Girls arriving at Camp Mataponi!
Monday, June 24, 2013
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Homesickness
This particular blog post is
very prevalent for me this evening for several reasons. The first is that I'm
leaving to drive to Maine tomorrow morning for another summer at camp and my
task for tonight will be packing. As a result, I was digging through some
drawers that are rarely opened in my family's guest bedroom, and I stumbled
upon a folder I must have used at camp when I was thirteen. Inside were letters
from my parents (and one from my Poppi) and a few unfinished letters that I
must never have gotten around to sending.
I just had a laugh with my parents over one of them. I was thirteen and trying to maneuver words to suit my advantage. I described the first day of camp as "a frenzy of hugs and hello's" (which it truly is). I said I thought the no cell phone rule was perturbed. Then I said, I hope I used perturbed correctly. Perturbed means messed up right??
But the no cell phone rule isn't, as a matter of fact, perturbed (I know I'm still not using it right), because if I had a cell phone and I'd called my parents in 2004 instead of writing to them, I wouldn't have gotten to relive that moment with them, just now in 2013 in all the clarity with which I wrote it then.
So for the past twenty minutes, I was hurled back to the summer of 2004. That's what these words have the power to do. Reading my half-finished letters enveloped me into my former state of mind, acted as a time capsule demolishing the laws of time and space. That's what will happen when you write to your child, or when you receive a letter from your child in the morning when you walk down the driveway to get the newspaper. Think of how exciting that will be.
I'm an enthusiast for the written word, so you'll have to excuse me if I sound a bit polarized. I won't lie to you and say your child won't get homesick, nor that you won't miss him or her. Nor, of course, that letter-writing can magically solve the problem that your child will miss you, and you will miss your child.
But it can come very close. The more time, detail, precision with which you approach your letter writing, the more your child will, too. Reading someone else's writing is literally the coziest one person's mind can get to another's. I feel closer with my parents because of it. There's an issue sometimes, in conversation, where people aren't really listening but are instead only waiting for their chance to speak. This is obviously not the case with letter-writing, as it's a solo narrative operation. If someone wants to interject into the conversation, they have to write back.
Also, here's a secret. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. I can't really measure how much my friends and peers who didn't go to camp care about their parents, but I know that when I spent my summers away from my parents, and I missed them a whole whole lot, I realized how extremely lucky I was to have them, I charted and counted and measured all the things I loved about them in their absence. I yearned to hug my mom and to play one-on-one basketball with my dad. I couldn't wait to show them the amazing lake and the tile I'd painted in arts and crafts. And after I had showed them, these things became so much more special. I knew once my parents had visited me at camp, had found it as beautiful as I did, and were as excited about my water colored tile as I imagined they'd be, that I could be at home at camp.
Could it be possible that that elated, elusive, ebullient moment when I spotted my parents on visiting day and tore through the air into their arms in a euphoric, reckless hug is one of the happiest moments of my life? Could I even go so far as to state that this incredible moment when the two people I'd missed so much had finally emerged into reality and reentered my life made all the homesickness not only bearable, but worth it?
The night before visiting day is perfect. Every muscle and fiber in my body would ache to spring into my parent's arms and every neuron in my brain was focused on reimagining them. And then when I'd see them the next day, it'd really be perfect. It really was.
As a counselor, when one of my campers was homesick I would sit on their bed and ask them to list for me all of the fun things that they did that day. We are instructed to do this during pre camp, and it really does work. Sometimes, during downtime, children forget all the fun they had in the day.
The counselors that are hired to care for your children will really, truly care about them. I promise this. I remember once when my bunk climbed Mount Washington and I stood off to the side to let them all in front of me so I could see them all, and be visually reassured at a constant rate that they were climbing safely. That's how much I cared about them. All my friends cared about their campers this much too. Sometimes, on our days off, we talk about how much we miss our campers. Sometimes I would come back from time off to see that my campers had left me notes on my bed.
Camp is so special. That goes without saying. It's a cocoon of friendship, love, camaraderie, and tradition. Everyone involved is lucky. Homesickness does happen to be a negative amongst an array of positive benefits from camp. A friend of mine once said that without darkness, it'd be impossible to see the stars. This quote seems relevant right now.
