Island Challenge


	Mayhew/

Program Info/


	Island Challenge




	On the Island Work Hour Athletics Rowing Project Adventure Hiking Swimming Achievements Cookouts Community Night


			Island Challenge



	During the Island Challenge, boys spend one of two four-week residential sessions on Mayhew Island in Newfound Lake. There, in a highly structured group-oriented setting, each boy is encouraged to participate in challenging group and individual activities; he receives public praise and rewards for outstanding effort and improvement; and he is given the opportunity to establish for himself a new reputation in a fair and positive environment. Mayhew hopes that each boy learns that he alone is responsible for his actions, and that he has a clear choice throughout the day: either participate fully and peacefully, or be isolated from the group. Mayhew's structured setting, combined with frequent public praise and positive reinforcement, encourages increased self-worth, improved behavior, and high achievement.

On the Island

The cabin group constitutes the core unit on the island. All boys belong to a 7-member cabin group that goes by a unique name, like the Volunteers or Leviathan. Boys participate in all regular activities and meals as part of their cabin group. This provides ample opportunity to promote constructive group interactions.

Discipline at Mayhew is clear, fair, and calm. If a boy acts inappropriately, he is isolated from the group and later given a choice to discuss the situation with his cabin counselor. If he is not respectful, or if a serious event like a fight breaks out, he is taken to the lodge to spend time with the lodgemaster. The lodgemaster will go through a similar cycle until the boy demonstrates that he is respectful and ready to talk. He will then be returned to his group with a clean slate and every opportunity to contribute to his cabin group.


	Activities


	Work Hour At daily work hours, boys work together on a variety of projects and are paid in "Mayhew money," the island currency, according to how well they work. The importance of diligence, listening to and following instructions, and working as a team are emphasized. Boys get to spend their Mayhew money a couple of times a week at the Mayhew Market.


	Athletics Group athletics on the island include softball, basketball, floor hockey, and soccer. The emphasis is placed on improvement, sportsmanship, and effort.


	Crew Rowing Rowing is practiced on the island in basic 7-man dories and demands that the boys learn to work together as a unit to be successful.

Project Adventure
Project Adventure is an experiential education program utilizing group initiatives as well as both low-rope and high-rope activities in order to promote group cohesiveness, group problem-solving, group cooperation, group trust, and an acceptance of challenge. Mayhew is home to an extensive challenge course including many unique and quite-challenging high element climbing events as well many low-element group obstacles and initiatives.

Hiking
Hiking involves ascending two mountain peaks in the White Mountain National Forest as a cabin group activity. The boys use this challenge to strengthen their role with their cabin group, to enjoy the natural splendors of the White Mountains, and to demonstrate their positive and supportive behavior outside the confines of the island. One of the highest end-of-the-summer awards on the island is to be invited on the Mayhew March, a three-day expedition for 3-5 hardy and deserving boys.


	Swimming Swim instruction is conducted daily as part of a Red Cross certified program. The hour-long period usually begins with some warmup drills, followed by intensive instruction. Boys that work hard and can be trusted to swim out to the raft by themselves may qualify to become a Raft Rat . There is also a Miler's club for boys who swim a mile over the course of the session.

Achievement Program
An individual achievement program is conducted four days a week in the late-afternoon. Boys choose an activity to pursue from a variety of areas, including watersports, art and crafts, chess, science, etc. and can earn a basic, intermediate, or advanced ribbon for demonstrated effort, knowledge and skill. Good performance in the achievement program, combined with good leadership and citizenship, earns an invitation to the Director's Outer Circle, the Island honor society. The ultimate honor is the Director's Inner Circle.


	Cookouts Every Wednesday and Saturday night we hold cookouts at individual cabin group sites around the island. The cookouts are a fine time to relax as a group and take a break from the regular structure of the program.


	Community Nights Community nights, held twice a week after cookouts, are an opportunity for boys and staff to spend time together, share talents, and talk about the values that bind us together. We sing songs, tell stories, perform skits, and generally enjoy each other's company.


	Arts Program Started in 2004, Mayhew's Arts Program gives the boys a chance to express themselves creatively, while teaching them some basic techniques they can use at home. A focus on teamwork is still central, and the boys are encouraged to collaborate on several different group projects.


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