Values Session Prompts for Summer to School Year Transition

At camp, we use values sessions to reflect on what we’ve learned or experienced in a day, week, or year! It’s a time to build a respectful environment where family and friends feel comfortable sharing. Try one of these prompts to reflect on the summer and transition to the start of the school year:

• What is something from this summer that you’ll remember?
• How have you grown or changed since the spring?
• What are you most looking forward to about the fall?  
• What is something that will challenge you this fall, and what kind of support will you need?

It can be helpful to set the tone with a reminder of the five rules of a values session:

• No crosstalk: Make sure the person who is sharing has everyone’s attention
• I statements only: Speak from your own experience
• Choose your challenge: Everyone is free to share as much or as little as they’d like
• Expect unfinished business: If the conversation gets cut short or someone doesn’t share as much as you wanted, we respect their boundaries and don’t press for more information
• Four walls and a window: What’s shared in the conversation will stay in the conversation, unless there is concern for someone’s safety or well-being.