to submit your camper鈥檚 application is March 14, 2022.

If you have any questions regarding the program or application process, please contact the Program Coordinator, Issabela Tulalian at听itulalian@educationaladvancement.org.

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!听听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.

优蜜视频鈥檚 annual camp concluded powerfully at Camp Copneconic in Fenton, Michigan! Throughout the week, we watched all 79 campers 鈥� including 23 leadership campers 鈥� get to know themselves and each other in gentle yet profound ways. As ever, our leadership campers demonstrated incredible talents to connect with younger campers, support one another and be positive role models to all. All campers were empathetic, compassionate, sensitive and full of personality. It was an honor for the entire staff to watch the growth that transpired in each child.

theme this year is passion. In a named Found Poetry, campers created a poem using reading materials focused on passion. It was a collaborative effort that culminated in a beautiful and powerful passage:

鈥淭his close relationship, it felt very natural,

An absolute thunderbolt merged with part of your being

My life had changed

Practice; how to play anew

Grand devotion, imported in my life

Such a devastating event, a slow burn, a sensitivity that resonates

Obsessively thought about

Devoted to this love story.

Fire, that鈥檚 me!鈥�

In addition to , campers also spent time each day practicing psychosynthesis 鈥� a guided imagery meditation followed by in-depth discussion. helps one to focus, concentrate, be in tune with their senses, and be more aware of the present moment.

Yunasa also integrates specialized learning with traditional camp activities, so campers get a full experience of a weeklong sleep-away camp. Throughout the week, campers balance their day by participating in waterfront activities such as kayaking, sailing, tubing, fishing and riding in pontoons. Some land-based activities are also hugely popular such as archery, horseback riding, zip-lining and other rope courses.

Yunasa was a fun-filled week packed with exploration, friendships, growth and passion. Thank you to all campers, counselors, Fellows and staff for making it yet another amazing and memorable week. Have a great year ahead! We look forward to more summer fun in 2020!

the entire Yunasa Michigan photo album. to be the first to know when Yunasa 2020 dates and application information.

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

Why is Community Important?

Community is the foundation of our social life. A healthy community provides support, encouragement, affirmation, and a sense of belonging to all members. Feeling loved and accepted also fosters good behavioral patterns, increase productivity, inspire creativity.

Although there are tremendous benefits in building and belonging in a community, the greatest social epidemic of our modern life is isolation. It is not always easy for everyone to find their 鈥渢ribe鈥�, especially if they are different from the majority; such is the case for gifted and high ability learners.

Why is There a Need?

Gifted and high ability learners possess exceptional capability to reason and learn in one or more domains. They are critical thinkers, curious learners, innovators, and sensitive individuals.

There are estimated six to ten percent of students in the U.S. who are gifted and high ability learners, roughly three to five million students. Though this is by no means a small number, spread them out through the nation, they are still minority groups in most schools. It is much harder for gifted students to find their community.

Though gifted students possess high potential, they are not always top performers. Research shows that 25% of gifted people are underachievers, and they quit trying because nothing they do leads to any measurable success or satisfaction[1]. Lacking the support from a community can exacerbate these outcomes.

Adding social-economic divide to this challenge, the picture becomes more dire. One study shows the gaps between top performing socioeconomically disadvantaged students and their more affluent peers were significant[2]. In fact, high-achieving, low-income students are equally likely to attend college as low-scoring high-income students[3]. These students need a support group that can help them to unlock their potential.

Without a nurturing community, feeling alone, misunderstood, and unchallenged, many gifted and high ability learners get bored, frustrated, or develop bad study habits. Without a community, we are creating a persistent talent underclass.

What is it Like to Have a Community?

Imagine witnessing the moment when someone talks about their passion with sparkles in their eyes, imagine the tears of joy when someone dares to try something new and take ownership of their potential that they didn鈥檛 even know existed.

Each summer, gifted teens from across the country, sometimes from outside the United States, gather to spend a week-long retreat at 优蜜视频鈥檚 鈥� Yunasa West in Colorado, and Yunasa in Michigan.

Campers from all backgrounds bring a variety of interests and talents, providing an opportunity for all to grow in a diverse environment.

