Full Circle Blog

Full Circle Friday - Outlaw Ranch

6/20/2025

Our first observation week has come to a close in Custer, SD. After each week, we will be releasing a blog post entitled “Full-Circle Friday.” This post will describe how the Circle of Courage was effectively used at camp that week and the transformation observed in campers.

Belonging:

As we arrived at Outlaw Ranch, we noticed a sign that specifically welcomed us into the space. Looking around, it became clear that decorations were already up for campers as well. These decorations allowed campers to know that they were welcome in this space. On the first day, campers were welcomed into a new community that would be their community for a week. Names were quickly learned, and genuine interest in one another was fostered through intentional activities and positive mentorship. The ideal for belonging can be summed up in two words. People belong when they can simply be. Throughout the week, it was evident that the campers at Outlaw Ranch were simply being with one another. They were in a community that encouraged genuineness and supported each other. At camp, youth experience a deep sense of care and interdependence that they may not encounter as much in school. The truth is that having a space where a camper or student can say “I am loved” is transformative to their educational experiences. If youth are not worried about who they are sitting by or who even likes them, they can focus on their goals and passions. We discussed throughout our trainings that the one word that resonated the most with middle schoolers on their experience in school was “lonely.” It is heartbreaking that youth feel that way in our schools. Schools, in their entirety, must be diligently building genuine community throughout the building. In his book, Schools That Matter: Teaching the Mind, Reaching the Heart, Dr. Steve Van Bockern wrote that schools should be “intentional about connecting students in positive relationships with healthy, loving adults and other youth,” and there should be, “abundant language used to create a culture of connection” in schools as well (25). At closing worship, as the inevitable goodbye approached, campers began to cry, knowing that the community they had felt this week wouldn’t be coming with them. Through the week, some campers expressed their disinterest in school, the bullying they face, and, heartbreakingly, the teachers who view them as lost children. These exact campers often shine at summer camp because they are given a community that cares for them and a purpose for their lives, for at least this one week. 

Generosity:

One of the most impactful stories we heard from a camper this week was his journey in raising funds for Outlaw Ranch. This story was a testament to the capabilities of teenagers when given reins to create an impact for something they are passionate about. He expressed his desire to have more purpose in school, and that camp provides him with purpose—at least for a week. Imagine if a school community inspired all of its students to give back to their greater community. Imagine the connections that this will create between the community and the school. Providing space for youth to practice genuine altruism is one of the reasons that camp is so impactful. Leveraging local communities as schools can lead to revolutionary lessons that provide an avenue for youth to give back. 

Independence: 

Autonomy is at the heart of camp programming. Youth are managing so much of their daily lives that they may not be responsible for themselves at home. This reality in a supported community allows youth to grow in independence and self-regulation. Campers' ability to self-regulate was noticed this week. Various campers this week were put in places that challenged them. Through frustration, we saw campers practice breathing exercises, advocating for mental breaks, and establishing routines for themselves. When youth practice these skills, they grow in their ability to do them in other settings. Youth have a voice at camp, and that allows them to grow and be challenged. 

Mastery: 

Throughout the week, we saw growth from all campers. This growth occurs in various settings. For some, the growth came while riding horses. The growth came for others while canoeing or fishing. Some campers stretched themselves by participating in the variety show. Many stretched their social skills. The environment that was formed here throughout the week provided a safe learning environment where campers felt comfortable taking risks and growing. Campers felt success in their pursuit of individual goals this week. We could tell as they left camp today that they are motivated to feel more success like that. 

What if Schools were like Camp?: 

Youth who attended Outlaw Ranch this week will inevitably go back to the typical rhythm of their lives, but they will be changed for the better due to the growth felt at Outlaw Ranch. It does make us wonder, however, what if school created a community just as impactful? What if schools challenged students to reach individual goals over dominance? What if youth were given genuine relationships built on trust and autonomy? How would that revolutionize who they are outside of camp? When youth live inside the Circle of Courage, they are well; furthermore, they are ready to grow and contribute to the community around them. We must ensure that we build spaces—like Outlaw Ranch—where this can actively happen.

Full Circle Friday - Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp

6/27/2025

Our week observing Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp (FLBC) in Lakeside, MT, has come to a close. We greatly appreciate their hospitality and willingness to be a part of our inaugural summer. This week flew by in the blink of an eye. From Sunday to Friday, campers were participating in FLBC’s specialty programming. Programs offered this week included choir, drama, art, basketball, ranching, cooking, high adventure, staff-in-training, and day camps offered at two locations throughout Montana. This diverse array of programming allowed us to observe the Circle of Courage in various ways. Campers experienced a community built on the principles of belonging, independence, mastery, and generosity. This week has consistently reminded us of the importance of uniting learners with meaningful summative goals. Campers and staff grew in various ways in five days. They increased their self-control and decision-making skills; they grew in interest areas; they contributed their talents to the community; and they established an unforgettable community of learners. 

