Eight weeks. Seven character strengths. One experience kids remember.
Character Camp is our flagship program for 2nd and 3rd graders
— delivered through after-school programs by volunteer coaches who believe
character matters.
WHAT IS CHARACTER CAMP?
Character Camp is an 8-week program that gives 2nd and 3rd graders a dedicated, engaging space to explore what it means to be a person of good character.
It runs through existing after-school programs — no changes to the school day
required — and is delivered by trained volunteer coaches.
The name is intentional. Camp signals something fun, something different,
something kids look forward to. And that’s exactly what it is.
THE 7 CHARACTER STRENGTHS
Each week, kids explore one character strength through a hands-on group activity, a book read-aloud, and small-group discussion. The 8th session is a
celebration and wrap-up — kids create something to take home, suitable to
hang in their room.
THE CHARACTER TREE
Every class has a Character Tree — seven limbs, one for each strength. Each
week, as kids reflect on what they learned, they create their own paper leaf:
a small moment when they lived that week’s strength.
“I was curious when I
asked my coach about how to do the obstacle.”
“I was curious when I
asked my coach about how to do the obstacle.”
By the end of the term, the tree is full of leaves — and every leaf belongs to a
real kid.
WHAT A SESSION LOOKS LIKE
Every Character Camp session follows a simple, satisfying structure — the same
every week, so kids know what to expect and coaches can focus on connection
rather than logistics.
Group activity
hands-on and fun, designed to get kids thinking and
moving around the week’s character strength
Read-aloud
a carefully chosen picture book for that theme
Small-group discussion
coaches guide kids through how they might
use this strength in their own lives
Leaf writing
kids reflect and add their leaf to the Character Tree
Sessions run about 45–60 minutes. All materials are provided through the
Coach’s Manual.
GROUNDED IN RESEARCH
The seven character strengths in Character Camp are drawn from decades of
work on what helps people flourish — including the VIA Institute on Character,
one of the leading organizations in character science. This isn’t soft content.
It’s a curriculum built on what we know works.
IT WORKS
In Fall 2025, Character Camp completed successful pilots at two Newton, MA
elementary schools — Peirce and Cabot. A large majority of students were
meaningfully engaged throughout the program. Both after-school programs
called it a success and want to continue.
GET INVOLVED
Want to bring Character Camp to your school?
Learn how after-school
programs can add Character Camp — and how to find the coaches to run it.
- For Schools →
Want to become a coach?
Character Camp is delivered by volunteer coaches
— people who love kids and want to give something meaningful back to their
community.