More than a traditional summer sleep-away camp, Yunasa provides a combination of camp activities and enriching workshops designed specifically to help gifted teens find balance as they develop greater awareness and a sense of adventure.

Prior to Yunasa, many campers are trained to focus on just a single aspect of self. At camp, through activities like giants鈥� ladder, aqua jump, yoga, nature walk, music improv, and many more, they learn to recognize and nurture other aspects of self, while learning the importance of leadership, teamwork, and trust.

Communities are critical for the functioning of a healthy society. For children who learn differently from the majority of their peer group, it is especially important to have a strong supporting network that can help them grow both professionally and personally.

What kind of community do you envision for gifted children and all children? Are there examples you would like to share?

Like this post? to receive more stories, information, and resources about gifted youth straight to your inbox.

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References:

[1] adapted from The Gifted Kids Survival Guide: A Teen Handbook

[2] Plucker, J. A., J. Hardesty, and N. Burroughs. “Talent on the sidelines: Excellence gaps and America鈥檚 persistent talent underclass.” Storrs: University of Connecticut, Center for Education Policy Analysis. Retrieved from http://www. cepa. uconn. edu/research/mindthegap (2013).

[3] Martha J. Bailey and Susan M. Dynarski, 鈥淚nequality in Postsecondary Attainment,鈥� 2011. In Greg Duncan and

Richard Murnane, eds., Whither Opportunity: Rising Inequality, Schools, and Children’s Life Chances, pp. 117-132.听New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

]]> /blog-gifted-community/feed/ 0 /blog-yunasa-2014-2/ /blog-yunasa-2014-2/#respond Wed, 13 Aug 2014 02:45:36 +0000 https://ieadev.wpengine.com/blog-yunasa-2014-2/ By Jennifer de la Haye

Jennifer is a recent addition to the 优蜜视频 staff and attended Yunasa for the first time this summer. 优蜜视频鈥檚 pioneering unite highly able youngsters with experts in the social and emotional development of gifted children. Campers explore and grow the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical aspects of their lives.

Yunasa 2014 left me breathless 鈥� perhaps because this was my first Yunasa experience, or perhaps because Yunasa is a special and unique hub of safety, growth, and unparalleled camp-magic. The afternoon of Sunday, July 27, campers began to filter into the conference center of Camp Copneconic in Fenton, Michigan; some brows were knitted, some smiles were uncertain, some faces looked thoughtful. Several of the kids seemed to float, others skipped, many hugged with excited ferocity, quite a few squealed and jumped up and down as they spotted a friend. The older campers 鈥� deemed either EL for 鈥楨merging Leader鈥� or CIT for 鈥楥ounselor in Training鈥� 鈥� whose bonds with one another are indurate after years of Yunasa, dispersed to welcome the younger campers, show them to their rooms, and initiate ice-breaking exercises. Kids who seemed a bit apprehensive were directed to the table of Yunasa Buddies, cuddly stuffed animals donated by staff and campers meant to offer a bit of comfort throughout the week.

On the first night of camp, Newbury Honor Award winner and 优蜜视频 Senior Fellow Stephanie Tolan led a group discussion on her work, Flight of the Raven, the second book in a series about four gifted youth who combine powers to save a violent, troubled world. I was immediately struck by the depth and intelligence of the conversation; the questions the campers asked were interesting and insightful. And so mature. Was I sitting in on a college literature course or was I watching a summer camp unfold?

During the rest of the week, the Fellows offered a variety of workshops about topics such as literary archetypes, the emotional life of the brain, 鈥済ifted gripes鈥�, contemporary music, line dancing, energy healing, and soul collage 鈥� the art of assembling randomly selected pictures torn from assorted magazines into a piece that, once finished, renders an interesting reflection of the artist. Yunasa Fellow Dan Tichenor headed the Rube Goldberg team, a committed group who worked all week to create a highly complicated machine with the sole mission of turning a single page in a book. In twenty years, Dan has seen only one Rube Goldberg machine that actually fulfilled its purpose. This year, the Yunasa team succeeded! The page was turned.

