Sleep Away Camp

Sleep Away Camp

I grew up on Long Island and it was part of my childhood culture to go to sleep away camp programs for the summer.  Back then it was for 8 weeks - YES, 8 full weeks! 

Our parents would pack up a hard sided trunk with clothes, a sheet and blanket and some writing material for letters home.  The bus to camp not only transported the children, but our trunks too. 

We would spend every day having fun - activity to activity - with morning line up, sing and evening activity to end the day.  We had snack (ICE CREAM!!!) and 3 meals served family style at our table. We sang lunchroom songs and made dedications to the boys we liked.  We raided the boys bunks all the time - and they raided ours.   

We made friends, played jacks and in general learned to live in a community of children, young adults and FUN was the name of the game all day, every day. 

Our parents heard from us via letters we wrote home and a few precious phone calls.  But otherwise, camp was a mystery to our parents.  They trusted the counselors and owners to call home and advise if things were going wrong - and if there was no call - assume everything was allright. 

For the first time, I sent my son Eli off to sleep away camp for the summer.  He is having the time of his life.  How do I know.  I spend every night from 9 until about 11pm waiting for the pictures of the day to be loaded to the camp website. 

We hit that refresh button about 200 times in those 2 hours waiting for the next picture to load so we can get a view into the life that our children are living every day - all day - while at camp.  We see kids playing sports, doing arts and crafts, flying high on the trapeez in the circus area, riding go carts, swimming in the pool and the lake, and hanging out - with smiles on their faces - as they go from activity to activity throughout the day.

I offered Eli $5 for every picture he was in with 2 thumbs up -and in the first 2 weeks, we found 16 photos.  16 precious acknowledgements that he was thinking of me, doing what I told him, and racking up enough money so that when camp ends, he can get an XBox 360.  We put an end to that bribe the other day.  $90 is enough.....

We visited him for a day - on the premice of a Rookie Day for Bella - and got to spend a few precious hours with him as he helped a potential future camper enjoy the day - and learn about camp.  We watched him at the circus, play football and tennis, and swim/kyack and play volleyball at the lake.  We also got a chance to meet his friends.  Best friends Evan and Ben were all too eager to meet us - and clearly noted that Eli is their best friend (in unison of course) and that he is awesome (which I already knew).  It was also very satisfying to hear that Eli is loved by all the counselors, they think he is a terrific kid.  They were quick to piont out that Eli is so great at helping kids who are home sick - he befriends them when they are sad so that they are no longer sad.  WAY TO GO ELI!!!  Mommy is so proud.  This type of empathy and caring is something you cant teach - its something innate - and thankfully Eli has it!! 

In one more week we have Visiting Day.  All the grandparents are joining us for this big day - and we cant wait to see him.  We will - once again - follow Eli from activity to activity while he shows off all his new talents, friends and accomplishments.  We will get to see what makes Sleep Away the best place on earth and the thing that kids wait all year for.  

Visiting Day also marks the half way point of summer vacation.  With only 3 weeks to go before the busses arrive home once more - this time - with happy campers sad to say goodbye to friends and hello to their parents who make them clearn up their rooms, make their beds, take out the trash and clean off the table.  Hey, isn't that all on the job wheel in the bunk???

Till next time.....