DONT practice separation against their will: This isnt meant to be tortuous. Sunset at camp signifies dinner. When campers bring too much Bunk Junk, it becomes an unorganized mess. Posted by WCCA on September 19, 2014 at 8:07 pm under Parent Information. Remember, its just one thing out of thousands that happen over the summer. Camp provides the perfect backdrop to a sunset. Please contact Cole Kelly, leader of the weekend,with any questions about the Family Camp Weekend. Having an issue? Use tab to navigate through the menu items. As camp draws near, its fun to play Guess What the Song Will Be while listening to the radio. Now in its 20th year, Camp Nesher continues to set the standard for excellence in Modern-Orthodox Jewish Summer camping. Our Family Camp weekend will be hosted atCamp Weequahic, located 2.5 hours northwest of New York Cityin Lakewood, PA. With their modern bunks, a full service dining hall, and excellent program space, ourguests will enjoy a full weekend of learning, fun, and community. Wed love to help. A small amount of Bunk Junk is great!

But taking in a baseball game, visiting a local amusement park, or going bowling with them adds an extra element to the camp experience because it allows campers to do normal friend things with some very close friends who they often only get to see during the summer.

Participants will be provided a suggested packing list. When parents send their children off to camp for the summer, theyre placing their trust in the staff to make safety the top priority. So its a good idea to pack a rainbow of colors so that you are prepared to show team spirit when the time comes. Then again, there is probably no way they could. She is right. Building a strategy at home that includes knowing missing home is normal, talking with a counselor, and writing a letter saying: I miss home and these are the three things I like about camp are useful. Thats why weve selected this weeks guest blog, which was originally posted to the, As the summer draws closer, thousands of young college students are preparing to spend their summer working at a sleepaway camp. The daily activities have ended and now its time for the evening to begin. We believe in the incredible empowerment that comes when you combine kids, camp and the great outdoors. DONT make pick-up deals: While discussing camp, dont make plans to pick your child up from camp if he doesnt like it. So you usually only need enough of these to last the first couple of weeks, if packing space is at a premium. Click HERE to Find Out More. Some items are not allowed in bunks or cabins, however, so be sure you check with your camp to make sure that games and other activity items are permitted. Most of the time, after parents visit and meet with the camp directors, all their questions are answered and they know whether or not the camp is a goodfit for their child.. Below are some DOs and DONTs for parents to help ensure their child has the most positive summer camp experience possible. For some reason, the warmer weather brings everyone together. Baseball, Basketball, Cheer, Culinary Arts, Dance, DJ Skills, Drama, Filmmaking & Photography, Golf, Hockey, Horseback Riding (off-site), Journalism & Creative Writing, Lacrosse, Musical Theater, Robotics & Design, Rock Band, Sailing, Skateboarding, Soccer, Softball, STEM Activities, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, Water Sports, Wilderness Survival, Wildlife Biology, Summer Camp Type? In fact, youll spend the majority of your day outside. DO thank your childs counselors at the end of the session: Being a counselor is a labor of love, but its also job and taking care of children 24/7 is not always joy ride, needless to say. Impact for a Lifetime. Most want to become teachers and coaches later and life and see camp as a great opportunity to build a fun and safe community. When walking around camp, you can see this principle in action kids laughing and learning next to young men and women who are there for them. But of course your child is not you. Sure, they could do just about anything they do on a camp trip without having gone to camp, but doing them at camp makes them part of camp. Evening activities are some of the most action-packedand anticipated moments at camp. If your friends try to say negative things about other people, change the subject or reply with a positive. Here are a few ideas to help you out as you get ready for camp. Whether or not your camp provides water, its a good idea to take a water bottle that can be refilled several times throughout the day. A good nights sleep will always help to ensure the best experience possible at Summer Camp. Theres no need to make it like school where only certain types of people hang around together. First youll want to contact[emailprotected] for more information, and some promotional products for your event! DO remember youve taught them well: Feel confident that you have taught your child well.

