--- title: Summer Camp and Youth Development Blog | Camp Champions | General (4) description: General | (4) --- [Register Online](https://champions.campintouch.com/ui/forms/application/camper/App) [Camp Champions](https://www.campchampions.com/) # Camp Champions Blog ## [Taking On the Tongariro](https://blog.campchampions.com/taking-on-the-tongariro) Posted by [Steve Baskin](https://blog.campchampions.com/author/steve-baskin) on Jan 30, 2012 6:01:47 PM The Tongariro Crossing is the "best one day walk in all of New Zealand". [Read More](https://blog.campchampions.com/taking-on-the-tongariro) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.campchampions.com/taking-on-the-tongariro#comments-listing) Tags: [General](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/general) ## [New Zealand Hodge Podge](https://blog.campchampions.com/new-zealand-hodge-podge) Posted by [Steve Baskin](https://blog.campchampions.com/author/steve-baskin) on Jan 29, 2012 4:09:34 PM We have seen several fun sites already, so this blog is a series of short snippets to share them. [Read More](https://blog.campchampions.com/new-zealand-hodge-podge) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.campchampions.com/new-zealand-hodge-podge#comments-listing) Tags: [General](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/general) ## [Digging Our Dessert](https://blog.campchampions.com/digging-our-dessert) Posted by [Steve Baskin](https://blog.campchampions.com/author/steve-baskin) on Jan 28, 2012 9:24:33 PM If this trip is a massive banquet, we have arrived at the dessert. [Read More](https://blog.campchampions.com/digging-our-dessert) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.campchampions.com/digging-our-dessert#comments-listing) Tags: [General](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/general) ## [Cao Dai for the Western Guy](https://blog.campchampions.com/cao-dai-for-the-western-guy) Posted by [Steve Baskin](https://blog.campchampions.com/author/steve-baskin) on Jan 28, 2012 11:13:45 AM My final blog on Vietnam will be on a quirky and intriguing religion unique to their country: Cao Dai. [Read More](https://blog.campchampions.com/cao-dai-for-the-western-guy) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.campchampions.com/cao-dai-for-the-western-guy#comments-listing) Tags: [General](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/general) ## [War and Bias](https://blog.campchampions.com/war-and-bias) Posted by [Steve Baskin](https://blog.campchampions.com/author/steve-baskin) on Jan 27, 2012 2:59:22 PM I debated writing about the Vietnam War.  Many of the wounds are still fresh and well-meaning people have very different opinions on the subject.  My blog has generally been designed to share thoughts on family, travel and culture; not serve as a political commentary.  With this in mind, it seemed wise to avoid the topic. I, however, must share some thoughts.  Here, I hope to avoid anything political, but instead make observations with appeal to any reader.  If I offend, please know that this is not my intention. [Read More](https://blog.campchampions.com/war-and-bias) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.campchampions.com/war-and-bias#comments-listing) Tags: [General](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/general) ## [Saigon Summary](https://blog.campchampions.com/saigon-summary) Posted by [Steve Baskin](https://blog.campchampions.com/author/steve-baskin) on Jan 26, 2012 2:13:44 PM I know I have already announced our flight to New Zealand, so you know that the blogs currently describe events that happened a day or two ago.  I have been endeavoring to catch up after the handful of days in the Vietnamese countryside where I was unable to post the blogs I wrote then. I have three blogs from Vietnam that I would like to share before we focus on New Zealand.  The first (this one) will describe Saigon briefly, the second focuses on our visits to Vietnam War museums and the final shares an odd trip to an odd temple. [Read More](https://blog.campchampions.com/saigon-summary) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.campchampions.com/saigon-summary#comments-listing) Tags: [General](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/general) ## ["My Parents Aren't Cool" and That's OK](https://blog.campchampions.com/my-parents-arent-cool-and-thats-ok) Posted by [Steve Baskin](https://blog.campchampions.com/author/steve-baskin) on Jan 26, 2012 12:29:52 AM “My parents aren’t cool!” – Liam Baskin [![](http://files.campchampions.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/DSC_1167-e1327548112863-300x199.jpg "DSC_1167")](http://files.campchampions.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/DSC_1167.jpg) [Read More](https://blog.campchampions.com/my-parents-arent-cool-and-thats-ok) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.campchampions.com/my-parents-arent-cool-and-thats-ok#comments-listing) Tags: [General](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/general) ## [What We Get on Tet](https://blog.campchampions.com/blog/what-we-get-on-tet) Posted by [Steve Baskin](https://blog.campchampions.com/author/steve-baskin) on Jan 25, 2012 5:13:08 PM [Note: we are about to go to the airport to fly to New Zealand, so I am not sure when we will next be able to post a blog.] [Read More](https://blog.campchampions.com/blog/what-we-get-on-tet) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.campchampions.com/blog/what-we-get-on-tet#comments-listing) Tags: [General](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/general) ## [Ancestors and Kidnapping](https://blog.campchampions.com/ancestors-and-kidnapping) Posted by [Steve Baskin](https://blog.campchampions.com/author/steve-baskin) on Jan 25, 2012 7:13:16 AM As I have documented, there is a superstitious streak in the Vietnamese people.  