Sending your kids away to camp
To Brits it's the stuff Ameican kid movies and books are made of. Fiction. Like Poison Ivy. But here it's real. For the better off folks,at least. Many of my kids' friends go to a YMCA camp "up north" for a couple of weeks each summer. No-one has anything bad to say about it, and plenty of good. We're thinking about sending Hebe (aged 12) next summer. She'd have a blast, but it's not cheap ($800 for two weeks) ...not expensive either, but....
Do you send your kids? Did you go as a kid? tell me what it's really like. when is the best age? If we send all our kids once, is it best to send them individually at a certain age as a "right of passage" or all together? Or does that depend on the kids?
I went to camp as a kid. LOATHED EVERY MINUTE. I didn't want to do the stupid group activities. Didn't want to go fishing or hiking. All the kids hated me and I hated all of them. I just wanted to stay in my cabin and read. Still do. but of course they didn't let you do that.
But that's just me. I sent my girls to girl scout camp several times, and they loved it. So, it depends on the personality of the kid I think.
I'm sure we've discussed camp stuff before on here, haven't we?
darlet #1 was never interested. darlet #2 went if she had a friend going. She always enjoyed it and seemed to get a lot out of it.
I should add the most years it was girl scout camp. Once it was a Y camp.
Send 'em. Change the locks.
send them All , move and dont tell them yer New address
Isure we've discussed camp stuff before on here, haven't we?
I don't know. Can you find a link? I think providing the link would be the correct netiquette for accusing a poster of topic repetition.
And is it against the rules to discuss it again in light of my interest regarding my kids making it current? Do I need more of a new angle? Would you like me to kill this thread now by calling you a repeated topic nazi and inviting the invocation of Godwin's Law?
That's a great price really.... what do they offer?
everything but travel to and from, Jinx
It's not a bad price, but it's a lot when compared to a regular summer vacation budget for a family who camps rustic style and doesn't eat out much. Given that we'd still need to do that for the rest of the family.
er, what? no. Just thought I'd mention it to help you.
damn, girl, you're so testy sometimes. Must be all that Type A running around.
I think it came up with regard to camp songs. Let me look.
Here's the one I can't afford for my kids next summer...
http://www.awc1.com/?er, what? no. Just thought I'd mention it to help you.
damn, girl, you're so testy sometimes. Must be all that Type A running around.
I think it came up with regard to camp songs. Let me look.
doesn't help with no link. You're so happy to chime in about Netiquette-type things and yet are blissfully unaware of how often you don't follow the unwritten code that I just felt it was time for a nudge.....
OMG Jinx, sorry, but that's totally not us! 4000 for early registration? We're not even spending that on a week in Florida for all of us!
What do you like about that camp particularly, Jinx?
Here's the one I can't afford for my kids next summer...
http://www.awc1.com/?
We live about 30 minutes from the Adirondacks and I have a woodshop in the basement. You can send the kids up for the summer for half that price if they're willing to weed the garden, and vacuum the house three times a week.
Let me check it w/ mrs. foot first.
is this supposed to look like something out of a horror movie?
http://awc1.com/index.php?p=53foot, can I send my kids too? They're good at scooping the catlit and putting out the recycling ...and they love to vaccuum and weed, they're just not terribly .... "discerning" in either of those tasks...?
I know the family that owns it from when I lived up there. We had week-long ski camps at that camp in the winter.... they had kids on the team...
Anyway, it's too expensive. Lemme know what she says foot.
I went to away-camp in Maine for 7 weeks at a stretch during two summers (aged 12 and 13, I think). I was relieved to get out of my parents' house; it didn't matter that the girls hated me, it was still a relief.
While the girls were almost uniformly rich, WASP bitches-in-training, the setting was spectacular and the activities were great. I learned how to canoe, sail and ride horseback. Some of the counselors were wonderful women. I still have a soft spot for the place.
http://www.alfordlakecamp.com/
ETA: Holy crap, it was expensive -- $7500 per summer!
I got sent to summer camp Lots when I was a Kid , Learned to canoe , ride horses , camp etc,,,
But I didn't enjoy it when dude skipped a saucer sized Rock of my head !!
That SUCKED !!
But they did Kick him out for it ( I wasn't the first Incident )
I remember being sick as a dog, too; on several occasions spending most of the time in the infirmary. Not fun. But I think if your kid is outgoing and like sports, it can be great for them. And of course, there are all those camp songs to learn!
Wow, so basicaly $800 for two weeks is awesome as long as your kid is the camp type?
I feel like i'd be a bad parent if we didn't ..but now the questions morphs..... if you're going to do it just once... what is absolutely the BEST age -for girls and for boys....