DONT try to impress camp directors with how you know their job better than they do: As much as you want to feel comfortable with a camp director, the camp director wants to feel like youre a parent who will be a good and reasonable partner. Camp trips are a lot like school field trips. Thats why theyre your friends. We willconclude our time together after lunch on Sunday with everyone headed home by 2pm. The and is important!. Lakeside When Was the Camp Founded? Youve scored an amazing summer job at a sleepaway camp and the summer is so close that you can practically taste the smores, smell the camp air and hear your campers laughing. The No Tech Agreement. Its also environmentally friendly by reducing the use of disposable cups. It pops up in Week in Review slideshows. But at camp, sunset is something that just cant be missed.

In the realm of packing Bunk Junk, use the golden rule: Less is Definitely More. Think before you react. Please contact. Summer Camp Activities? Campers and staff alike also know when they see the sun begin to set that its almost time for evening activities. They dont prepare you for that at orientation. The more you think about the camp after the tour, you may decide you liked it more than you originally thought.

C. amp encourages interaction. Too often, an inhibitor to those who have trouble making friends is a lack of social maturity. Children dont have play dates at camp where they meet someone for a few hours and then return home. You will also need a ladder and a 24 piece of wood tall enough to balance the caps.

But new friends are pretty great too. The following article appeared on HuffingtonPost.com and was written by Beth Feldman,the founder of RoleMommy.com and a public relations professional. Athena, the goddess of wisdom and courage, later assumed the guise of Mentor in order to interact with and guide both Telemachus and Odysseus. If you are happy with the camp experience, send a thank-you letter or email to your childs bunk counselors through the camp director, Kelly says. She recalled the shock of the day the campers arrived. DO get to know the camp director: Ask about the camps philosophy and program, and make sure they match your familys own values. Being away from home can help simulate the camp experience. One-way emails are great, but handwritten letters with a parents handwriting feel very personal to a child. It helps to have a laundry bag for easy transport to and from the laundry. Theyre green, picturesque, and often feature facilities for just about any activity a kid can dream up. DONT try to sneak in food, candy or gum: The staff will just have to take it away, which puts them in the hard position of saying the parents broke the rules, Kelly says. So one or two pairs for water-related activities and days off are sufficient. Encourage your camper to enjoy all the exciting camp activities and remind him or her of all the wonderful aspects of camp. But do you ever find yourself a little bit confused about how to make that happen? Rites of passage are a big part of camp and trips are among those rites. Click, Summer Camp Search by State - Clickable Map. The following article appeared on HuffingtonPost.com and was written byRachel Levy Lesser: My 10-year-old sons camp packing list looks strikingly familiar. Before camp begins, let your child know you are confident in his or her ability to have a wonderful summer camp experience. You can find even more information and stories of people holding Stack the Cap events at stackthecaps.com. Youre working at a summer camp, and outdoors is an operative word in your upcoming summer. Rather, its about taking steps in the right direction when kids are ready and willing to take it on, even if theyre a bit nervous about it. Your kids deserve the best! If recent history is not showing, then try reloading the page. Recently, a tradition that started at Camp Starlight has made its way across the world into others hearts. Watching the sun dip below the tree line and catch the reflection of the water before finally disappearing into the horizon as the campus slowly lights up isnt just a classic picturesque image of camp, its symbolic. Manage your newsletter subscription preferences. Evening activities are some of the most action-packed, Camp Weequahic Counselors Being a Mentor, Stack the Caps: Taking on the World One Cap at a Time. It also gives parents a chance to ask key questions while in the camp environment. Space is limited to 150 participants. First, we will show our young men the pathway to a Christian manhood by studying the Bible in an engaging way.

Campers love their camp campuses. model for our campers?. Some camps provide bedding. By attending summer camp, campers develop shared traditions. These conversations are not always very easy to conduct with our growing young men.