听

Each camper was assigned to a psychosynthesis group, which was led by one of the Fellows and met each day to practice guided imagery and mind-calming techniques. Everyone also had the opportunity to participate in Heart of the Matter, a session in which groups were able to discuss the issues they have dealt with throughout the year with Dr. Patricia Gatto-Walden, 优蜜视频 Senior Fellow and licensed psychologist.

Unity amongst the campers began to form on Sunday night, and by Monday, the day of the Opening Ceremony and Spirit Journey, genuine connections were becoming apparent. The solemn respect, acceptance, and love of these campers seemed to permeate the circle surrounding the campfire.

To develop their physical selves, campers participated in various high adventure activities like Creek Freak 鈥� a zipline that sends campers soaring over an expanse of rocky creek, Tower Zipline 鈥� a higher version that catapults the truly courageous from the top of an enormous tower, the Giant Swing, and a high ropes course. Some of the more leisurely activities included fishing, archery, canoeing, and Hammockville 鈥� a glorious conglomeration of trees where campers set up hammocks and relax.

Every Yunasa evening offered a special camp-wide activity. The leadership campers organized a beach party and subsequent campfire…

A movie-themed social…

And a Variety Show.

An ice cream social and the Closing Ceremony were held on the final night of camp.

In a post-camp survey, one of our fabulous leadership campers articulated, “The friendships I have made and inner confidence I have gained has made this year’s Yunasa experience totally valuable in a way that I couldn’t ever have imagined. Even though the past five Yunasas I have been to were amazing and life-changing, this one left me truly speechless.鈥�

For me, watching these incredible kids emerge from their comfort zones to reach out, forge deep friendships, grow emotionally, and take physical risks was an inspiration and a delight.

See more photos from camp!

优蜜视频鈥檚 pioneering unite highly able youngsters with experts in the social and emotional development of gifted children. Campers explore and grow the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical aspects of their lives.

鈥淜now Thyself鈥� was at the core of all of 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs this year, and particularly for Yunasa, as this theme tied into each activity throughout the week. Yunasa is the Lakota word for 鈥渂alance鈥�, and finding balance within as a means of gaining self-knowledge is the focus of camp. From July 21-28 at Camp Copneconic in Fenton, Michigan, campers explored themselves more deeply and learned integration strategies for the five domains of self: social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and intellectual. For many returning campers, Yunasa is a place where they rejoin their family each year, building their existing connections and extending themselves to make new ones. What was most unique about camp this year was the number of new campers who were accepted into the Yunasa family with open arms.

Campers greeted each morning with 鈥淐all in the Directions,鈥� a Native American tradition used to give gratitude for the gifts each of the cardinal directions brings each day. Other daily activities for all campers included psychosynthesis 鈥� or guided visualizations 鈥� and yoga, which taught campers to calm and focus their minds as a means of reaching deeper levels of awareness and self-understanding. During psychosynthesis, campers connected their social, emotional, and spiritual components and also had a chance to connect with their groups on a deeper level. During yoga, campers used their minds to focus on their physical and their spiritual self as well as to achieve balance.

Throughout the week, campers learned new things through workshops offered by our Fellows. Archetypes through Mask Making and Sacred Connections were new workshops this year. Campers developed a sense for the masks 鈥� or different identities 鈥� they wear in life. They tapped into their connections with nature and one another through Sacred Connections. Campers also came together to create a design and building plan for a Rube Goldberg project workshop. Other workshops included Line Dancing, Farther Reaches of the Human Mind, and the Eight Great Gripes of Gifted Children.

Campers also enjoyed the open space, beautiful lake, and Michigan greenery through daily camper options, which include challenging physical activities like Archery and Paddle Boarding as well as relaxing activities like spending time in Hammockville and Canoeing. Camp Copneconic believes in taking a 鈥淐hallenge by Choice鈥� approach, whereby our campers challenge themselves and set personal physical goals in activities like High Ropes, Climbing Tower, or Creek Freak (a zipline over a creek). Our counselors were also an integral part of helping Yunasa campers reach new heights and step out of their comfort zones through daily options.

