Eluna’s Expert Voices – Favorite C of the 7 C’s

At Camp Mariposa the Seven C’s serve as a foundation of values and mantras that are woven throughout camp activities & experiences. Campers, mentors, and camper families find themselves connecting deeply to and through the 7C’s – binding us all together like roots of a tree. The Seven C’s are:

I didn’t CAUSE it. I can’t CONTROL it. I can’t CURE it. But, I can take CARE of myself, by COMMUNICATING my feelings, making good CHOICES, and CELEBRATING myself. + the bonus 8th C of COMMUNITY!

In this very special video, we asked Eluna Experts to name their favorite C of the 7 C’s and why. Sit back and enjoy the diversity and depth of responses:

I didn’t CAUSE it and CELEBRATING myself

“I like two of them the most. I didn’t cause it because I have a lot of baggage myself and to keep that in mind that there was nothing I could do about it and all I can do is move forward. And I like the celebrating myself.” – Ivy, Camper, Junior Counselor, Mentor

I didn’t CAUSE it

“I didn’t cause it because there are 9.2 million children affected by at least one parent in the household using drugs. That’s a lot of children affected by substance use. I think it is so important that these kids know that no matter what they did, they did not cause substance abuse in their household.” – Emily, Mentor

I can’t CONTROL it

“All of us want some concrete knowledge that things are going to be okay. We want control in our lives, we want power in our lives. Sometimes people seek that inappropriately. Being able to pinpoint what we have control over…I’ve seen those circles of what I can control, what I can’t control. Unfortunately our family members fall under that category of what we cannot control. Helping youth to see what they can control and knowing that that is going to be enough. That what you do matters and all of us mentors are here to show you that you can get past some of these risk factors that you’ve had, some of these traumatic experiences that you’ve had.” – Leah, Lead Clinician & Mentor

I can’t CURE it

“So many kids feel like they have to be the perfect kid and if they mess up that it’s their fault. It also ties into harm reduction and knowing that it might not ever go away 100%. Sometimes we are living off management strategies and that’s just where we are. There is a harm reduction side and the side of knowing that no matter what you do, you can’t be it all. So, you don’t have to be perfect. You can just be a human and live as you are going to live and do your best and that’s okay.” – Shea, Mentor

I can take CARE of myself

“I think we have to care about ourself before we care about others. We need to learn about what truly caring our ourself means for each of us individually. For me it’s about not being in toxic relationships and around negative people. It’s about caring for others and not being selfish. I heal just as much as others heal when I’m giving back.” – Tiffany, Foster Mom

8th C of Community

“They say that addiction is about isolation and the opposite of addiction is community. So, we really hone in on that with our campers and also our mentors in creating a space where we are a community. It’s a safe place to just be yourself, to be going through hard things, to not know the answers, and to have each other’s backs in all that.” – Julie, Director

Click here to see a full list of Expert Voices videos!