And dont forget to think twice about if your child will actually use the items you are sending. Guests will need to bring their own linens or sleeping bags. Limitedprivate housing with a shared bathis available for an additional $50 per room. When not publicizing camp, Jess enjoys spending time with friends and family, going to the beach, traveling, running and skiing. Tags: America's finest summer camps, American summer camp, camp counselor, camp friends, camp jobs, camp staff, sleepaway camps, summer jobs, working at summer camp. Whether its entertaining each other, singing songs or eating smores, sitting around a campfire at night helps everyone tune into the environment around them and take in the magic of summer camp. After the event is completed, Camp Starlight donates the caps to Memorial Sloane Kettering and Boston Childrens Hospital. If your child isnt smiling, it doesnt mean he or she isnt happy.

DONT pack stuff that is banned: Make sure to look at the camp packing list and respect the items the camp asks you to leave at home, such as cell phones and iPads. Have you ever walked into your childs room or playroom and thought, What happened, did a tornado come through here? So cluttered, so messy that you cant even think straight? Most traditional sports oriented camps do not allow staff to wear flip-flops or open toed shoes for activities that are not water related.

Camp Nesher is for children entering 3rd 10th grade and offers sessions from a full seven weeks to a five day short stay trial for younger campers with several other offerings in between. Our young men must be rising 8th and 9th old and must be accompanied by a legal guardian. Camp traditions bond children to each other. Most camps are within a reasonable distance to a shop from which these types of items can easily be replenished. Make sure to look at the camp packing list and respect the items the camp asks you to leave at home. Other camps require staff members to bring their own bedding. Sitting down and watching the camps video asa family is a great way to get the kids psyched for camp, Libman says.

Yes, playing by the camp Waterfront with friends is a great way to spend a summer. Alan Shermans Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (A Letter from Camp), Why Working at Camp is the Best First Job. The Weequahic Basketball League Many camp families ask the question, Are you a competitive camp? With over 50 activities from which to choose, we happily respond, If a child wants to compete, they can. You not only expect it, but anticipate hearing itevery day. Having a weekend set aside just for this purpose will make it both easier and more lasting. Yes, its summer. Its so easy to not even notice the sunset during the ten months when one is not at summer camp. You dont even realize how much you look forward to camp noise until the end of camp. Its the noise of excitement, happiness and anticipation. Get the latest NYC family fun straight to your inbox! Our first meeting starts at 2pm. DO send letters from home: Remember to send your child letters while at camp. It seems like such a small detail, but music is such a big part of camp that the THE song not only becomes a camp trend in the current summerin this case the Summer 2014but is permanently associated with it through the memories we make with it as a soundtrack or inspiration. They add a sacred element to friendship. Thats why weve selected this weeks guest blog, which was originally posted to the Camp Starlight blog on May 27, 2014. As the summer draws closer, thousands of young college students are preparing to spend their summer working at a sleepaway camp. Again, yes its summer, but the evenings can get a bit chilly. Here is a brief rundown of those items that camp staff traditionally believe are essential. DO limit calls to camp office: While your child is at camp, try to abstain from calling the camp director with every thought or worry you may have about your child. ), newly built bunk beds and comfortable mattresses. This event does not just stop at Camp Starlight. This weeks guest blog is from the Camp Starlight blog. At Camp Starlight, we are a community made of people from all different walks of life, from all over the world. DONT assume the camp allows tipping: Many camps have different stances on the subject. THE song has even been the theme of summers past and continues to live on in significance through its role in that theme, like We Take Care of Our Own..

Camp friends are definitely some of the most special friends. Each camp has its own unique campfire traditions. This can make a child feel homesick. If you pack these items, you are in good shape. Heat plus a lot of activity equals the need to stay hydrated.

