Summer Camp

Confession - I never went to overnight camp.  In all honesty, I didn't really like day camp all that much. I attended two weeks of local girl scout camp, and I really didn't like it, and I certainly did not like the overnights.  Often, my mom would get the call of "Please come pick me up."

As I got older nearly all the other kids went to overnight camp.  I was at home.  My mom didn't work, and some of my other friends were also home.  We spent the week days going to the pool or the beach.

When my eldest was in third grade he asked about overnight camp. . . . . . so we toured four different overnight camps.  After fourth grade, I dropped my eldest off for 3.5 weeks of overnight camp.  When I picked him up, he was in LOVE with overnight camp.  Can't wait for next year.

Five years later, I dropped off BOTH kids to the same camp, where they will stay for seven weeks, and love every moment of camp.  Part of me wishes that I had experienced the overnight camp experience.  I watch the weekly videos and see how much fun that they are having.

We have a home that we have both parents working full time.  I can see at overnight camp that they are busy from morning til bedtime.  They offer things that I can't offer - riflery (for the older one); water skiing (for the younger one); horseback riding, meals with kids three times a day, the ability to have a relationship with a counselor who is in college; the ability to live with 8-15 kids (of the same sex and age) and return yearly and be accepted.  The bonus for us is that it is a Jewish overnight camp, so they are experiencing praying as a group and learning to love Israel.  And of course their last year at camp (when they finish 10th grade) there will be a five week trip to Israel with their peers/friends.

They are learning independence. . . . . cleaning the bunk as a group, speaking up when they are sad or if they see something.

The love of camp that my kids have is real.  I miss them, but I realize even with the best day camp, I can't offer what they are experiencing.  I know that they love me.  But I am giving them an exprience that they will never forget.