Sometimes, when I was younger, I would lie on the beach at camp and try to imagine my house at home (the very house I'm in right now). I'd imagine myself in turn walking through the front door, and walking through each of the rooms. Then, the night when camp ended and I went home, I would traipse the house in a marveled awe, this place still exists. My parents are real. Our house has a scent.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Camp FAQ's
Frequently asked questions:
1. How can I prepare my child for camp?
It's normal to feel "pre-camp jitters" before camp starts - in fact, embrace it! Advise your camper to throw his or her nervous energy into picking out clothes to bring, packing, and pre-camp shopping (buying cool stationary will encourage letter-writing). With enough preparation, nerves will ebb into excitement. Get contact information for other children in your camper's bunk, encourage your camper to call one or two on the telephone and if a camper is in the area - get together for a pre-camp meal! This will make both campers feel more comfortable on the first day of camp.
2. How many campers/counselors live in a cabin?
About nine campers live in a cabin, with two counselors for older campers and three counselors for younger campers.
3. Are campers divided into age groups?
Yes. There are many times throughout the day when the whole camp is together, during meals, flag pole, etc., and some of the activities are multi-aged, but during most daily activities campers will be with children their own age. Nighttime activities vary, and special weekly nighttime activities bring the whole camp together for campfires and other camp traditions. Campers are with children their own age in the bunks and for most of their daytime activities.
4. How will I be in touch with my child?
Mail is delivered to each bunk daily (omitting Sundays and national holidays, because the post office is closed). Most camps require that campers send at least a certain number of letters home each week, as a camper I was required to write three letters per week. Campers are allowed one phone call per session, and are allowed to call home for their birthdays and family member's birthdays.
5. How will my child get his/her medication while at camp?
There are specific times each day when campers take medicine, usually before breakfast and dinner. If your child needs nighttime meds, his or her counselor will take them to the health center before bed. There are also specific times during the day, called "sick call," designated for campers who are feeling under the weather.
6. How will my child handle homesickness?
Usually homesickness occurs during downtime, before bed, or during other times of the day when they are not occupied or moving. The best cure for homesickness is fun, and counselors are trained during pre-camp to remind campers during down-time of all the fun they had earlier in the day, playing basketball or waterskiing or climbing the rock wall. If this doesn't work, there are other cures. When I was a camper a girl in my bunk mailed a tape recorder back and forth with her parents, so she could hear their voices. When I was saying goodbye to my parents as a camper, it always helped to remind myself that visiting day was a mere three weeks, or twenty-one days, away. That amount of time sound so small and truly does fly by.
7. How are counselors selected and trained?
Counselors are selected based on camp directors' impression of their "camp potential" and are required to spend a week of pre-camp, learning the ins and outs of each particular camp. Waterfront staff are required to be lifeguard certified, and ropes staff arrive at camp even a week earlier, to be sure that they're tested and trained in all safety precautions. Pre-camp contains extensive talks from directors, unit leaders, insurance personnel, and even professional actors who are trained for camp situations. During these exercises counselors are thrown into typical tricky situations and practice handling them with the actors.
8. What will my child do everyday?
Your child will most likely start his or her day with an all-camp lineup, an all-camp meal, and then an hour of cleanup. Then your child will be off to his or her morning activities, which could be anywhere from athletics to the ropes course to waterskiing, acting, or arts and crafts. Your child might even be traveling to another camp to participate in an inter-camp sporting match or perform an act of community service or put on a play. Then lunch time, usually an hour of rest hour, a time set aside for relaxing, free play and letter writing, and then afternoon activities (snack time occurs between two afternoon activities). After that, your child will head to his or her bunk for shower hour, and will then attend all-camp lineup and an all-camp meal. Then your camper will have an evening activity, which could be a fun and wacky activity, a scavenger hunt or a movie, or a social for older campers. After the evening activity your child will return to his or her bunk to unwind before lights out.
9. How will my child be eating?
As a child, the food at camp was delicious. We used to eat family-style meals, and then when I was thirteen my camp switched to buffet-style meals, which worked much better. At every lunch and dinner there is an extensive salad bar, with a multitude of options, plus delicious main meals. I can't speak more highly of the food at camp, and of course there are healthy options as well.
