What kind of camp did you go to in the summers?

[ilisao]

I spent 3 summers at Stagedoor Manor in the Catskills. It's a prestigious theater camp.

 

[jen0610]

Every summer, I lived and breathed for church camp, grades 5-12. Disciples of Christ churches, have 2 camps here in IN, Bedford and Barbee. They would have week long camps, broke down into 5-6, 7-8, 9-12 grades.

There was a group of us that started out together in the 5th grade, and we went to camp together every year. My kids love to listen to the stores I have from camp and the weekend retreats that we would have. There were so many of us, that made close bonds, that we are still in contact today, some 20+ years after our last year of camp. There are 3 couples that were sweethearts at camp, that actually got married.

DS13 is at camp this week and DD11 goes next week. She has already started to lay out her outfits on DS's bed, so she knows exactly what she wants to pack. She got an e-mail earlier this week from one of the girls she was with last year, making sure DD was going to be there next week. So far, they are loving their camp times, as much as their mom did.

 

[mouseclick1]

DH and I are the same age, but grew up in different cities in MI. Where he was from, it seems that everyone went to camp. Most of the kids went to camp Tamarack. Where I grew up, nobody I knew went to summer camp. The only time I went to "camp" was when I was 16 years old. It was a traveling camp, Camp Pennington, that spent 6 weeks traveling throughout the west. It was one of the best things I ever did as a kid.

 

[TinkerbEllnor]

I went to Camp Little Notch somewhere near Lake George NY. It was a girl scout camp, the boy scout camp was down the road a bit. I don't remember too much of it, but here is what I do remember...

platform tents -wooden floor, canvas sided, 4 cots to a tent

latrines -no flush toilets, just a deep hole in the ground with a seat built over it

trust falls - stand backwards on a platform and fall straight backwards into the arms of fellow campers, hope they don't drop you

ear drops - after swimming in the lake we'd all have to line up for our ear infection protection, some concoction of alcohol and vinegar that would then drip down your face and neck leaving you stinking the rest of the day. To this day, when I smell vinegar, I think of camp.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Do most american children go to camp in the summer? Also are they just one sex camps ie boys one camp girls in another?

I don't think most American kids go to camp, but certainly a lot do. It's kind of seen as a summer tradition over here. There's a lot of different types of camps as well: boy and girl scout camps (which are, of course, not co-ed), band camps and performing arts camps (which are co-ed), day camps (which are usually co-ed becuase no one really cares if the kids mix during the day). Some are really back woods type deals, but then others are more "dorm-like". The first camp I went to had mosquito netting and latrines. The last one I went to had indoor plumbing and a pool...and peacocks...god I miss that place.

They didn't have them over here when I was a child fortunatly because to be with that kind of large group would have been torture for me. Still don't like big groups but disney isn't to bad.[/

Nah, that's the point of camp. Teaches kids how to survive and deal with kids their own age when they can't go running to mommy and daddy. You probably would have been fine. I knew a lot of kids who cried their first couple of nights at camp, but then realized that, no, the counselors were not going to let them call home, and decided it was a better idea to just enjoy themselves.

 

[TEENEE]

I never got to go to camp. I really wanted to go to girl scout camp but knew it was expensive and would not have dreamed of asking my mom to somehow pay for it. Both of my kids have gone to scout camp. My ds didn't care for Boy Scout summer camp, he only went one year. My dd loved Girl Scout summer camp when she was younger. She just turned 13 and this is the first summer she has not gone to camp. She had a bad experience last summer, I hope that she will change her mind next summer and go again.

 

[dreamer17555]

I went to Camp Little Notch somewhere near Lake George NY. It was a girl scout camp, the boy scout camp was down the road a bit. I don't remember too much of it, but here is what I do remember...

trust falls - stand backwards on a platform and fall straight backwards into the arms of fellow campers, hope they don't drop you

I loved trust falls! Oh and the high rope courses, Man! Now I want to go back to camp. I cannot wait till my DD is old enough to send next year. I think she will love it.

-Becca-

 

[JVL1018]

Do most american children go to camp in the summer? Also are they just one sex camps ie boys one camp girls in another? They didn't have them over here when I was a child fortunatly because to be with that kind of large group would have been torture for me. Still don't like big groups but disney isn't to bad.

Not when I was a kid-I knew one girl who went to sleepaway camp.
Kids went to Rec(town day camp 9-12), but most didn't even do that.

I personally went to the Go-out-and-play-with-your-brothers-and-the-kids-across-the-street-come-in-only-if-you-are-bleeding-see-you-at-dinner-camp.
Most of the people I knew went to the same type.

Now kids will go to day camp because parents work, but still I don't knwo any one who goes to sleepaway camp.
My kids go to town rec which is 9-4 and runs for 6 weeks, but it's very casual-they go for the whole day very rarely, most of the time I pick them up around 2 or 3. Don't send them until late(they take gymnastics from 9-10 am also through the town rec)This week they haven't gone at all.
I love it-I don't like to be scheduled to death, especially in the summer.

 

[stsomewhere]

I went to Fahola Park (church camP Grass Lake ,MI).
I worked 2 summers at YMCA STORER camps.

My DS-10 attends scout camp(4th year) resident and day camps.
This year he went to his first sleep away camp by himself-Orchestra camp.
He enjoyed it so much. H eis going back to Howell Nature Center (Church camp) on SUnday.

DD-7 is at her first day camp this week with Brownies.
SHe is going to another one-Horse day camp in two weeks.

SHe has agreed to try sleepaway camp next summer with her brother.

