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parents and summer camp - 7/31/2008 4:58:13 PM
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backrowbaptist
Posts: 387
Joined: 6/7/2008
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Heard this on the radio and looked it up. Anybody see themselves in this? Did your parents do this? Is there hope for our children?
NY Times - Dear Parents: Please Relax, It’s Just Camp
HONESDALE, Pa. — A dozen 9-year-old girls in jelly-bean-colored bathing suits were learning the crawl at Lake Bryn Mawr Camp one recent morning as older girls in yellow and green camp uniforms practiced soccer, fused glass in the art studio or tried out the climbing wall.
Their parents, meanwhile, were bombarding the camp with calls: one wanted help arranging private guitar lessons for her daughter, another did not like the sound of her child’s voice during a recent conversation, and a third needed to know — preferably today — which of her daughter’s four varieties of vitamins had run out. All before lunch.
article con't - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/nyregion/26camp.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=parents+summer+camp&st=nyt&oref=slogin
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RE: parents and summer camp - 7/31/2008 6:55:56 PM
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garsyt
Posts: 2237
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Nope.
Of course I don't send my kids away to a summer camp for weeks on end and NEVER all summer!
The first few times my eldest went away to Cub Scout camp his father was one of the pack's staff and went with the boys. Later he went on his own and did just fine. I didn't think once to call EXCEPT after we found out that a bad storm had blown through the area and then one other time when we were arranging for a ride home. My youngest ds has been to cub scout camp a couple times now. Last year his brother went along as a Den Chief, so both of the boys were gone at the same time. CAMP called once wanting my advice on how to get him to take an inhaler treatment, but nothing after that til the boys were on their way home and calling us from their cub masters phone letting us know when and where to pick them up.
The girls go to day camp every summer for a week. I've never called the camp on them and they've never called me. I figure if something bad happened I would be the first phone call after EMS.
My parents would send us to bible camp for a week or two every summer when I was a kid. We were NOT allowed to make phone calls unless it was an emergency and I knew when my parent dropped us off on Sunday we wouldn't hear from them til the camp session was over.
Personally I think those parents are doing their kids a disservice, in MANY ways.
Blessings,
Garsy
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RE: parents and summer camp - 7/31/2008 11:01:20 PM
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SteveSund
Posts: 451
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From: Michigan
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quote:
ORIGINAL: garsyt
Personally I think those parents are doing their kids a disservice, in MANY ways.
I agree. I spent 4 summers in college working at Church camps and I don't recall kids ever getting calls from parents or kids calling their parents. Obviously, if it was an emergency, they were able to make contact, but I don't see how bombarding a camp with calls is helpful. If those parents wanted that level of management, what is the point of sending the kids off somewhere?
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RE: parents and summer camp - 8/1/2008 12:29:11 AM
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garsyt
Posts: 2237
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One summer, when I was in college, I worked as a photographer and vidoeographer for a boy's summer camp. I also worked mornings in the kitchens and if they needed me in the office. I worked there ALL summer long, only leaving the camp on weekends if then.
The camp was in Minnesota and drew in boys from ALL over the US, Canada and we even had a few boys from overseas. The camp ran two sessions of 4 weeks each with a break week in the middle. Some boys stayed only 4 weeks, others were their for the entire summer. I had a LOT of contact with the boys who ranged in age from 8 to 16. This was, golly, 20 years ago or so, so cell phones weren't as prevalent, but I don't ever remember any of the days I spent in the office, EVER having to field a call from a parent or deal with a camper wanting to call home. The only time I remember having to CALL a parent is right after the camp director loaded a camper whom was struck in the back of the head by a sailboat thingie and got knocked out and into the water with a pretty nasty gash to the back of the head. This parents remained calm about the whole deal and just took the information I gave them about which hospital their son was taken to and asked for that number. I don't remember if they ever came in from New York or not but the boy came back from the hospital a couple of days later and finished out the last couple of weeks of his session. He was pretty funny kid and took great pride in showing off his staples!
Now I haven't even spoken to the directors of that camp in 20 years, so I don't know what sort of stuff is happening now days - but the camp had some pretty strict rules and a code of conduct that was to be followed at all times. I can't imagine the original directors changing those too much. I think, if I'm remembering correctly, parents could call the camp if they wished but we were not to call the boys to the phone regardless. We could take a message and if it was deemed an emergency by the camp directors, they would allow the boys a phone call home. The boys were "allowed" one call every two weeks home, but I don't remember having ANY boys, except the one 13 year old from England, ever even want to call. This boy was there the entire summer and I remember him calling home once or twice.
If I knew these boy's parents today - I'm certain they have very well adjusted, independent, motivated, respectful young men, for sons, and I sure they are very proud!
Blessings,
Garsy
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My Blog: www.moredayslikethisplease.wordpress.com
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RE: parents and summer camp - 8/1/2008 9:49:01 AM
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stellaluna
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If you just can't stand your kid to be away from you, keep them at home. Saves everyone a lot of trouble, even if it's not good for your child.
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