Have you ever wondered what it would be like to try something different that looks like fun if you could really do it -- and looks really fun if you could do it well? Say, paddling a kayak that feels way too tippy at first, or woodworking with power tools that move fast and make a lot of noise, or singing a solo in a musical show? On your own you might never think about trying anything unknown or a little scary. But you're never on your own at Aloha when the time comes to explore new territory and stretch yourself.

That's because Aloha counselors want you to succeed not only in things you already know how to do and are good at, but also in widening your horizons and challenging yourself to find hidden talents and learn new skills. There's a chance for that every morning at breakfast, when activities for the day are announced and you get to choose what you'll do that day. Your counselor's there to help, and encourage you to branch out.

Some Aloha girls decide they want to get really good at one or two activities, and spend quite a bit of time at camp working to achieve "ranks" in them. Someone who puts a whole lot of effort from one summer to the next into learning how to sail, and who gets good enough to teach sailing lessons to other campers is a likely candidate for the high rank of "Skipper." Aloha "Guides" earn their feathered caps as superior outdoors women who chop wood, pitch tents and cook meals over campfires as if they were born to the woods. Many other activities offer ranks, too.

It's a brave new world out there beyond your comfort zone, and girls who step into it discover strengths, abilities and confidence they never knew they had. When camp is over, girls who've challenged themselves in ways they didn't think possible before coming to Aloha usually keep right on doing it at home, in school and around their communities with special satisfaction -- not to mention the admiration of parents, teachers and friends.