Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in the Camp Moxie speed mentoring for the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan. Camp Moxie, “A Week Long Leadership Adventure”, is a leadership camp available for high school aged girls who want to make a difference in the world. The girls participate in a number of activities that allow them to build confidence, strengthen their leadership skills and stimulate their interests in entrepreneurship, philanthropy and public policy.
The speed mentoring, kind of like “speed dating” gives the girls the opportunity to rotate among the professional women who attend, present their idea and receive feedback from the professional women who attend so they can answer any questions the girls may have as well as provide feedback and coaching for the girls and their ideas.
This was my first time attending Camp Moxie and I did not know what to expect, however, I was really excited to be given the opportunity to help these girls in any way I could. All in all Camp Moxie was extremely fun and very rewarding. Not only did I feel good about helping the girls try to figure out the way to make their concepts and ideas happen, I learned a lot from them as well.
At the end of the day, the counselors announced that when we, the mentors, leave the camp for the day we can’t forget to pick up our gift. A gift? It never occurred to me that I would be receiving something other than the experience that I had that day. Lo and behold, there was a logoed coffee mug filled with a pen and chocolates waiting for each mentor on their way out.
Being in the promotional products industry, I am the one providing logoed items so others can receive them. It was actually a surprise to be on the other end, receiving the items. Which made me think, of course! I know promotional gifts can be given away as tokens to thank recipients! Being on the receiving side allowed me to experience that something tangible to have in front of recipients will remind them of their experiences and the memories they shared with a company, organization or event.
So, not only did I get to take away the experience I had learning from the girls and helping them with their ideas, I will have a little keepsake to remind me of that warm and fuzzy happy feeling I had when I walked out of Camp Moxie that day every time I see or use my pen that I received, or use my coffee mug I was given.
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