What makes Yunasa unique is not just the variety and extent of challenging but constructive activities throughout the week, but also the dedicated people who participate in them. Camp Copneconic was truly a partner in helping us achieve our mission. Our counselors and staff were the supportive network our campers could rely upon. The esteemed faculty we call our Fellows shared their wisdom and guidance. But above all, the campers are what make this a once in a lifetime experience each year. Yunasa campers are the most creative, intelligent, quirky, wonderful, accepting, and caring group of kids anyone could ever know. As much as they learned what we had to teach them, they really taught and encouraged us.

Click on the button below for more photos from camp!

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Every gifted person has a unique story. The following story is part of a series of posts depicting the many faces of gifted by highlighting gifted children and adults we have found through 优蜜视频 programs. 优蜜视频鈥檚 pioneering summer camp 鈥� mentioned in this story 鈥� unites highly able children and experts in the social and emotional development of gifted children and provides an opportunity for campers to explore and grow the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social and physical aspects of their lives.

Matthew
Yunasa Camper

Matthew lives on the island of Java in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. He is 13 years old, is home schooled and has traveled to Camp Copneconic in Fenton, Michigan, for the last two summers to attend .

How did Matthew hear about Yunasa?
Matthew first learned about Yunasa through his mentor. 鈥淢ark Lediard has been my mentor for three years now, beginning from the age where I was withdrawn from formal schooling. He and I now meet regularly to discuss opportunities for my enrichment and intellectual expansion, including out-of-country learning and meetings with learned professionals. It was through Mark鈥檚 collaboration with a homeschooling curriculum adviser named Kathi Kearney that I learned of Yunasa, and I was quick to jump at the prospect.鈥�

But why Yunasa?
鈥淚ndonesia, despite being diverse both culturally and biologically, does not have the inherent essence that Yunasa offers. Although the country does have camps, most are relatively generic when compared to Yunasa; mostly they fall within the categories of academic, ecological, or religious. It can be said that the reason for my participation was to experience these new spiritual aspects that no other camp could seem to offer.鈥�

What has he gained from attending Yunasa?
鈥淲ords alone cannot describe the effects Yunasa have had on me; intellectually, socially, physically, and spiritually. I have met people with radically varying perspectives, others with opinions very akin to my own, and those still who have enhanced me and the way I see myself by their personalities and experiences. Here, I found an arena to discuss and debate the theories I hold so dear, and to marvel at the ambitions of others who were driven by that same desire to cultivate humanity.鈥�

What does Matthew like about Yunasa?
鈥淭he experience of Yunasa was terrifically structured, and my greatest thanks go to the 优蜜视频 staff for organizing and providing such a seamless daily schedule. The topics and contributions of the were invaluable in expanding my intellectual and emotional repertoire and are inspiring to reflect on, especially when considering their many possibilities.鈥�

What part of Yunasa has had the greatest effect on Matthew?
鈥淎lthough I meditate in my daily life, the concept of psychosynthesis itself intrigued me, and I quickly found out why. In the process, I experienced undoubtedly profound visions of the unified continuum of time; often, I would leave the session pondering my beliefs and what it meant to be there. Frankly, I cannot wait to experience pychosynthesis again next year and see what I may experience.鈥�

What similarities does he find between himself and the other campers?
鈥淚 find that in a myriad of ways, we share similar perspectives, interests, and ways of comprehending reality. I can say that I have never felt more assimilated into a community than 驰耻苍补蝉补鈥檚 gestalt, especially when considering I have lived in a foreign society for all my life. In this way, Yunasa is a sanctuary, a home for me. Even before I arrived, I had an innate knowing of the events to come, as it is an undeniable fact that Yunasa has that powerful quality of making one feel completely and utterly at ease with his surroundings, his peers, and most importantly, his inner beliefs.鈥�

Does Matthew keep in touch with other campers throughout the year?
鈥淎s a matter of fact, I regularly keep in touch with my closer friends via email and online sources. They inform me on a constant basis about their current activities and circumstances, and it has happened more than once that we have asked each other for aid on issues that cannot be resolved by only a single perspective. It is an honor to know and communicate with these individuals, and I consider them to be important in my development.鈥�

