Hello again from the International Summer Camp Montana blog.  We are now in to the 5th month of 2011 and Spring is certainly in full bloom!  We hope that you have been enjoying the articles on the blog every week and remember that we are interested to hear from YOU about experiences, memories or excitement about coming to ISCM this summer!

This week’s article is about technology and all the wonderful things that we have in our modern society.  Inventions such as the television, mobile telephones, dvd players, computer games and the internet have transformed the World that we live in today.  Not only have these inventions given us information beyond our National boundaries, they have undoubtably revolutionized the way that we are grow from a child into an adult.

However, coming to International Summer Camp Montana is a chance to return to a more ‘traditional’ way of living for 3 weeks!  Yes, we do have television screens and dvd players for our ‘Movie Nights’.  Of course we have computers and the internet for our Administration to work on and to send email communications to parents and campers!  And naturally we have telephones so that we can make and receive calls from all over the World [more on this topic in our A-Z this week]!

The more ‘traditional’ life that we promote at International Summer Camp Montana doesn’t involve technology.  There are no televisions or dvd players available in rooms for campers to watch a movie.  There are no computers to play games or to access the internet, social media or emails.  We prefer to focus on getting outside and playing sports or staying inside to participate in activities like drama, magic and music!  You don’t need any machine to feel healthy and active by taking a hike in some of the cleanest, freshest air that can be found in the entire World.

Technology has even changed the way that we eat!  With children and adults ‘on the move’ more and less time to do everything that we need to do in the day, food has also developed.  The ‘fast food culture’ has become increasingly popular in many societies and our basic nutritional needs are often neglected.  Again, at International Summer Camp Montana we promote a more ‘traditional’ means of nutrition for our campers, whilst not forgetting everyone deserves a treat every now and then!  Fruits, vegetables, cereals and lean meats and fish are central to our diets and these are provided each and every day.  The ‘traditional’ of course means trying some raclette too when at the overnight hut!

Although technology and social media have given us the opportunity to keep more ‘regular’ contact with one another (especially with those we have met at ISCM) a friendship often begins with a ‘hello’.  Without the distraction of television, video, computers or internet there is more time for conversation and learning about one another and different cultures.  The most rewarding experience from attending International Summer Camp Montana is not always to score a fantastic soccer goal, take in the views from the overnight hut or to eat a delicious meal.  It is the friendships that are made along the way when living these experiences; friendships that will last a lifetime!