One of the most important beliefs regards the fear of evil spirits and the protection of the home. The threshold of the home is a sacred part of the Vietnamese home.  You generally take your shoes off before you enter, but you NEVER step on the threshold.  Instead, you step over it so that it can wipe the evil spirits from your feet.  Failing to do so is a true faux pas.  Further, I think that stepping on the threshold just might suggest stepping on the ancestors (though I cannot be sure). [Read More](https://blog.campchampions.com/ancestors-and-kidnapping) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.campchampions.com/ancestors-and-kidnapping#comments-listing) Tags: [General](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/general) ## [Quick Correction](https://blog.campchampions.com/quick-correction) Posted by [Steve Baskin](https://blog.campchampions.com/author/steve-baskin) on Jan 24, 2012 11:56:14 AM My good friend Scott Brody noticed a typo in my comparison of Vietnam and China. Certainly, I have more than my share of typos, but this one was fairly relevant to a point I was stressing. [Read More](https://blog.campchampions.com/quick-correction) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.campchampions.com/quick-correction#comments-listing) Tags: [General](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/general) [Previous](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/general/page/3) [All posts](https://blog.campchampions.com/all) [Next](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/general/page/5) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [General (221)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/general) - [Parents (103)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/parents) - [Camper (86)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/camper) - [Counselor (73)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/counselor) - [Alumni (48)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/alumni) - [Summer Camp (20)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/summer-camp) - [Campers (10)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/campers) - [Yearbooks (10)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/yearbooks) - [success (10)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/success) - [growth (9)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/growth) - [camp (8)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/camp) - [21st century skills (6)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/21st-century-skills) - [digital anxiety (6)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/digital-anxiety) - [parenting (6)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/parenting) - [skills (6)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/skills) - [social media (6)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/social-media) - [Counselor Training (5)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/counselor-training) - [cell phones (5)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/cell-phones) - [independence (5)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/independence) - [Counselors (3)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/counselors) - [confidence (3)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/confidence) - [Goofy (2)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/goofy) - [Off Season (2)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/off-season) - [homesick and happy (2)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/homesick-and-happy) - [memories (2)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/memories) - [Scholarship Fund (1)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/scholarship-fund) - [camperships (1)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/camperships) - [donations (1)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/donations) - [golden oldie (1)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/golden-oldie) - [scholarships (1)](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/scholarships) [see all](https://blog.campchampions.com/topic/general/page/4#) ![Steve Baskin](https://blog.campchampions.com/hubfs/Campchampions%20February2018/image/steve-baskin_small.jpg) ## steve baskin The Camp Geek [steveb@campchampions.com](mailto:steveb@campchampions.com) ![Susie Baskin](https://blog.campchampions.com/hubfs/Campchampions%20February2018/image/susie-baskin_small.jpg) ## susie baskin The Camp Mom [susieb@campchampions.com](mailto:susieb@campchampions.com) Camp Champions 775 Camp Road, Marble Falls, TX 78654 p: [(830) 598-2571](tel:1-830-598-2571) f: [(830) 598-1095](tel:1-830-598-1095) [info@campchampions.com](mailto:info@campchampions.com) © Camp Champions 2018