Choosing the right kids sleeping bag is an important decision. You realize the kids are gone, and the summer really is over. It signals a shift in the camp day. What to Know About the Corona Virus & Summer Camps, Starting a Long Trek Our Kids Camp Search, National Flight Academy, FL Kids Summer Camps Spotlight. Contacting local sports teams or sporting goods stores is a great way to get caps. A pair of rain boots or galoshes is always a good idea. Will it be a song from a movie soundtrack or perhaps a Broadway show? At Starlight, all bunk junk must be able to fit into a specific sized Underbed Box to keep bunks clean and organized. If you do, you probably wont even remember it by the end of the summer. But before you can head off for the summer of your life, you have to pack. To illustrate this, guest blog this week is one originally posted to the, Campers and staff alike also know when they see the sun begin to set that its almost time for evening activities. Stack the Caps for Kids with Cancer is a non-profit organization that began in 2008 at Camp Starlight, inspired by a wonderful camper, Brielle Namer, who passed away from a very rare form of cancer. We at Weequahic are thrilled to create a situation in which college aged and older men and women serve as consistent, patient and committed mentors for our campers. Will it be a new song? This is always a challenge for parents. Held at NYU, Columbia, and 150+ campuses. Unleash their Inner Confidence for a Lifetime of Adventure, Just the Essential Details for Summer Camp, With Over 1,700 Listed Camps Researched by Kids Camp Experts, This is a Free Camp Listing, researched by our kids camp experts. DONT discuss all the things your child is missing: Avoid telling your child about all they are missing at home when you speak with them on the phone or write a letter. DONT focus too much on correspondence from camp in the first few days of camp: If you receive a discouraging phone call or a letter from your child, remember that, like any new experience, adjusting to camp may take a few days and that severe homesickness is rare. Campers get to board buses with their friends and go off on an adventure outside of the camp environment. These activities help facilitate communication with campers, and are so much fun while in the bunk or cabin during resting periods or rainy days. Some allow for packages, others dont. Tags: America's finest summer camps, American summer camps, getting ready for summer camp, packing for summer camp, preparing for summer camp, sleepaway camp. But camp noise is different than other noise. Posted by WCCA on April 7, 2015 at 2:55 pm under WCCA Spotlight. With the sunset also comes campfires. If this is your Camp, we'd love to feature more of you. A wonderful world of options! Take advantage of the opportunity to get involved in them. Everyday noise just seems like noise pollution. DONT bring banned items to camp on visiting day: These items can include cell phones, iPads, gaming systems, and cameras that record video. Its certainly not noise pollution, though. Camps often divide staff and campers into teams for activities by colors. Bunk/Cabin games (Jacks, puzzle games, etc.). There is a lot of movement at camp, and sunglasses are an item that is commonly lost, forgotten or broken. We spend our entire off season finding and training the best group of camp counselors. Not only is it wrong to violate the camp code, but its doubly wrong to make your child complicit.

Campers are not without adequate time for introspection, but the opportunity for learning how to be with other people is there. Many camps also dont allow children to keep food past the evening of visiting day.

Throw in some outdoor education and youve got a powerful influence for positive change in this world. Wed be happy to help you even sooner! Tags: America's finest summer camps, American summer camps, camp activities, camp friends, camp fun, camp memories, camp spirit, how to have fun at summer camp, sleepaway camp. While all campers enjoy some of the same trip destinations throughout the summer, other places are reserved for campers of certain ages.

Several pairs of shoes for all types of weather. They have constant contact, which psychologists say leads to an open environment, conducive to making friends. Your child will feel more secure if they know what they are bringing to camp, and you can use the time packing together to talk with your child about how much fun camp is going to be. Viewing the website and reading the pre-camp newsletters are also other ways to get them excited.. Space is limited to 150 participants.

Positivity helps children remain in an open and accepting frame of mind.

