A Special Place for Girls and Boys

Last updated מאת

For older campers, one of the most profound and lasting advantages of camp is the opportunity they have to focus on being boys and girls.  Many summer camps also strengthen the safety of the camp setting by offering exclusive programs that help teenage campers gain a better understanding about how to best grasp the transition from being girls to being women and from being boys to being men.  Such programs provide non threatening forums for teenage girls and boys to address sensitive issues and topics as well as help them prepare for their later teen years as they near college and adulthood.  These programs also have their own rites and traditions that serve as progress points for individuals as well as groups and as the basis for the point at which camp friends become a lifelong support network.

Many camps, even co-ed ones, also operate separate programs for boys and girls regardless of age.  They have their respective sides of camp, their respective program areas, and their respective activities.  However, they come together for meals and many evening camp activities.  Many believe this approach is a bit part of why children are afraid to relax and even be silly while at camp.  Being with children of the same gender frees them of stereotypes that may be placed on them elsewhere.  Spending exclusive time with other girls or boys creates a non threatening environment, particularly for adolescents and early teens already going through awkward changes as they begin to maneuver the sometimes tumultuous teen years.  Girls can get down and dirty in an intense game of flag football and boys don’t feel the need to look over their shoulders while bouncing around in the camp’s gymnastics area or putting together some choreographed moves in the dance studio because it’s all just a part of camp.

Access all of our blog archives here

Sing, Sing a Song

Last updated מאת

There is something about singing that brings people together.  Perhaps that’s why singing (and music in general) is such an important part of camp.  The silly or sometimes sentimental words of a “camp song” can set a mood, evoke a feeling, and create atmosphere.  Music is a universal language that everyone understands.  Perhaps this is why so many American summer camps open and close their summers with sing-alongs.  Sing-alongs are fantastic ways to say both “we’re together again” and “until next time.”

Ask campers to name some of their most favorite moments of summer camp and, most assuredly, they’ll name more than one that involves singing in some way…that first exciting night of camp, campfires, zany and often spontaneous dining room rituals, fun times with fellow campers and counselors inside the bunk, and saying goodbye at the end of the summer.  More importantly, ask any current or former camper to sing his camp alma mater and he’ll do it as if it’s second nature.  The words of a camp’s alma mater are magical—a way to instantly transport one back to camp and those summers filled with fun and friends.

Many parents say that their children even sing camp songs constantly throughout the winter as a way of remembering their time at camp.  Some of them even admit that they can’t resist the temptation to join in.

Crazy Days and Whacky Nights

Last updated מאת

Parents, do you ever log onto your computer to check out the camp photos for the day, see your child painted in blue from head to toe or maybe wearing a crazy wig and big nerdy glasses and wonder, ‘What in the world?’  The answer probably has something to do with your summer camp’s special events and evening activities.  For fifty plus nights (and some days) summer camps entertain your children with some of the zaniest games and wackiest contests that they can come up with.  Why?  Because it’s fun to be painted in blue from head to toe…seriously.  Or at least it is when your bunk/cabin is performing a dance to the Smurfs theme in front of the entire camp and you’re Papa Smurf—or Smurfette.  And seeing images of your children and their counselors slipping, sliding, and splashing around in what appears to be multi-colored goo…it’s a camp thing…a really fun camp thing.  Eye patches are always fun.  So is spending a day pretending to be pirates and searching for buried treasure.   Becoming a secret agent and collecting clues to decode a message or pretending to be wild animals is also a great way to spend that occasional non-program day.  From trivia contests to talent contests and everything in between, some of the greatest moments of summer camp happen during the crazy days and wacky nights!

Let’s Go on a Trip!

Last updated מאת

With all of the amazing offerings within camp, it’s hard to believe that anyone would want to leave.  But some of the greatest fun children have at summer camp is actually away from camp on one of the many out of camp trips that are arranged throughout the summer.  Some are small, an evening or afternoon, while others are overnight camping or hiking expeditions.  For many campers, the culmination of their camp experience each year is the multi-day trips that take place toward the end of the summer.  Regardless whether it’s one night or many, some of the unforgettable summer camp memories made away from camp include…

Day/Evening Trips
From evenings spent eating hot dogs while cheering on the local pro or semi pro sports team at the ballpark to friendly competition on the bowling lanes, lacing up the skates at a local rink or catching a movie at the cinema, campers enjoy a “night out” a few times during the summer. .  Sometimes instead of nights its days spent relaxing in inner tubes as they float lazily down a river, enjoying the adrenaline rush that comes from riding the water slides at a local waterpark, or braving the roller coasters of an amusement park.  Enjoying some of the most breathtaking scenery in the northeast is always a pleasure on an out of camp hike or nature walk as well.