10. What happens when it rains?
Rainy days can be very fun at camp. Each division is split up to participate in a different activity, and can provide a much needed rest for campers and counselors alike from the constant running around that camp entails. Rainy day activities vary from board games in the dining hall, to an arts and crafts activity, to Zumba, indoor sports and tag games, and movies. If the rainy day occurs near the end of the summer, the drama director may seize this opportunity to stage the camp play.
11. Are there out of camp trips?
Yes. There are actually many attractions in Maine. Funtown Splashtown USA is a local amusement park, and everyone at my camp looks forward to this trip every summer. Our camp also journeys to Ogunquit for shopping and sightseeing, and the older campers have rite of passage trips such as white water rafting, climbing Mount Washington, and spending four days in Montreal. Counselors are instructed to be constantly counting their campers during these trips, and bunks are usually assigned a count-off to be sure that every camper is present at all times. Ask your camp director about the particular trips specific to your child's camp.
12. What should my camper be sure to bring?
Letter writing materials, envelopes, stamps and stationary are a must. If your camper enjoys playing soccer, be sure to send him or her with cleats and shin guards. If your camper loves baseball or softball, you could send him or her with his or her mitt, though the camp will probably have these available for all campers. Some camps have opportunities for rollerblading, so ask your camp director if your child's camp is one of them. You should probably send your child with some reading material, there is plenty of opportunity at camp to get summer reading books out of the way. Your child should also be sure to bring sunscreen and bug spray, as these are necessities of camp life.
13. What should my camper not bring?
Cell-phones are not allowed at camp. They demolish the camp environment, the purpose of which is to grant the children a deep breath from the constant stressors of Facebook and twitter and video iPods and computer games and to enjoy genuine human connection and the environment around them. Many camps don't allow video iPods either, or Nintendo DS's. You should contact your camp director to find out the rules for your particular camp. If your camp director asks you not to send your child with a specific piece of technology, please listen. I guarantee your child will benefit from unplugging from technology for the summer. You also don't need to worry about sending your child with band aids or other first-aid equipment, as your camp's health center will most likely be equipped with these. Also, your camper shouldn't bring soda or candy - it's typically not allowed in the bunk because of squirrels and raccoons, and I guarantee your child will have enough popsicles and brownies and ice cream and other camp goodies to keep his or her sweet tooth satisfied throughout the summer.
1. How can I prepare my child for camp?
It's normal to feel "pre-camp jitters" before camp starts - in fact, embrace it! Advise your camper to throw his or her nervous energy into picking out clothes to bring, packing, and pre-camp shopping (buying cool stationary will encourage letter-writing). With enough preparation, nerves will ebb into excitement. Get contact information for other children in your camper's bunk, encourage your camper to call one or two on the telephone and if a camper is in the area - get together for a pre-camp meal! This will make both campers feel more comfortable on the first day of camp.
2. How many campers/counselors live in a cabin?
About nine campers live in a cabin, with two counselors for older campers and three counselors for younger campers.
3. Are campers divided into age groups?
Yes. There are many times throughout the day when the whole camp is together, during meals, flag pole, etc., and some of the activities are multi-aged, but during most daily activities campers will be with children their own age. Nighttime activities vary, and special weekly nighttime activities bring the whole camp together for campfires and other camp traditions. Campers are with children their own age in the bunks and for most of their daytime activities.
4. How will I be in touch with my child?
Mail is delivered to each bunk daily (omitting Sundays and national holidays, because the post office is closed). Most camps require that campers send at least a certain number of letters home each week, as a camper I was required to write three letters per week. Campers are allowed one phone call per session, and are allowed to call home for their birthdays and family member's birthdays.
5. How will my child get his/her medication while at camp?
There are specific times each day when campers take medicine, usually before breakfast and dinner. If your child needs nighttime meds, his or her counselor will take them to the health center before bed. There are also specific times during the day, called "sick call," designated for campers who are feeling under the weather.
6. How will my child handle homesickness?
Usually homesickness occurs during downtime, before bed, or during other times of the day when they are not occupied or moving. The best cure for homesickness is fun, and counselors are trained during pre-camp to remind campers during down-time of all the fun they had earlier in the day, playing basketball or waterskiing or climbing the rock wall. If this doesn't work, there are other cures. When I was a camper a girl in my bunk mailed a tape recorder back and forth with her parents, so she could hear their voices. When I was saying goodbye to my parents as a camper, it always helped to remind myself that visiting day was a mere three weeks, or twenty-one days, away. That amount of time sound so small and truly does fly by.