I never went to sleepaway camp, unless you count a weekend of Girl Scout troop camping (sort of the Girl Scout version of a Jamboree). I did go to a couple of day camps, one specifically for horseback riding, and another that was run on the campus of a local Catholic college that was short on religion and long on arts & crafts and sports, despite being run by nuns. These were the "old" days too ... nuns had to wear habits in the middle of the Summer.
I went to multiple sleepaway camps, at least one every year. The girl scout camps sucked. The "cabins" were some 2x4 raised decking in the woods, the scorpions were a real problem, and the activities were severely lacking. But that was still better than not going, and every other camp I went to was awesome, including at least two YMCA-affiliated camps I can remember. I loved everything about them--never once got homesick and didn't understand the kids who did. In fact I got in trouble after telling one girl, "Come on, it's not like they're dead or something." Anyway... camp was awesome. I think anytime is the right age as long as you're sure the particular kid won't get homesick. I don't know if boys have an upper age limit, but for girls it's whenever they start to worry about having sweaty hair and dirty hands, which may be never, depending on the kid.
Here's the one I can't afford for my kids next summer...
http://www.awc1.com/?
Maybe there'll be another cash-for-clunkers program. :haha:
I went when I was 7 or 8 for 2 weeks and hated it. But I think it has value taking you out of your comfort zone and putting you into a group with a bunch of strangers. I was probably to young at that time but I think it could be a good thing.
Wow, so basicaly $800 for two weeks is awesome as long as your kid is the camp type?
I feel like i'd be a bad parent if we didn't ..but now the questions morphs..... if you're going to do it just once... what is absolutely the BEST age -for girls and for boys....
I worked at a camp but never went. I saw a lot of lonely kids who felt were being dumped by their parents. Lil Pete has been doing fencing camps the last three years (13-15). She isn't the camp type but loves bouting so they work for her. Lil Griff has not expressed any interest and life is busy enough without missing more kid time. They do a lot with their Grandparents and friends over the summer including Adirondac time so all they really miss is the Lord of the Flies stuff that they can get reading the political news.
Bad parents come in all flavors. This one decision has nothing to do with it.
Camps are fun. I guess. My camps were Camp Fire Girl camps.
I've worked at camps mostly and taken my son along when he was a child many a year. There are also city sponsered day sports camps I took advantage of.
I've never had to spend much money on a camp.
ps. Nice camp links. I think they're great.
I went when I was 7 or 8 for 2 weeks and hated it. But I think it has value taking you out of your comfort zone and putting you into a group with a bunch of strangers. I was probably to young at that time but I think it could be a good thing.
I think you and griff are right.
The more logical plus introverted a person is it can be difficult. I am introverted but I am not logical. I just went with the flow so kids were always friendly. I am very visual so I have many good visual memories.
Logical and introverted kids need a lot of structure imo and if the plan isn't laid out just so, or if they are young, or it doesn't make sense in some way it can create a lot of anxiety and one isn't going to remember or learn anything when under pressure. It depends on the kid and type of camp probably.
I went to week long camps twice as a kid. I LOVED them. Anything to get me away from my mother really, but beyond that, there was the thrill of bunk beds, cabins, new people, all sorts of activities, new foods, being away from home, old friends, learning stuff, and being out from under mom's thumb.
I still remember my sleeping bag, an old OLD army bag...camo green, slippery/silky, and smelled funny. No cutesy figures or flannel on that thing.
The one I went to was a church camp, so I did know a few kids from church there. The cost NOW is $475 per week, so your $800/two weeks sounds par for the course.
My own children went to YMCA camp all summer, every summer. Not sleep over camps though, normal day camps. My now 14yr old daughter won a week long scholarship to a big performing arts center here (loads of concerts put on there by big names), for a week. Not sleepover, but I drove her every day. Good thing I was unemployed at the time! She adored it! I could never have paid for it though, mucho out of my price range.
thanks all, this is great :)
I never got to go away to camp, unless you count day camp. I wasn't really sure if it was the money or if my parents just couldn't bear to part with me. ;)
Memory: 13 years old, YMCA day camp, really cute instructor named Brian (I still remember). That week I developed a deep interest in BB gun target practice. :D Totally yummy.
The past 2 years my 13 year old daughter has gone for a week at GS camp, loved it, but finds it a little boring. This year she's eligible for a whole new tier of options, including travel to WV, so we'll see what happens.
Last summer my 11 year old son went for a week at Boy Scout camp, which was a little different because he was with his troop and not a bunch of strangers. He had a great time.
I think they'd both be happy to go to the YMCA camp though. I just can't afford all of it. It'd have to be one or the other. Day camps are fun, though, either through scouts or the Y.
The only time I've ever fired a gun was at camp when I was very young; I think even 5 or 6--it was a .22 rifle (I think) and we fired it at targets lying down.
I was sent to fancy camps in the California hills, non-denominational, non-scouting. It was a status thing, I think, and a chance for my 'rents to get rid of me for 2-3 weeks.