Overnight Trips
One of the best parts of camp is the overnight camping program….spending a night or two at a campsite in a tent with all of your camp friends!    It’s no secret that campers love to camp!  Tents, campfires, s’mores, hikes, canoes, and a night dedicated exclusively to spending time exclusively with other campers within their own age group are all reasons why overnight camping trips are some of the most eagerly anticipated out of camp trips.

Multi-Day Trips
Campers don’t merely look forward to these trips all summer, they look forward to them from the very first day they step foot into camp as second and third graders.  As campers grow older, the trips get bigger, and each one is a rite of passage that campers anxiously await.  Amusement parks, national parks, and major cities are just some of the places that campers visit on multi-day overnight trips.  Sometimes they travel no further than a few hours from camp.  Older campers venture across the country to places like California or even over international borders into Canada.  Even with such exciting destinations, for many senior campers, it’s the journey with their camp friends and not the place that make multi-day out of camp trips the pinnacle of their camp experiences.
Whether it’s one day or several, some of the most exciting summer camp offerings aren’t in camp at all.  But they’re still very special parts of camp because they’re shared with people who can only be found at camp—camp friends!

A Peek at What’s Happening at AFSC Right Now!

Last updated מאת

The start of summer 2011 is at hand and the always amazing staffs of America’s Finest Summer Camps assembled this week at their respective camps, excited to be with old friends as well as new and anxious to begin preparing for the campers.   We thought we’d take a moment to share the success of each staff orientation so far…

Fun is the word over at Camp Laurel in Maine: 

“Staff Orientation is in full swing! All our staff is at camp learning the ins-and-outs of being a camp counselor and having a blast. It’s certainly a talented crew! We’ve had a jam-packed week so far with Leadership Training Sessions, Health and Safety Seminars, Typical Day At Camp, Role Playing, Staff Chaos, Campus Competes, Field Night, CL Drafts, Swim Tests, Driving Tests and so much more. We even brought in Maine’s premier Square Dance Caller, Al Hipkins, for a little Hoe-Down last night. Yeehaw! We still have a lot to do before camper arrival day on Saturday but we can’t wait. Only 5 days till camp!!!”

A hop and a skip away, the Laurel South Staff has been enjoying themselves as well:

“Staff Orientation has been amazing and the weather has been spectacular. With counselors now assigned to cabins, we are focused on learning all about our wonderful campers, learning the Laurel South culture, readying the cabins and program areas and bonding as a cohesive unit. Camp looks great. In fact, the only thing that could make it look better is the faces of 400 campers arriving this Thursday!!! We can’t wait to see you!”

In Pennsylvania, it’s all about friends and family. 

Camp Starlight reports:

“ It goes without saying that some things just happen almost by themselves – the sun comes out, the sky turns blue and the red bunks seem to gleam against the impossibly green grass – but that’s just a small part of summer.  Camp just wouldn’t be the same without the amazing people, both campers and counselors alike, who become our friends and surrogate family for just a few weeks.

Our staff this year comes from 39 states and 13 countries – that’s a lot of air miles clocked up just getting here!  Our staff are some of the best in their field and it is testament to Camp Starlight’s reputation that they want to spend the summer sharing these skills with others.  The passion, the drive and commitment of all our staff is evident and unquestionable”.

And Weequahic summed it all up, saying:

“Wow!  Our staff is really working well together.  They can’t wait to see everyone in a few short days!”

With so much fun, new friendships, and memories already, we can only imagine how awesome it’s going to be when the campers’ arrive in just a couple of short days!

Growing up Global

Last updated מאת

Da genitori, sentiamo spesso previsioni sulla necessità dei nostri figli di prepararsi per un mondo nuovo e «globale». Mentre alcuni spiegano che le radici delle interazioni globali sono state piantate secoli fa, le attuali tecnologie elettroniche e dei mezzi di trasporto danno la possibilità a persone che vivono in ogni parte del mondo di essere ancora più in contatto e interdipendenti. Come possiamo quindi preparare i nostri figli e fare in modo che facciano esperienze che contribuiscano alla loro istruzione globale?

