Empowering the Next Generation: A Day of Connection, Growth, and Community

By Tori Finnegan

On May 3, 2025, The Balance Project proudly hosted Empowering the Next Generation at Pine Grove Day Camp in Wall, NJ—a venue that perfectly captured the spirit of the day. With its old-school summer camp charm, Pine Grove was the ideal setting to unplug from screens and tune into connection, growth, and freedom. The day was centered on fostering independence in children and reimagining what it means to build strong, supportive communities.

From the moment attendees arrived, the energy was warm and inviting. Children were welcomed onto the playground where they were encouraged to explore, climb, laugh, and meet new friends, while adults gathered for the keynote address. 

A highlight of the morning was a powerful and inspiring talk by Lenore Skenazy, founder of Let Grow, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting childhood independence. Let Grow champions the idea that kids grow into capable, confident, and resilient adults when they’re given the freedom to take risks, solve problems, and experience the world firsthand. Lenore, often called “America’s Worst Mom” for letting her 9-year-old ride the subway alone (and proud of it!), has turned that viral moment into a national movement to restore childhood. Lenore speaks about giving parents the confidence as well to “Let Go to Let Grow!”

While the adults were absorbing Lenore’s message, the children—under the guidance of enthusiastic teen volunteers—rolled up their sleeves and got to work preparing lunch for their parents. With pride and purpose, they assembled sandwiches and colorful fruit kebabs. When it came time to serve their creations, the joy was contagious. Beaming with pride, the children handed their parents carefully prepared plates and shared what they had made.

After lunch, families came together to collaborate on the children’s Independence Plan—a document that captured each child’s personal goals for the year ahead. Every plan outlined three independence goals, along with actionable steps to help achieve them. Whether it was walking the dog alone, learning to cook dinner, or biking to a friend’s house, these goals served as a roadmap for building confidence and autonomy.

As the children returned to play among the trees and fields of Pine Grove’s expansive grounds, the adults shifted into a visioning session of their own. Through an engaging brainstorm, The Balance Project sought to define a shared Community Ethos—a foundational set of values to guide a Balanced Community.

What emerged was a strong consensus centered on supporting children’s growth through age-appropriate independence, meaningful community connections, unstructured play, and a collective commitment to their wellbeing. These values are more than just words—they are a call to action for parents, educators, and community leaders to work together in creating a culture where raising children who are independent, grounded, and connected is the “community norm”. 

By the end of the day, it was clear: Empowering the Next Generation was an overwhelming success. The truest measure? Dirty, happy, sun-kissed faces running wild with joy and purpose—just as childhood should be. And as parents walked to their cars carrying freshly written Independence Plans, it was evident that something special had begun. This wasn’t just an event—it was a movement.

The Balance Project is grateful to every family, volunteer, and speaker who helped bring this vision to life. Together, we’re not just raising kids—we’re building a better future.