Letters Home from Camp

Here’s an article that caught our eye over at the Christian Science Monitor, “Mom to Dad: ‘Think Jimmy’s Doing O.K. at Camp?’”  It’s a short piece written by Dave Horn about his time as an overnight camp counselor in the 60s.  While parents today have online photo galleries and blogs to see how their children are doing at camp, he notes just a few years ago there were only letters.  Parents had to mostly wonder and wait to find out about their camper’s camp experience.

But what if the campers didn’t write home much?  After all, they’re having too much fun to stop and write a letter.  Camps helped by asking the camper’s counselors to write quick notes to parents, reassuring them that all is well at camp (a tradition Rockbrook still follows).  To help his young campers even more, Dave Horn turned this letter writing into a game.  He had each camper take turns playing the “boss” and dictating a letter home.  The camper would sit down and recite what he wanted to tell his parents and Dave would type it out on his portable typewriter.  In this case, 1960s technology helping kids communicate from overnight camp.

I wonder if he mentioned hula hooping in your bathrobe?

Junior Lodge Renovations

We thought you might enjoy seeing the work we’re doing at camp to the Junior Lodge. It’s a strong stone building, but its wooden floor began to show its age (over 80 years!), and over the summer it became clear that replacing it would be a good idea.

Here you can see how we removed the old floor and reframed the joists. The joists slip right into notches in the stone foundation. Very cool.

We’ll keep you posted about the progress!

When the Rising Bell Rings

Here’s something from this summer’s “Photo Phun” activity where the girls at camp run around with digital cameras taking pictures.  In addition to learning about photography and how to use the cameras, they play loads of games… things like scavenger hunts, nature alphabet, and photo stories.  This is an example by Deborah P. (passed along by awesome counselor Eva) that illustrates one of the classic RBC songs, “When the Rising Bell Rings.”  It’s pretty funny, but you have to click on the image to see the larger version and read the words.  Way to go Deborah!

Are your Kids Ready for Camp?

How do you know if your child is ready for summer camp?

It’s an important question to ask, especially if you have a younger child who’d be new to the experience. Most discussions of this question focus on whether or not your child is outgoing and ready for the social component of camp. See this article for example. The idea here is that once a child makes friends at camp, they’ll enjoy the activities and be fine away from home. In fact, it’s often hoped that the camp program will help a shy child become more outgoing, more self-confident and independent. It’s true; camp is great for this reason.

Talking with Sarah, the Director of Rockbrook, she also cautions parents to make sure their child is honestly interested in attending camp. “It’s best for it to be her idea,” she says. As parents fondly remember their own summer camp experience, or hear that camp is “good for kids,” they can sometimes push a little too hard and talk their children into the idea, perhaps before they are really ready. “Research camps together and find one that sparks her interest and makes her really want to go. Learn about camps together; listen to her concerns, and with gentle encouragement, you’ll find the right camp,” Sarah suggests. You’ll know she’s ready for camp when it’s her idea and she’s excited to go.

Summer Camp Makes Kids Talented?

OK, what do these people have in common: Larry Page (co-founder of Google), Condolezza Rice (U.S. Secretary of State), Bob Dylan (musician), Drew Carey (television actor), J.D. Salinger (author), and Katie Couric (journalist)? You might guess, but it’s true; they all went to camp as kids. The American Camp Association has a list of other famous and influential people who attended or worked at a summer camp. It’s a pretty amazing list.

What’s interesting about this is to think how so much of what we become springs from our experiences as kids, how the people we meet, the activities that challenge us, and the accomplishments that validate who we are, can so profoundly inspire who we might become. As summer camp was a part of these talented people’s lives, and as it continues to be for scores of children today, it played some, perhaps even crucial, part in making them so.

A job like no other — Summer Camp!

Having a summer camp job really is one of those amazing jobs where you have so much fun, stay so busy, and meet so many awesome people, the time just flies by. Of course you have to love working with kids, feel comfortable being outside most of the time, and be up for some serious dressing up, but where else can you get this excited about a summer job? Where else can you dress up like this because it’s “super hero day?” This is not retail or restaurant work; it’s an awesome summer job.

Jacksonville Florida Summer Camp Girls

We just had a wonderful time visiting all the Rockbrook Camp girls down in Jacksonville, Florida. Tons of girls came and enjoyed the party, the pizza, the craft activity, and of course the camp movie and slide show. Most of them were new girls wanting to learn more about camp, but we also had plenty of current campers too. All ages were there— Juniors, Middlers and Seniors (up to 9th grade) —and we even had two Rockbrook alumni, moms who attended when they were younger! It’s always so great to see everyone, to think back to all the fun from last summer, and to look forward to next summer’s excitement.

Rock Climbing Summer Camp

Why do people go rock climbing when it looks so scary?

Well, there’s something fun about the challenge of it all, the concentration and the determination it takes. You know there’s an amazing view waiting at the top and the repel down is thrilling, but it also feels good to use your muscle strength to balance up. The whole thing is like a puzzle you solve through coordination, physical and mental endurance powering your careful movements on the rock. Making it past difficult spots, maybe even all the way to the top, is a great confidence boosting experience. Sure it’s a little scary, but it’s perfectly safe too. When you’re done, it just makes you want to climb again!

Rock climbing is one of those summer camp adventures that’s just loaded with surprising benefits.