Il viaggio, naturalmente, è un ottimo modo per aiutare i ragazzi ad accrescere il loro bagaglio culturale, ma anche fare campeggio contribuisce a promuovere in modi specifici il pensiero globale e diverse abilità. Il campo estivo è un posto in cui ragazzi provenienti da tutto il mondo, oltre che da diverse parti degli Stati Uniti, entrano in contatto tra loro, costruiscono amicizie che durano tutta la vita, fanno nuove esperienze e sperimentano la vita in comune. Nei campeggi AFSC, per esempio, anche se solo alcuni campeggiatori vengono dall’estero, essi portano tantissimo alla vita e alla comunità del campeggio nell’insieme.
Tutti traggono beneficio dalla grande varietà di ragazzi presenti nel campeggio. I ragazzi possono praticare una lingua e impareranno sicuramente a conoscere usanze differenti, poiché avranno molto tempo per interagire giornalmente ed immergersi in culture diverse. E, cosa ancora più importante, impareranno a rapportarsi in modo rispettoso a persone con diversi punti di vista, che magari hanno modi diversi di affrontare le cose.

Nel suo libro, Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home in the World (Crescere in modo globale: allevare ragazzi che si sentano a casa nel mondo), Homa Sabet Tavangar dice che il primo passo verso lo sviluppo di una mentalità globale richiede di «assumere un atteggiamento mentale di disponibilità a fare amicizia ed essere un buon amico.» Farsi degli amici significa esercitare qualità universali quali l’empatia e il rispetto, e costruire amicizie durature al campeggio è una parte importante dell’esperienza totale.
I capigruppo e lo staff sono formati e pronti ad aiutare i campeggiatori a crescere in questo luogo, a sviluppare nuove abilità, se necessario, e rappresentano un modello di attenzione verso gli altri. La Tavangar spiega che le versioni della regola d’oro, ovvero «tratta gli altri come vorresti essere trattato tu», permeano qualsiasi cultura e tradizione religiosa, e sviluppa ampiamente questi concetti nel suo libro. Quando i ragazzi sposano i valori culturali dell’assistenza reciproca, impiegano umiltà, curiosità e compassione, e ciò li porta a farsi dei veri amici – e sono proprio queste cose che ci rendono cittadini del mondo.

Quindi, in qualsiasi posto del mondo andiamo, è l’esperienza di analizzare gli elementi delle diverse culture e di vedere ciò che le rende simili o diverse che ci prepara a relazionarci gli uni con gli altri. Per i ragazzi, un piccolo passo verso l’incontro con nuove culture può essere quello di superare la paura di cibi nuovi, o stare lontani da casa, in un campeggio in cui le cose sono «diverse» – dopotutto, ogni campo, ogni anno, ha il suo carattere e la sua cultura speciale. Ad esempio, il problema di imparare ad apprezzare nuovi cibi fa sì che molti campeggiatori rafforzino il loro legame, ed è proprio questo tipo di esperienza che prepara i ragazzi al futuro.

Crescere in maniera globale non vuol dire soltanto prepararsi a fare affari nell’economia mondiale. Vuol dire sentirsi a proprio agio e avere voglia di entrare in contatto con un padre keniota che allena una squadra di calcio locale, con un vicino turco con un suo modo di vestire particolare, o con un americano che richiede una consistente quantità di energia elettrica! In conclusione, vuol dire essere curiosi delle differenze invece di averne paura e tenere a fare amicizia con le diverse persone che incontriamo. Secondo gli psicologi, l’amicizia è strettamente legata alla salute dell’individuo e in ultima analisi anche alla capacità di sopravvivere – le amicizie sono quindi la chiave per sentirci a casa nel nostro pianeta.

Le nostre esperienze al campo estivo sono una componente chiave per allevare ragazzi fiduciosi e globalmente consapevoli. Le amicizie e le lezioni apprese al campo dureranno molto oltre la fine della stagione di campeggio, mentre i campeggiatori continuano ad estendere i loro orizzonti, a rimanere in contatto con i loro amici al di là del tempo e delle distanze geografiche e trovano le passioni della loro vita. Avete in progetto di allevare ragazzi globali e inserire l’esperienza del campeggio all’interno della loro preparazione? Avete letto Growing Up Global (Crescere in modo globale) o messo in pratica qualche consiglio della Tavangar? Ci farebbe piacere sapere in che modo il campeggio ha contribuito a definire la vostra visione del mondo!

Got Communication?

Last updated מאת

Parents: Camp is near.  You’re packing bags, making last minute preparations, and listening to endless stories with increasing enthusiasm about what happened during the summer of 2010 in eager anticipation for summer of 2011 to begin.  You’re checking and re-checking to make sure all of the paperwork has been submitted and the bag pickups have been scheduled.  So we figure now is the perfect time to talk about the importance of maintaining good communication with your Camp Directors—now and throughout the summer.

Camp is a big deal for your children and for you.  Whether you’ve planned a quiet summer at home or have an awesome vacation planned, we know that your top priority is to know that your children are having an amazing summer.  You can help, simply by being informative.

