Live Your Story with Stacy Julian

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Camp Seiter with Chanda

I have the coolest siblings and today on the show I have my ice-cream loving sister, Chanda.

šŸ¦Every summer, Chanda creates something called Camp Seiter which is a themed-out summer experience for her whole familyā€”but mostly her kids.

The Seiters: Zindy, Lucy, Jon, Annie, Chanda, Liberty and Briggs

šŸ¦Considering current pandemic circumstances, I thought it might be FUN to pick Chandaā€™s brain and harvest her experience for ideas and tips on how to be more intentional with time at home over the next few months. For most of us, this will not be a theme park, beach party or splash pad summer, but with a few minutes each day or a couple of days each week, we can make memories that will last a lifetime. Plus, with all thatā€™s going on, our kids need to be kids!

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Camp Seiter with Chanda Exactly Enough Time

šŸ¦Youā€™ll hear Chanda discuss some of the Camp Seiter themes from years past ā€¦

  • Around the World in One Summer

  • Blast Off: An Out of This World Experience

  • Food Glorious Food

  • Weird Science

  • Turning Back Time to the Good ā€˜Ole Days AND, this year ā€¦

  • 50 States in 50 Days

Right around the last day of school, the five Seiter children anticipate the big theme reveal, which includes a banner (made from a bed sheet) and more recently a theme songā€”which they become very familiar with as it often plays in the car or the background as they pursue all kinds of themed activities.

The theme song for Camp Seiter 2020 is Tour the States with Brain Beats.

šŸ¦Chanda is quick to advise other moms to be realistic with their efforts, their time and all the expectations that easily mount for something like an at home summer camp. I learned from talking to her that personal adaptation is most importantā€”do what works for YOUā€”then, once you have established an intentional theme, you can build in a variety of activitiesā€”some will for sure be more grand, but some might take only 20 minutes. A quick trip to the cold cereal aisle can absolutely count!

šŸ¦Chanda has often bemoaned the fact that she isnā€™t a ā€œscrapbookerā€ but, I also learned that she compiles and prints a Camp Seiter photo book at the end of every year. Each of her children receive a copy for Christmas. Hello? THIS in an amazing way of documentingā€”in a few years all of the Seiter kids will have 10 volumes of their childhood summers published in a way that packs easily into one box. Bravo Chanda!

The cover of each photo book features the annual Camp Seiter theme reveal banner!

Seiter kids are exposed to different countries, cultures, foods and skills all from the comfort of their home!

Is there anything better than memories made at home? Not if youā€™re donning a chef hat!

šŸ¦ I hope you enjoy this episode and that it leaves you encouraged to do something intentional and FUN with your people this summer.