Independence: 

Genuine choice is sometimes restricted in youth development. A popular theory for the development of autonomy is the “Let Them” theory developed by Mel Robbins. This theory is centered around the principle that by letting go of the desire to control others, we can continue to develop our self-regulation and confidence. Robbins claims that by limiting our focus on external factors, we can better control ourselves. The Circle of Courage emphasizes these exact philosophies. A sense of independence is essential for adults as well as youth. By creating spaces for genuine autonomy, youth grow in their ability to self-regulate and in their self-confidence. Campers step away from their parents for this entire week in a safe and controlled environment. Camp frameworks are oriented to allow campers to explore their independence through the “Let Them” principle. This week, campers were a part of selecting their program specialty, they chose what they would eat, they decided what they would do, and they selected what afternoon activities interested them. With ensured safety, camp lets youth explore their interests and passions in ways that expand their independence while growing in interdependence with others. 

Mastery: 

The third-century Confucian philosopher, Xunzi, successfully depicted how mastery is cultivated at FLBC by saying, “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” Every camper this week was provided numerous opportunities to not only hear or see, but actually do the activities and tasks they were learning about—in a relevant way. John Dewey, an educational reformer, believes that since our brains demand relevance, the most powerful type of learning is experiential (Experience and Education). At FLBC, art campers put on an art show; choir campers had a concert; the theater campers performed the Passion Play; the cooking campers had a tea party; the basketball campers had a scrimmage; the ranch campers took the longest ride they had gone on that week. Each camper dove deeper into their specialty by actually doing it in a relevant way. Furthermore, this learning was sequenced in an effective way that culminated in these collective goals. This is how mastery should be cultivated in any space where learning is meant to happen. 

Generosity: 

The activities and events that concluded specialty programs mattered. That reality cannot be understated. The theatre campers performed for the greater community of the Flathead Lake area. The choir sang for an audience. The cooking camp invited dozens to their tea party. This tea party required serious effort and learning from the campers in the program. They designed the decorations, selected the tea, baked muffins and other treats, and one camper even designed a game for the party. As they hosted their party for their “esteemed” guests, they signed everyone in and welcomed everyone with smiles from ear to ear. This learning experience was transformative for these campers. Several campers said the tea party was the best part of their week, surprising even themselves, given how much work it required. Reflecting on that experience, we can’t help but laugh about this reality. Campers said that hosting a tea party, which required serious effort (serving, creating, hosting, etc.), was better than swimming, games, and various other activities. This is because this learning was meaningful and contributed to their community for that week. Their innate need to be generous was being met. Each camper was given the chance to say, “I have purpose for my life.” 

Belonging: 

As the week came to a close, it was more obvious than ever that the campers of all ages, counselors, and staff at FLBC had created a vast network of support and love in only five days. A huge part of why this happened was simply because of the nature of this week's programming. Each program consisted of campers from ages 7 to 18, and each cabin was made up of campers from every program. Campers spent around five hours each day with their programs, then the rest of the time with their cabin groups. This intentional community building within groups of different ages and within groups of different interests created a sense of community for campers, no matter who they were with. The Lakota educator, novelist, and anthropologist, Ella Deloria, once said, “Be related, somehow, to everyone you know.” FLBC ensured that every camper, counselor, volunteer, and staff member is related, somehow, to every person at camp. Like many other camps, this sense of belonging fosters a community that transforms the lives of everyone who walks through camp. 

What if Schools Were More Like Camp?:

Our time at FLBC reminded us that when youth are living within the Circle of Courage, they are well. The choir camp worked together all week to put on a concert today. One song kept circling back to a powerful lyric that embodies camp—”I’m free to be me.” We have heard them rehearse this song throughout the course of the week, but there was something truly touching about watching them perform it at a concert in front of their families. Looking at the risers, vocalists included such a diverse array of musicians. The choir included campers of all ages, volunteers well into their golden years, vocalists with various experience and talent, and everything else in between. It made us think back to their rehearsals. This choir and this camp became a community where everyone truly felt like they were free to be themselves. Through common endeavors that united specialty programs and various activities and learning opportunities that inspired community building, the campers at FLBC were living within the circle. The truth is that many educators are incredible connectors—it is why they pursue the profession in the first place. We must continue to empower educators to build community in their classrooms. We need to just “Let Them” teach. Beyond this, we must continue to emphasize learning opportunities that connect youth to their community through meaningful initiatives. Through this, students will be transformed by genuine independence, generosity, mastery, and belonging.