We’re first and foremost concerned for your child’s safety and well being.  Some of you probably wonder why we ask for photos of your children prior to camp.  It’s so that we can show them to your children’s counselors when we discuss your children’s activity preferences with them so that they can greet campers by name from the moment they step off the bus and have full knowledge of how to make their summer successful.

We can’t emphasize enough the importance of communicating medical issues.  Whether it’s an allergy to certain foods or insects, perhaps a dietary restriction, asthma, a vitamin deficiency, or wetting the bed, your camp directors need to know so that these matters can be handled appropriately as situations relating to them may occur throughout the summer.

We also want to know what your children’s interests are.  If we know your child can’t get enough soccer, for instance, we can make sure that he/she gets maximum exposure to soccer during the summer.  Knowing what your children like only helps us guarantee they have the summer of a lifetime.

Personal family matters are never easy, but if there is something happening at home—a divorce, illness in the family, academic issues, etc. it helps us to know.  Perhaps it’s a positive development.  Your child has landed a new role in a film, has made a particularly competitive athletic team, has earned a special honor at school.  Whatever IS your children’s lives at the moment they come to camp, we want to be able to channel it into an amazing summer for them.  And we’re confident we can.  Otherwise, we wouldn’t ask.  As your child’s “summer family”, we want to know how we can help them be at their best.

If anything comes up between the time you put your child on the bus or plane to come to camp and the time we put them back on the bus or plane to come home that might affect his or her summer, please call us.  We want to know what’s happening.  We want to understand how we can make your child’s stay at our camp effortless and memorable.  Even if it’s minor, if you have any reason for pause, please call us.  We want to be proactive in making your child’s experience memorable.

Going Gaga for Ga-Ga

Last updated מאת

Something you might not know about summer camp:  It breeds passionate athletes in many different sports, even ones that are little known outside of summer camp, such as ga-ga.  Although it’s not well known in America (but becoming more so everyday!), hoards of campers dream all winter about getting back into the ga-ga pit.  Many camps even have ga-ga tournaments!  Camp challenge weeks even have ga-ga challenges.  There is no doubt that campers are going gaga for ga-ga!

So what is this ga-ga?  It’s a little like dodgeball in a circular enclosed space.  Many camps feature ga-ga pits , but the game can be played virtually anywhere there are four walls or barriers.  As in dodgeball, when players are hit with the ball, they are out.  They may, however, use the walls of the ga-ga court to clear the ball.  As players are struck by the ball, they are eliminated, and leave the pit.  The last boy (or girl) standing wins.  Two primary ways that ga-ga differs from dodgeball is that ga-ga strikes must be at or below the knees and players bounce rather than throw the ball.   Also unlike dodgeball, players may either bounce the ball at other players or against the walls of the pit.  Some camps have adopted rules of play unique to their campers’ style of ga-ga play, while others prefer to stick to the official rules…What?  There are official rules?  Yep.  In fact, there is even an International Championship Tournament held annually in Europe.  More than 30 countries , including the U.S., winner of multiple championship titles, participate.

No one quite knows how ga-ga originated or where it comes from, but rumor has it that the game gets its name from the sound the ball makes during the opening play.  It’s bounced twice in the air and  the players say “ga” on each bounce.  On the third bounce, the ball is in play (some rules call for three bounces with the ball officially in play on the fourth bounce).  So warm up your ga-ga hands and start stretching.  We’ll see you in the pit!

America’s Finest Summer Camps: More than 200 Combined Successful Summers

Last updated מאת

As part of iconic America, many American summer camps are steeped in rich histories.  America’s Finest Summer Camps are no exception.  We thought we would take a minute to share a brief history of each camp with you.

Camp Laurel
Camp Laurel was founded in 1949 and has been in continuous operation ever since. Its original site was on Lake Awosting, New York. During this period, the camp was under the co‑direction of Mel and Bette Archard and John and Alice Harrison. In the fall of 1965 the camp moved to its present site on Echo Lake in Mt. Vernon, Maine. Camp Laurel opened at its new site on July 1, 1966. In 1974 Ron Scott began working for Camp Laurel on a full‑time basis, and in 1978 Ron and Ann joined Mel and Bette as Directors. In 1979 Ron and Ann purchased Camp Laurel and assumed the roles of Owners and Directors. In 1994, after spending three summers as Co-Director, Keith Klein purchased Camp Laurel and has served as Owner and Director since that time. Jem Sollinger, a long-time camper and counselor, joined Keith as Co-Director in 2002. In 2007, Jem and his wife, Debbie, assumed the directorship of Laurel. Keith maintains an active role as Director and spends his summers on Echo Lake, Maine along with Jem and Debbie.