Whether its on a sports field or court, sitting at table in arts and crafts, enjoying a meal together, or relaxing in a bunk or cabin, the camp environment is social. Campers and staff have taken it upon themselves to make this event known worldwide. Posted by WCCA on April 7, 2015 at 9:00 am under WCCA Spotlight. DONT play Alan Shermans Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (A Letter from Camp): The classic camp parody song describing a miserable camper is still a riot, but perhaps better appreciated after your child has had a year or two of camp behind them. The cost of the weekend is $325 for one young man and one parent. Sometimes the entire camp participates in evening activities together while at others separate activities are held for different age groups. Jess loves everything summer camp. Music is an important part of camp and, in many ways, defines the camp experience. Traditional Camp Experience near Scranton, PA Waterfront Location? []. To illustrate this, guest blog this week is one originally posted to the Camp Starlight blog on March 22, 2014. Each camper has a designated spot for all of these items, and its under their bed. Counselors put in a great deal of effort and a kind note from a parent is greatly appreciated.. Tags: America's finest summer camps, camp activities, camp experience, camp friends, camp memories, camp trips, sleepaway camp, summer camp, 2022 America's Finest Summer Camps | All rights reserved | Site by Creative Navigation, Music is an important part of camp and, in many ways, defines the camp experience. For over nine years, Jess Michaels has been the Director of Communications for the American Camp Association, NY and NJ, a not for profit organization dedicated to enhancing the summer camp experience. DO check your camps package policy: Before sending a package to camp, check your camps package policy as each camp has its own. Theres a reason you count down the months and days each year until its time for camp and why YOUR camp is the BEST camp. It much more closely resembles environmentally friendly noise. Even after you return home, you find yourself wishing to hear the sounds that defined your summerbugle calls or bells to signal daily activities, constant cheering and laughter, mealtimes with hundreds of other people. Bring a new/unused cap to camp this summer so you can be apart of the fun and donate to a wonderful cause! Or Try Clicking on our Leave a Message (its that green box in the corner). MORE Search Options & Recent Search History Below. DO discuss possible homesickness: Parents and campers should discuss what they should do if they miss home, says Cole Kelly, director of Camp Weequahic, a co-ed sleepaway camp in Lakewood, PA. Its a natural part of being away. Will you need some type of special equipment that you need to bring. If not, its not expected of them. For those who like to compete we have many options both on and []. Youll find that if you go to each activityeven those you dont lovewith a positive attitude and get involved, camp is even more fun. Check-in begins at 11am with a rolling lunch. filed under: Camp Starlight, Elite Camps, Uncategorized, Tags: America's finest summer camps, American summer camps, camp friends, camp memories, camp music, camp song, camp traditions, music at camp, singing at camp, sleepaway camp. Tags: America's finest summer camps, camp evening activities, camp sing alongs, camp traditions, campfires, evening activities at camp, sleepaway camp, summer camp. Every summer, Camp Starlight puts on a Stack the Caps event on the first Friday night of camp.

Try some new things too. Making a pick-up deal sends your child the message that you dont believe he will be successful at camp.

Get the latest NYC family fun and news straight to your inbox! Your child could just be engaged in whatever activity is taking place at the time. A strange phenomenon happens with environmentally friendly noise. Much like sorority or fraternity membership develops friendships leading to a lifelong network, so to does summer camp. Holding your own Stack the Caps event is quite simple. A camp staff member once relayed a memory of her first summer at camp. Inevitably games, toys, and letters can get lost, broken, or accidentally thrown away during a massive clean out of the dark abyss of their underbed. Not only is it an important part of the camp day, its nice to take notice of such a beautiful transition and to understand that taking notice of it is a special part of camp. The Best Summer Camp Search & Kids Camping Blog. Our Family Camp Weekend will be held from. THE song is also a common memory that is unique to the Camp Starlight experience. Our guest blog this week was originally posted the. DO involve your child in the camp process: When searching for a summer camp, the more involved your child is in decisions about camp, the more comfortable your child will feel about going to camp. Theyre a special time away from the daily routine. Rather than dwelling on that one thing, shake it off and move on. DO read your camps policies on bringing food to camp visiting day: Some camps have campers with severe food allergies and dont allow outside food on camp grounds. This just HAS to be the best summer EVERas in epic! Be sure to measure how high your stack is at the end of your event, andwithout a doubttake lots of pictures! We try our hardest at Camp Starlight to not let the Bunk Junk tornado run through our bunks. One of the biggest questions we ask ourselves about each candidate is Will this person serve as a great mentor and role Our Summer Camp experts provide insights from decades of experience on what to ask and look out for with each new camp. If so, make sure you leave room for it when you are packing. At Lake Bryn Mawr Camp, beauty is more than skin deep and safety is more than just preventing injuries Safety first thats the policy of every good summer camp. If youre a parent of a child who is on their way to sleep-away camp this summer, youve probably been stressing out over the never-ending rush to get them packed before they get picked up [], Blog: What If Life Was Like Summer Camp?