Monster, I'm sure your kids would like it. Scouting camps can be a good deal, if they are good ones.
I am not into scouts in the USA. They have issues. But thanks. It's funny that the YMCA has a C for Christian, but their camps are apparrently non-denominational.
I'm pretty sure that "non-denominational" in this case means "any flavor of Christian you want." From my recollection as a non-religious kid at YMCA camps, the Christianity was definitely there, but they weren't pushy about it.
there are lots of jewe and gays here ...and they have the most money, so here it means there will be space for private reflection (or playing nintendo ds ;) )
What are the issues of scout camps in USA Monnie? Are they different to Brit scouts?
Scouting has a huge anti-homosexuality thing going on among other things. And more religion. it's political for me. many people don't have a problem with it, I do. it took me a long time to realize that the YMCA is actually much less preachy and religious. In fact most people have no idea it's a religious organization.
It appears that the Mormans are the single largest chartered group of scouts. I'd say reactionary politics are going to be in the mix.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Scouts_of_America
[tangent]Maybe unfairly, I always saw the various scout organizations as part of American, British, German, and Italian proto-fascism. They promote "civic virtues" which seem easily turned into service to the state. I guess it is a question of balance. In our present political environment, we see a lot of Red-baiting rhetoric from right and a middle-left government that seems content to increase enforced private access to the public and individual purse. The old fascist vs communist construct looks dated as both parties embrace aspects of both systems.[/whoopsie]
I cannot stand pushy Christians, so my children would definately not have gone to the YMCA camps for the last 15 years if they were obnoxious about it.
The YMCA are the only people/organization that I trust to babysit my children. I'm paranoid about the sicko's out there. Good thing they have parent's night out once a month, or my partner and I would never get to go on a date :rolleyes:
I don't do scouts either, perfect organization for pedophiles to hang out in.
My husband loved the scouts, and one of his fellows was an atheist. I think it only became a 'big issue' more recently; it was largely ignored back in our day.
Thirding monnie: I went to Y-camp many summers as a kid (2 working parents = need daycare help!) and never felt any religious pressure of any kind.
Back in the day, it was assumed you were of some religion or another, and they didn't care which, for the most part. They had invocations, convocations and general beseeching for divine guidance and support, assuming no matter what religion you were, it was the same God.
hey, I was a scout and it was great. it's a totally different ball game over here right now and I wouldn't be suprised to learn that time plays as big a factor as country.
Scouting has a huge anti-homosexuality thing going on among other things. And more religion. it's political for me. many people don't have a problem with it, I do. it took me a long time to realize that the YMCA is actually much less preachy and religious. In fact most people have no idea it's a religious organization.
Boy Scouts has the anti-gay thing, but GS does not. They are, of course, two completely separate organizations. In fact many Christian groups have issues with GS because they don't push the straight, hetero, Christian, narrow minded core values. That is why American Heritage Girls was founded.
My daughter has been in GS since 1st grade, and I've been a co-leader. Also I was in GS as a child, for 7 years. So I know whereof I speak and I hate to see the program maligned.
Of course you're going to get a few bad apples, but for the most part, GS policy and culture is very accepting of diversity in all its forms.
As for the YMCA, we've had a bit of involvement with it through my daughter's gymnastics team and various little-kid sports teams. Because I am a Christian (Episcopal) I have a hard time seeing it through a non-Christian's eyes, but I don't think they're pushy at all. In fact the YMCA near us has one of those freebie paper racks in which are sitting many copies of a local Jewish publication. If they were pushy about the "C" for Christian, I wouldn't imagine they'd allow that.
The only time I've been witness to a prayer of any kind at a Y event was as a grace before meals at camp, and a pre-competition prayer from the gymnastics team. *That* was pretty serious Christian stuff, but that was the influence of an individual person (the director) not the organization policy and nobody was forced to pray along, just sit there respectfully.
Just my observations.
I was not maligning the girl scouts. Sorry if that was your interprestation. I will now, though -They're just irritating with all their goddamn cookies. :p
You're just jealous because you can't get a piece of the cookie action for your teams.
Well, they go on sale in January. I'll be happy to take pre-orders. ;)
To Brits it's the stuff Ameican kid movies and books are made of. Fiction.
The original
Parent Trap with Haley Mills just came on. I was reminded of this thread (in which I also managed to completely piss off Ms. Monster-sorry!) as I am guessing this is the sort of representation referred to.
Fiction, yeah, but the film resonates for me because it pretty much was what my experience was like. Although very idealized, and 10 years older than when I grew up, I grew up in a ranch house in Northern California and had that same damn blond pixie haircut and went to the same type of camp. I don't remember the lesbians, but they might have been there. (I still think the house is fabulous. And so is Maureen O'Hara.)
We didn't wear those dorky uniforms at camp, though.
We wore them at school.