Camp Starlight
Founded in 1947 by the Schmierer family, 2011 marks Camp Starlight’s 65th year of making tradition, spirit, friendship, adventure, family, and fun.  These are the words used by campers, parents, and staff to define their experiences and memories of Camp Starlight.  Located in Starlight, Pennsylvania, just two and a half hours northwest of New York City, a drive up the mile long road brings you to the 285 acre brother/sister campus with its own private lakes and surrounded by the “endless mountains” of Pennsylvania.

A glimpse at the endless rows of bunk plaques inside the Dining Room will provide any visitor with an instant glimpse of what a special place Camp Starlight has been to campers and staff alike in its 65 years of existence.  David and Allison Miller purchased Camp Starlight in 1999 and are now in their 13th year of serving as its Owners/Directors.

Camp Laurel South
Laurel camping was founded in 1949 and Camp Laurel operated its first summer in 1950 under the direction of the Archard and Harrison families.  In 1974, Ron and Ann Scott joined Ann’s parents, Mel and Bette Archard, as Directors.  In 1979 Ron and Ann purchased Laurel and assumed the roles of Owners and Directors.  In 1994, Keith Klein purchased Camp Laurel from the Scotts.  Keith owns Laurel today along with his partners, Jem and Debbie Sollinger. The Scotts purchased the former Dr. Johnson’s Camps in 1992 at its site on Crescent Lake in Casco, Maine, and renamed it Laurel South.  Laurel South operated its first summer in 1993 under the leadership of Roger and Dagni Christian.  In the fall 0f 1998, Roger and Dagni, along with Keith, took ownership of Laurel South and continue their partnership to this day.

While Laurel South is known as a first-rate facility, Roger, Dagni and Keith have always maintained that it is the people who make Laurel South the special place it is today.  Every camper and counselor has left an impression on our camp and contributed to the rich tradition we enjoy.  As we speak with Laurel South alumni, we often hear stories of Spirit Days, Council Fires, Carnival, S- Day’s, Ohana, Socials…the list goes on and on.  The overriding theme that ties each of these stories together is memories. Memories of friendships and fun which last long after the summers spent at camp.

Camp Weequahic
Weequahic was founded in 1953 by Art and Mollie Lustig and operated under the directorship of the same family for more than five decades. The ideal with which camp was started – to provide the best in camping –still holds true today, almost 60 years after our first campers spent their summer with us in Lakewood, Pennsylvania.

Weequahic is far more than the facilities and scenic beauty of over 100 acres located in Wayne County, although these are certainly part of what has made Weequahic so special. It’s the people and their relationships that make Weequahic what it is. Our campers learn new activities every year, but what draws them back is our warm, caring environment… an environment in which friendships are encouraged and where self-sufficiency and tolerance in learning to live with others is taught.

The current Directors, Cole and Kate Kelly, work tirelessly to insure that the Weequahic motto, which has been maintained for almost 60 years, continues to be:
“Where Caring is a Tradition.”

So there you have it.  If you’ve been doing your math, then by now you’ve figured out that, combined, we have 200 years of experience in the camping!  For America’s Finest Summer Camps, history is our past, present, and future.

What is ACA Accreditation?

Last updated מאת

The American Camp Association (ACA) is the parent organization of American Summer Camps.  The most reputable American summer camps voluntarily adhere to standards set by the ACA and, in search of accreditation, undergo a thorough evaluation process every three years during which their processes, facilities, emergency plans, staff training, and operations are very carefully scrutinized and then scored.  Based on their scores, summer camps either receive accreditation from the ACA or are told what they must improve in order to be accredited.

The ACA accreditation is no small feat and receiving it requires a tremendous amount of meticulous effort on behalf of summer camps.  However, it’s worth the reward.  ACA accreditation elevates a camp’s reputation and credibility to other camps.  However, more importantly, parents thinking of sending their children to camp should be concerned about ACA accreditation.  ACA accreditation provides that extra peace of mind that the summer camp you’ve chosen for your child goes that extra mile to insure that everything they do—and how they do it—is nothing short of top notch.

For all four of America’s Finest Summer Camps, merely meeting the minimum guidelines for accreditation is unacceptable.  We strive to meet and exceed all expectations of the parents who choose to send their children to one of our camps.  For us, “premier” isn’t merely a title given to a great camp, it’s a state of mind.  We are proud to be the best and offer the best.  As such, we never stop preparing for standards.  We do not simply breathe a sigh of relief and spend the next couple of years resting after the ACA pays its bi-annual visit.  We’re constantly updating policies, improving and maintaining our facilities, re-evaluating our current procedures for best practices, and working to be nothing short of excellent.