At the teen summer camp, SuperCamp, teens are taught the Four-Part Apology, a very effective communication tool with friends, family, fellow students, even teachers.

Apologize with These Four Steps and Heal the Damage Take these four steps when you’ve wronged or hurt someone, or when you’ve made a mistake significant enough to impact someone else. Here’s an example of a response to a friend who is upset that you’ve cancelled plans with her on a few occasions.

- Acknowledge: Take responsibility for what you’ve done. Use “I statements” to show that you’re the one behind the action: “I acknowledge that I’ve canceled our plans at the last minute more than once and that this is upsetting to you.”

- Apologize: “I apologize for hurting you by wasting your time and making you feel unwanted.”

- Make it Right: Ask, “How can I make it right?” If the person doesn’t have anything specific in mind, offer something to make up for what she missed when you cancelled. “Why don’t we do out for dinner next Saturday?”

- Recommit: Show that you’re following a plan to keep the upset from happening in the future. “From now on, if I make plans with you I won’t cancel them unless a real emergency comes up.”

The words “I apologize” are much more powerful than “sorry.” How often have you heard a nonchalant “I’m sorry” or just “Sorry” as if that would fix everything. At one of the schools where our Quantum Learning methods are used, the principal caught a young grade-school child doing something that was against the rules. When the principal spoke to her the girl mumbled a casual “Sorry.” The principal said, “You know, Elizabeth, in this school we use a Four-Part Apology.” The little girl replied, “Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.” I guess she hadn’t quite learned the process, but she did get a laugh from the principal.

The power of the Four-Part Apology lies in its ability to demonstrate that you’re taking responsibility for your actions. When the people in your life realize that you’re willing and able to do that, they’ll be more open and trusting with youand your relationships will be better.

Clearing the air with the Four-Part Apology relieves tensions and feels great. It releases positive energy and creates synergy, especially if it’s tension that’s been festering for a long time. In the light of clear, positive communication, even long-standing miscommunications can be resolved. People whose relationships have faltered for years can get back on track when they apologize with this level of responsibility.

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How to get the best sleep in the outdoors. Andrew Price explains the materials for resting upon, sleeping bags, tipis and reveals other Bushcraft tips. More on www.azbushcraft.com

Buying sleeping bags can be a difficult task, with prices ranging from a few pounds to a few hundred. Ultimately you have to ask what you want to use it for. The sleepig bag is an important part of the kit. If you are hiking then you ideally want something that will pack tightly and is quite lightweight, such as a compact sleeping bag, although you have to be careful as these sometimes don’t provide the best insulation. Temperatures drop at night more than ost people expect, even in the middle of sumer so you should make sure you’re prepared. A sleeping bag traps the warm air around your body which provides the best insulation possible. The best sleeping bag is one which allows moisture to escape while keeping warm air trapped.If you are in a couple, you might prefer a double sleeping bag (there is no better central heating than the body heat of someone else.

Slepping bags are given temperature rating based upon their intended use. One season sleeping bags are designed for use in the sumer months only and aren’t suitable for camping in the winer (they just won’t keep you warm). Two season sleeping bags are suitable for the extended summer months (from early spring to late autumn, but aren’t suitable for sub zero temperatures. Three season sleeping bags will provide warmth in temperatures which are slightly sub zero and four season bags are designed to be used all year round and will be the most expensive type of sleeping bag.

Temperature ratiings should be taken as a general rule, remember, temperatures can drop below zero in spring, particularly at higher altitudes so you should follow specfic directions of the manufacturer. The amount of heating that different people will need can vary widly, with some people requiring more warmth than others.

What you sleep on is also very important, a good ground mat provides great insulation and is very important when camping.

If you are just planning on camping in the summer, you probably don’t need to spend too much, if you are looking at trecking, climbing, mountaineering etc then you really want to look at the top end, as the cheaper models simply won’t keep you warm enough. You might also want to consider a “bivvy bag”, as this can be useful in emergencies, or if temperatures drop lower than expected.

The fill in sleeping bags can be made of a wide range of things, most commonly goose, duck or down. Down is the warmest and often most expensive but not very good if it gets wet.

You may aso want to look out for a bag with a 2 way zip so you can stick your feet out the bottom. Double sleeping bags are also available and singles that join together to form a double. Insulated zips are also important if it gets very cold. A good ground mat is also an essential. They are only cheap and provide excellent insulation.

Students who attend the academic summer camp, SuperCamp, acquire many valuable learning and life skills. Here are some Quantum Learning tips that can help every student do better in school. Share them with your son or daughter.

S.L.A.N.T.

Sit in the front row or middle section of the classroom. Lean slightly forward in your chair, as if you are hanging on the teacher’s every word. Ask questions to clarify anything you don’t understand. Nod your head to show you are listening and interested. Talk to your teacher after class to build rapport and establish a relationship.

Test-taking Strategies

Do test-time jitters ruin the time you spend studying and preparing? Allow yourself enough time to get to class a few minutes early- hurrying causes tension and mental crunches, and you can use the few extra minutes to review your notes one last time. Before and during the test, give yourself positive messages: “I know this information and I’m going to get an A.” If you feel yourself getting tense, close your eyes for a moment and take a few deep breaths. Imagine a relaxing scene. If you’re having trouble concentrating or are feeling overwhelmed, try drawing a mind map in the margin of your paper. It will help you remember what you studied.

Optimal Study Area

Design the optimum study area at home. It should include good lighting, a desk or table to work at, a comfortable chair, inspirational posters, and plants. Play Baroque music softly in the background. Study at the same time every day and take a short break every 30 minutes. Tackle the most difficult subjects first. When you get them out of the way, the rest will be easy.

Cultivate a Winning Attitude

Maintaining a positive attitude is your most important learning asset. You need to mentally prepare before any learning experience. Henry Ford said, “If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you can’t. Either way, you are right.”

Remember the “F” Stands for Feedback

From infancy through adulthood, we learn through our mistakes. Remember to learn from the feedback you get from others, whether it is a failed test or a poor relationship. In your path to become an excellent learner, feedback is simply the information you need to succeed. Refresh your memory and read about Failure Leads to Success and the rest of the 8 Keys of Excellence.

Plan Ahead

Use a calendar to mark days for tests or due dates of important papers. Studying ahead reduces stress and increases your ability to remember at test time.

Discover the Power of “This is it!”

“This is it!” means making the most of every moment. It also means doing whatever it takes to make a subject interesting. Be creative! Some ideas include studying with a friend or relating the topic to something you already know or like. When you know something well, you almost always find it interesting.

Overcome the Obstacle of a Blank Page with Freewriting

When faced with writer’s block, freewriting provides visible and immediate progress. Choose a subject and set the timer for a specified amount of time. Write continuously until your time is up. Don’t worry about structuring sentences, checking grammar, backtracking or crossing things out – just keep writing. Freewriting clears your mind, focuses your ideas and makes the invisible visible.

Take Breaks

Every thirty minutes it helps to take a short five-minute break. Take mini-breaks more often by standing up and stretching whenever you notice your mind wandering. Studies show that you remember best what you learned just before and just after a break – so the more breaks, the more you learn!