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Jan. 13, 2006
Help your kids to love camp
Happy memories will spark an eagerness to return next summer.
DVORA WAYSMAN
Every year when I was a child, the first day back at school after
the long summer break, I'd be expected to write an essay on "What
I did during my summer holidays," as were all the other students.
Back then, my family was so poor, I rarely did anything much, but
I was blessed with a fertile imagination, so I concocted an amazing
list of activities. After all, the first rule for a writer –
which was my ambition even then – is never to let the truth
interfere with a good story. Oh, how I would have loved to go to
a summer sleep-away camp.
Fortunately, times have changed, and my kids and various grandchildren
have had that opportunity. So I rounded up relatives, kids, their
friends and my friends, to ask what they loved and hated about summer
camp.
These are some of the reactions I got in the "hate" department:
"The toilets and showers? Ugh!"; "The mosquitoes
that feasted on my blood every day"; "My girlfriend who
was prettier than I was, and she got all the boys interested in
her, especially the one I liked"; and "The others were
better at sports than I was and I couldn't swim. They laughed at
me."
None of those I quizzed, however, failed to have lots of reasons
to list under "things I loved": "We put on a musical
at the end of camp and we did everything, including painting the
scenery. It was great!"; "Parents day, when they would
visit the camp and bring us wonderful things to eat that they rarely
bought for us at home. The chocolates were divine"; "I
learned all kinds of crafts that I still do sometimes. We were taught
basketry, jewelry-making, ceramics and how to press flowers";
"One day we had a backwards day – it was terrific fun.
We even wore our clothes inside out"; and "I loved the
campfires under the stars. We'd sing together, roast potatoes and
onions, it was heaven. I can still remember the feeling of being
among friends under a sky filled with stars and the wind in the
treetops. I think that was true happiness."
Whether or not a camp is a wholly positive experience for a child
largely depends on the parents' preparation. Don't send them to
a camp you once attended and enjoyed without considering how the
camp may have changed, or the difference between your needs and
desires and those of your child.
Think about what your child needs – to learn new skills, develop
more self-confidence and independence, maybe to improve proficiency
in certain areas. For the latter, there are lots of specialty camps,
such as those focusing on tennis, horse-riding, hiking, adventure,
back-packing or gymnastics.
The camp you choose will depend on the age and level of independence
of your child. The first sleep-away camp can be very frightening
for a young child and sometimes the best way to prepare them is
to take them beforehand to the campsite and explain all the activities
that will take place there. It might be a good idea to give them
a cellphone, so they know they can speak to you whenever they want.
Teenagers usually welcome an escape from home and discipline for
a while and spreading their wings a bit.
No matter what the age, you need to consider and investigate the
accessibility of the camp, its medical facilities and also its security
arrangements. You also need to consider any fears your child might
have, such as if a below-average athlete will feel comfortable trying
new skills and will be allowed to work on them at his or her own
pace. Often it helps if they have a friend or two among the campers
– and, of course, you need to meet the counsellors to make
sure that they are competent and sympathetic.
A good summer camp has the potential to offer a child many positive
and rewarding experiences. They can be fun, healthy and relaxing.
Many of the programs provide an opportunity to develop new skills.
At the same time, youngsters have the chance to become more responsible
and independent. The main reaction I got from kids who'd been to
a good camp was: "Wow! It was great. I want to go again this
summer."
Dvora Waysman, formerly from Melbourne, Australia, lives
in Jerusalem. She is the author of nine books, including The
Pomegranate Pendant, Woman of Jerusalem and Esther –
A Jerusalem Love Story. She can be reached at ways@netvision.net.il.
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