Giving Our Kids Opportunities to Lead

Over spring break my family went on a road trip, and on our way home we stopped at a rest stop packed with people on the New Jersey interstate. As we approached the crowded entrance, my son spotted an elderly woman struggling toward the entrance with a walker. He rushed ahead to hold the door open for her, but at that moment, the woman’s sister suddenly fell to the ground behind her, and the contents of her handbag were dumped on the ground. Without a second thought, my son and I were helping the woman back to her feet, and collecting the contents of her purse that had fallen. We then escorted both women safely inside where they could catch their breath and rest. 

Once the dust had settled and the women were on their way, Mikey turned to me with pride to share how good he felt being able to help them. We were in the right place at the right time – and we knew what we could do in that moment to help.

I don’t share this story to brag (although I’m very proud!) but to illustrate why Perfectly Me programs are so needed today. In our camps and clubs, we give kids the tools and skills they need to tap into their inner superhero. Instead of shying away from leadership, they learn how to rise to the occasion. And when given a chance to be kind and show care for others, they don’t hesitate to rush to someone’s aid. The pride they feel in doing the right thing encourages kids to find even more opportunities to lend a helping hand and the cycle continues. 

Leadership Starts at a Young Age – Often With Small Gestures

We all want to raise kids who are kind, compassionate, and ready to help others. But the truth is, that doesn’t happen by accident. Kids don’t just wake up one day knowing how to lead with kindness — it takes practice, reinforcement, and a community that shares those values.

Mikey has been coming to Perfectly Me camps for four years. Of course, I’d love to say that his kindness is just the result of our parenting, but I also know that what he experiences at camp strengthens the values we teach at home.

At camp, he hears about kindness during morning meetings when we set our community agreements. He learns about service through our community connection projects, where kids explore real-world issues and discover how they can help. He experiences inclusion because he’s in a space designed to welcome every child with open arms. And he doesn’t just hear these messages from me — he learns them from trained mentors, from his peers, and through experiences that make leadership and service second nature.

A Community That Reinforces What You Teach at Home

As parents, we have to make choices that shape the kind of people our kids become. It’s tempting to let them pick activities based purely on fun — and of course, kids should have fun! But part of our job is realizing when to invest in their personal growth as kind, courageous, and resilient young people (who will grow into kind, courageous, and resilient adults). When combined with fun activities like sports, games, science experiments, art, and more - kids get to have the best of both worlds. 

Perfectly Me was created for families who prioritize raising kids who care. We know we’re not the only parents trying to help our children be good humans, but we also know that not every place they go reinforces those values. That’s why our camps create a space where kids see that kindness isn’t just something their parents talk about, it’s something their friends practice, their counselors model, and their whole community believes in.

Our independent camp evaluation data shows that kids who attend our camps are significantly more likely to think about their community and take action to help others. And perhaps just as importantly, they don’t feel alone in their values. They leave camp knowing they have a crew of like-minded kids who also want to make the world a better place.

Helping Kids Become Leaders Starts Now

Leadership isn’t always about grand gestures – it’s about the small, everyday choices to be kind, to help, and to make a difference. It’s about holding the door open for someone in need, stopping to help when others might walk by, and feeling the pride that comes from serving others.

This summer, give your child the gift of a community that helps them grow into the leader you know they can be. Because when we surround our kids with the right people, we aren’t just shaping their summer, we’re shaping the leaders they’ll become.

Will your child join us this summer?

Kindly,

Raquel

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