I wish could go back to camp.

 

[christiane]

I went to equestrian camp every year from when I was about 9 until 15. I was a horse crazy girl and my parents always thought girls who loved horses would stay away from the boys a little longer. But my camp was definitely coed, so they didn't think that out too well!!

We spent half the day riding & the other half playing sports, hiking, swimming, doing crafts etc. I have such great memories & I am still in contact with some of my friends from camp.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I hated 'trust falls'. I could never bring myself to just throw myself backwards in the hopes somebody would catch me.

Camp was also my first experience with a home-made ear piercing. One night I woke up to a girl screaming and it was because she had convinced our counselor to pierce her ears for her. Ugh.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

My birthday is in mid-July, so I started sleep-away camp the year I turned five. My parents sent both my older sister and myself to camp for eight weeks every summer.

First two years were a Camp Fancrest (but I don't know where it is).

One year at Bar-L-H Ranch Camp, which I think was in Massachusetts. We both hated the place.

For four years starting when I turned 8 I went to Camp Talcott, run by the YMCA of New York. This was a boys camp in Huguenot, NY (a little North of Port Jervis).

Next four years, starting when I turned 12, I was at Camp Greenkill, also a boy's camp run by the YMCA of Greater New York and on the same property.

The year I turned 16 I worked as a "camper-aide" at Camp McAllister. This was a brand new YMCA camp, also on the same property. This was for low-income children and the campers were there for only two weeks, but I was there for the entire 8 week season.

And then the next three years I was back at Camp Greenkill as staff.

 

[Kitty 34]

I don't think most American kids go to camp, but certainly a lot do. It's kind of seen as a summer tradition over here. There's a lot of different types of camps as well: boy and girl scout camps (which are, of course, not co-ed), band camps and performing arts camps (which are co-ed), day camps (which are usually co-ed becuase no one really cares if the kids mix during the day). Some are really back woods type deals, but then others are more "dorm-like". The first camp I went to had mosquito netting and latrines. The last one I went to had indoor plumbing and a pool...and peacocks...god I miss that place.



Nah, that's the point of camp. Teaches kids how to survive and deal with kids their own age when they can't go running to mommy and daddy. You probably would have been fine. I knew a lot of kids who cried their first couple of nights at camp, but then realized that, no, the counselors were not going to let them call home, and decided it was a better idea to just enjoy themselves.

Nice answer.

I never got to go to camp. I really wanted to go to girl scout camp but knew it was expensive and would not have dreamed of asking my mom to somehow pay for it. Both of my kids have gone to scout camp. My ds didn't care for Boy Scout summer camp, he only went one year. My dd loved Girl Scout summer camp when she was younger. She just turned 13 and this is the first summer she has not gone to camp. She had a bad experience last summer, I hope that she will change her mind next summer and go again.

My Mother told us she always always wanted to go to camp in the summer but never got to because they had to help run the hotel they owned on the shores of Lake Michigan. I know that's why she sent all of us ( my brothers and sisters) to camp because she missed out. I loved it but my little sister hated camp and still tells her "horror" stories from the same "wonderful" camp I attended!

 

[Minnie_me]

I spent 1-2 weeks every summer from 6th - 12th grade at a church sponsored horseback riding camp. It was in the Southern Tier of New York State at a beautiful place called Watson Homestead. After high school, I went back as a counselor for a couple of summers. I loved it so much, that I've actually tried to find other former campers and have some sort of reunion. No luck, though!

 

[Jynohn]

This thread is coming at a good time for me. I'm catching a lot of flack from my family because we've been looking at camps for my daughter for next year. When I was a kid, two of my best friends went to sleepaway camp every summer, and I was always so jealous of their camp stories when they came home. I went to Girl Scout camp for a few days, but it didn't feel the same.

My daughter is 8, and has been asking to go to sleepaway camp for a couple of years. Now that she's finally old enough, my husband and I have spent a lot of time researching and visiting different camps. Every time I visit, I end up feeling sad that I never got the opportunity to go myself!

As I said though, I'm getting a lot of criticism from family (my mom especially) who just don't understand what camp is all about, and think it's just a way to "get rid of the kids" for the summer. A lot of people don't see camp as a way for a child to gain independence, confidence and self-esteem, and just have a great time being a kid. I wish my mom had seen the value of camp when I was a child!

 

[Disney Doll]

My backyard. We had a pool and acres of woods behind us.

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

I went to a day camp for years, and hated it.
Now I go to band camp.

 

[Golf4food]

Didn't do much in the way of camps until high school when I started doing music camps, starting with two weeks after my freshman year and up to a six week camp after my junior year. All music, all the time.

 

[minnieandme]

I went to one camp for about 3-4 years that I had a lot of fun at. I know the bus came to pick us up and took us to Queens (I think) I remember it was a park-like setting where we would go swimming and have lunch on the grass. We were very busy and went on a field trip 2-3 times a week.

When I got a little older, I went to camp in the neighborhood. My last year there when I was 12, I didn't want to go because I heard it was sooo boring, but it turned out to be my best summer camp experience.

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

I personally went to the Go-out-and-play-with-your-brothers-and-the-kids-across-the-street-come-in-only-if-you-are-bleeding-see-you-at-dinner-camp.

you went to the same camp as I did in different states. My son goes to camp. He has ever since first grade. He has been to Christian camp 4x and boyscout camp 2x. He loves it. I always wanted to go when I was a kid but my parents always told us that the camp was for poor kids and someone else paid for it. You know I believed it until I was about 16 then one of the "poor" kids got a brand new car.