What does he do in his free time, and where does he see himself in the future?
鈥淏eing in the cultural fusion that is Indonesia, I am exposed to a wide variety of people, perspectives, and religions on a daily basis, even within my own household. The most enjoyable pastime is observing how all of these fundamentally different groups cooperate and interact in a common environment, even though many share dividing opinions and views.鈥�

He also enjoys reading and writing, 鈥渕ainly due to the unbounded creativity that they grant me in shaping myself as an individual. I greatly appreciate the intellectual diversity I gain from books and that I can create with writing. I believe that the greatest gift that is bestowed upon the world is the written word, and the knowledge that stems thereof.鈥�

Like many gifted children, Matthew draws connections between different intellectual and spiritual subjects to make more sense of the world and wants to contribute positively to the world around him. 鈥淔rom a young age, I have expressed an intuitive knowing in the existence of an unseen organizational structure above the chaos of reality, and with it, a pressing need to aid humanity in grasping the concept of realms far beyond their understanding. Over time, this ambition progressed to an interest in the fields of theoretical physics and the philosophy of consciousness, namely Ontology. For as long as this aspiration has stood, I have dedicated my life to the unification of science and spirituality, the empirical and abstract. My purpose, I believe, is to aid humankind in reading what Einstein once termed as 鈥楾he Mind of God.鈥欌��

Do you or your children want to share your experiences of being gifted? Please leave us a comment below or email us at 优蜜视频gifted@educationaladvancement.org!

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优蜜视频’s pioneering and summer camps unite highly able youngsters and experts in the social and emotional development of gifted children. Campers explore and grow the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical aspects of their lives.

2012 saw another memorable year of Yunasa in Flint, Michigan. Campers arrived on Sunday, July 22, at Camp Copneconic with great anticipation for the week to come and left mid-morning on July 29 elated from a week of flourishing at camp. Yunasa is more than your average summer camp鈥攊t鈥檚 a week-long exploration of one鈥檚 intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical self. The week was a success on all levels, as campers took away valuable life lessons, deeper bonds with peers, and unforgettable memories.

A high ropes course, offered as one of the many camper options, tested campers’ physical and risk taking abilities.

Psychosynthesis sessions were led by our Fellows, , each morning. Campers practiced guided visualization and relaxation techniques. Many campers said that Psychosynthesis was their favorite part of the day.

The Emerging Leaders (ELs) hosted a camp-wide talent show, including a comedy routine, musical performances, and a choreographed dance.

One camp session was an ongoing Rube Goldberg project, where campers used various materials to construct a complex machine that, in the end, would perform a simple task. After much deliberation, campers opted to make a device that would put a hat on someone鈥檚 head.

The Counselors in Training (CITs) put on the annual Yunasa Olympics. Physically and mentally challenging, the events included in the Olympics vary from year to year. A game of Quidditch was the highlight this year!

Bubble making stations were set up outside the conference center and available throughout the entire week. Campers enjoyed the option during down-time in the midst of an eventful camp schedule.

During the week, campers become a part of the Yunasa family. Many campers describe Yunasa as a time of true friendship and togetherness.

Throughout the week, campers were encouraged by staff and their peers. Many campers felt 鈥渁t home鈥� and inspired to be their authentic selves. There were multiple unique opportunities for personal growth. With physical activities such as horseback riding, water sports, zip lining, and ropes courses, campers were challenged to develop confidence in their athletic abilities. With the support of the Fellows and 优蜜视频 staff, they also grew emotionally with one another and in self-awareness. Campers called on their spiritual abilities to connect with the world around them through activities such as Spirit Journey and Call in the Directions. Intellectually, campers enjoyed sharing with one another in an environment of acceptance and mutual understanding. Our hope is for these campers to return home with cherished Yunasa memories to share and hold onto until we meet again next year.

Thank you to Nicholas Farrell for taking these photos at camp!

For more photos from Yunasa, click on the button below. Also, be sure to check out the article about Yunasa in !

What was your child鈥檚 favorite part of Yunasa this year? Please share with us in the comment section below.

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