7. How are counselors selected and trained?
Counselors are selected based on camp directors' impression of their "camp potential" and are required to spend a week of pre-camp, learning the ins and outs of each particular camp. Waterfront staff are required to be lifeguard certified, and ropes staff arrive at camp even a week earlier, to be sure that they're tested and trained in all safety precautions. Pre-camp contains extensive talks from directors, unit leaders, insurance personnel, and even professional actors who are trained for camp situations. During these exercises counselors are thrown into typical tricky situations and practice handling them with the actors.
8. What will my child do everyday?
Your child will most likely start his or her day with an all-camp lineup, an all-camp meal, and then an hour of cleanup. Then your child will be off to his or her morning activities, which could be anywhere from athletics to the ropes course to waterskiing, acting, or arts and crafts. Your child might even be traveling to another camp to participate in an inter-camp sporting match or perform an act of community service or put on a play. Then lunch time, usually an hour of rest hour, a time set aside for relaxing, free play and letter writing, and then afternoon activities (snack time occurs between two afternoon activities). After that, your child will head to his or her bunk for shower hour, and will then attend all-camp lineup and an all-camp meal. Then your camper will have an evening activity, which could be a fun and wacky activity, a scavenger hunt or a movie, or a social for older campers. After the evening activity your child will return to his or her bunk to unwind before lights out.
9. How will my child be eating?
As a child, the food at camp was delicious. We used to eat family-style meals, and then when I was thirteen my camp switched to buffet-style meals, which worked much better. At every lunch and dinner there is an extensive salad bar, with a multitude of options, plus delicious main meals. I can't speak more highly of the food at camp, and of course there are healthy options as well.
10. What happens when it rains?
Rainy days can be very fun at camp. Each division is split up to participate in a different activity, and can provide a much needed rest for campers and counselors alike from the constant running around that camp entails. Rainy day activities vary from board games in the dining hall, to an arts and crafts activity, to Zumba, indoor sports and tag games, and movies. If the rainy day occurs near the end of the summer, the drama director may seize this opportunity to stage the camp play.
11. Are there out of camp trips?
Yes. There are actually many attractions in Maine. Funtown Splashtown USA is a local amusement park, and everyone at my camp looks forward to this trip every summer. Our camp also journeys to Ogunquit for shopping and sightseeing, and the older campers have rite of passage trips such as white water rafting, climbing Mount Washington, and spending four days in Montreal. Counselors are instructed to be constantly counting their campers during these trips, and bunks are usually assigned a count-off to be sure that every camper is present at all times. Ask your camp director about the particular trips specific to your child's camp.
12. What should my camper be sure to bring?
Letter writing materials, envelopes, stamps and stationary are a must. If your camper enjoys playing soccer, be sure to send him or her with cleats and shin guards. If your camper loves baseball or softball, you could send him or her with his or her mitt, though the camp will probably have these available for all campers. Some camps have opportunities for rollerblading, so ask your camp director if your child's camp is one of them. You should probably send your child with some reading material, there is plenty of opportunity at camp to get summer reading books out of the way. Your child should also be sure to bring sunscreen and bug spray, as these are necessities of camp life.
13. What should my camper not bring?
Cell-phones are not allowed at camp. They demolish the camp environment, the purpose of which is to grant the children a deep breath from the constant stressors of Facebook and twitter and video iPods and computer games and to enjoy genuine human connection and the environment around them. Many camps don't allow video iPods either, or Nintendo DS's. You should contact your camp director to find out the rules for your particular camp. If your camp director asks you not to send your child with a specific piece of technology, please listen. I guarantee your child will benefit from unplugging from technology for the summer. You also don't need to worry about sending your child with band aids or other first-aid equipment, as your camp's health center will most likely be equipped with these. Also, your camper shouldn't bring soda or candy - it's typically not allowed in the bunk because of squirrels and raccoons, and I guarantee your child will have enough popsicles and brownies and ice cream and other camp goodies to keep his or her sweet tooth satisfied throughout the summer.
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