The theme of our conversations this month is Growth; our guest today is Jon Kuypers, Director at the Greater Burlington YMCA Camp Abnaki. For him, curiosity and cognitive flexibility are essential aspects of personal growth to which he attributes his own ability to help others. The seasonality of Camp gives Jon the opportunity to start fresh each year. “It’s a chance to grow the positivizes and a chance to reset… I have to be a different camp director now than I was when I started eighteen years ago.” 

The structured freedom camp provides is an invaluable environment for kids to make decisions, learn to compromise, think for themselves, manage their time, and communicate—essentially preparing them for the challenges and opportunities of college, career, and ‘adult’ life.

An important aspect of personal growth for him is acting as a role model by acknowledging past mistakes and also acknowledging the great fortune he has to learn from his staff and new group of campers he welcomes each year. 

Whether your drink is espresso, Cappuccino, latté, cortado, or even decaf, pour yourself a double shot and join us.