Parent Camp Recap - Raising Healthy Children & Teenagers

Bloomfield Hills Schools held the second annual “Parent Camp” on Saturday, March 14, at North Hills Middle School. The program, sponsored and organized by Bloomfield Hills High School, Bloomfield Youth Assistance, BHS PTOC, BHHS PTO, BHHS Student Leadership, and the Bloomfield Birmingham Community Coalition, offered community members the opportunity to learn from professionals about a variety of topics related to raising healthy children and teenagers.

BHHS Principal Dr. Dan Hartley explained, “Our goal was to give parents practical tools and reassurance that they’re not navigating today’s parenting challenges alone… and give families a chance to learn from experts, share ideas, and strengthen the partnership between school and home.”

Keynote speaker Brooke Bendix, LMSW, owner of Therapyology, spoke in depth about building confident and resilient children. Breakout session topics focused on communication and boundary setting, parenting through challenging times, healthy eating, stress factors, making smart technology choices, and using AI appropriately. Sessions were interactive and informative.

To conclude the program, a panel of high school students answered questions and spoke informally about their everyday lives and what causes them anxiety. Parents learned that teens feel intense pressure to succeed academically while balancing extracurriculars and social expectations, especially with the added influence of social media. Students emphasized the importance of a supportive home environment, encouraging parents to model healthy behaviors and help them maintain balance. District parent Erika Stein commented, “They gave me really good insight into the pressure teens feel jumping from middle school to high school.” “The student panel was incredibly powerful. Hearing students talk honestly about growing up in a digital world, and the advice they have for parents, was a great reminder of how important it is to listen to and have honest conversations with our kids,” said Hartley.

Parent Camp brought together parents, educators, professionals, and students who were all working toward the same goal: supporting young people. This partnership and the sense of community are incredibly important and were evident throughout the workshop.