JUST IMAGINE...
Imagine horseback riding through a country field, joking around with seven of your best friends, shooting baskets in the sunshine, reading in the shade of a big pine tree, sailing across a clear blue lake, silk-screening your own T-shirt design, starring in a play, scoring a goal for your street hockey
team, scaling a rock wall, playing
volleyball on the beach with your cabin mates, or carving it up on a
snowboarding trail. All of these things are possible at different
overnight camps across the country. How can you possibly choose from
among the nearly 6,300 overnight camps in the United States? Well,
after you and your child have imagined what he’d like best, you’ll want
to discuss the different types of camps that are available.
Before selecting a specific camp, you should know that there are three general types of overnight camps: traditional, specialty, and special needs. Your goal for this chapter should be to figure out what type of camp is right for your child in terms of content, atmosphere, and setting. Then you’ll be ready to start the selection process.
TRADITIONAL OVERNIGHT CAMPS
General Description
What separates traditional overnight camps from specialty camps and special needs camps is the tremendous variety of activities. This variety is not only the “spice of life,” it’s also the best way to make sure everyone has a good time. Nearly every activity will be some camper’s favorite.
Most traditional camps offer more than 50 different athletic and artistic activities. For example, two traditional camps we know (one for boys and one for girls) offer the following activities every day: swimming, canoeing, sailing, sailboarding, water-skiing, rowing, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, baseball, kickball, softball, football, tennis, Frisbee-golf, archery, riflery, nature education, arts and crafts, drama, street hockey, volleyball, camp craft, horseshoes, low ropes course, whiffleball, hiking, ping-pong, tetherball, mini-golf, music, horseback riding, and photography.
In addition to these conventional activities, every traditional camp also has some original games and special activities. Some traditional camps have things like a library, non-denominational vespers services, weekly campfires, intercamp teams, and invented sports that defy description, such as “Bizou Ball” and “The Blob.” As the name implies, traditional camps also have their own set of traditional games, songs, stories, and ceremonies. These time-honored elements add character to an environment that otherwise might seem generic, and they promote a strong sense of community. Year after year, campers and staff feel part of something special.
Most traditional overnight camps have their own rural campus with permanent buildings, activity facilities (such as courts, fields, and docks), and a full-time staff. Living quarters range from small canvas tents to cabins with electricity and plumbing. Bedding can range from sleeping bags to wooden beds with mattresses, fitted sheets, and blankets. Campers usually eat meals in large dining halls. Food is served either “cafeteria style,” where each child moves through a line and puts her food on a tray before joining other campers at a table, or “family style,” where groups of children sit together and fill their plates from platters of food that the whole table shares.
Many traditional overnight camps have existed for generations. A handful are still going strong 100 years or more after they began. Some traditional camps are known as “agency camps.” These camps are sponsored or run by venerable organizations, such as the Scouts, the YMCA, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, and various churches and synagogues. There are also many traditional overnight camps that are privately owned family businesses. A few are run by private corporations. Regardless of the sponsorship, most people’s typical mental picture of summer camp fits into the traditional overnight camp category.
Pros and Cons of Traditional Overnight Camps
Pros of traditional overnight camps include:
• a tremendous variety of fun individual and group activities
• many chances to try new things, experiment, and be creative
• an emphasis on outdoor activities and living in harmony with nature
• traditional games, songs, stories, and ceremonies
• opportunities to build individual character as well as a strong sense of community
• cabin leaders are usually trained in leadership skills
Cons of traditional overnight camps include:
• fewer opportunities to specialize in one particular activity (compared to a specialty camp)
• cabin leaders may be “generalists,” as opposed to being expert instructors in their field
• fewer accommodations for special needs (compared to a special needs camp)
• fewer chances to work on academic activities (compared to an academic camp)
Imagine horseback riding through a country field, joking around with seven of your best friends, shooting baskets in the sunshine, reading in the shade of a big pine tree, sailing across a clear blue lake, silk-screening your own T-shirt design, starring in a play, scoring a goal for your street hockey
Before selecting a specific camp, you should know that there are three general types of overnight camps: traditional, specialty, and special needs. Your goal for this chapter should be to figure out what type of camp is right for your child in terms of content, atmosphere, and setting. Then you’ll be ready to start the selection process.
TRADITIONAL OVERNIGHT CAMPS
General Description
What separates traditional overnight camps from specialty camps and special needs camps is the tremendous variety of activities. This variety is not only the “spice of life,” it’s also the best way to make sure everyone has a good time. Nearly every activity will be some camper’s favorite.
Most traditional camps offer more than 50 different athletic and artistic activities. For example, two traditional camps we know (one for boys and one for girls) offer the following activities every day: swimming, canoeing, sailing, sailboarding, water-skiing, rowing, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, baseball, kickball, softball, football, tennis, Frisbee-golf, archery, riflery, nature education, arts and crafts, drama, street hockey, volleyball, camp craft, horseshoes, low ropes course, whiffleball, hiking, ping-pong, tetherball, mini-golf, music, horseback riding, and photography.
In addition to these conventional activities, every traditional camp also has some original games and special activities. Some traditional camps have things like a library, non-denominational vespers services, weekly campfires, intercamp teams, and invented sports that defy description, such as “Bizou Ball” and “The Blob.” As the name implies, traditional camps also have their own set of traditional games, songs, stories, and ceremonies. These time-honored elements add character to an environment that otherwise might seem generic, and they promote a strong sense of community. Year after year, campers and staff feel part of something special.
Most traditional overnight camps have their own rural campus with permanent buildings, activity facilities (such as courts, fields, and docks), and a full-time staff. Living quarters range from small canvas tents to cabins with electricity and plumbing. Bedding can range from sleeping bags to wooden beds with mattresses, fitted sheets, and blankets. Campers usually eat meals in large dining halls. Food is served either “cafeteria style,” where each child moves through a line and puts her food on a tray before joining other campers at a table, or “family style,” where groups of children sit together and fill their plates from platters of food that the whole table shares.
Many traditional overnight camps have existed for generations. A handful are still going strong 100 years or more after they began. Some traditional camps are known as “agency camps.” These camps are sponsored or run by venerable organizations, such as the Scouts, the YMCA, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, and various churches and synagogues. There are also many traditional overnight camps that are privately owned family businesses. A few are run by private corporations. Regardless of the sponsorship, most people’s typical mental picture of summer camp fits into the traditional overnight camp category.
Pros and Cons of Traditional Overnight Camps
Pros of traditional overnight camps include:
• a tremendous variety of fun individual and group activities
• many chances to try new things, experiment, and be creative
• an emphasis on outdoor activities and living in harmony with nature
• traditional games, songs, stories, and ceremonies
• opportunities to build individual character as well as a strong sense of community
• cabin leaders are usually trained in leadership skills
Cons of traditional overnight camps include:
• fewer opportunities to specialize in one particular activity (compared to a specialty camp)
• cabin leaders may be “generalists,” as opposed to being expert instructors in their field
• fewer accommodations for special needs (compared to a special needs camp)
• fewer chances to work on academic activities (compared to an academic camp)
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