Tag: American summer camps

Now is the Time to Start Choosing a Summer Camp

November 5th, 2011

The leaves are falling off the trees and the weather is starting to cool down, but it’s not too early to start thinking about sending your children to summer camp next summer.  There is certainly no shortage of American summer camps and finding the right one for your children is essential to their success there.  There’s a lot to think about, which makes now a great time to start thinking about what you want in a camp.

Traditional summer camps are a great way to introduce children to summer camp because they offer a broad and well-rounded experience.  Children still trying to find their niche in a sport or hobby find great success at these camps because they’re given opportunities throughout the summer to take part in many different types of activities.

The length of the summer camp you choose is also important.  Most overnight camps accept campers from the age of seven.  When considering camps, it’s key to consider your family’s lifestyle, your children’s other activities and commitments, and even your children themselves. Many embrace the traditional seven week experience because it removes the stress of trying to figure out how to keep children active and entertained during summer vacation.

Consider how far away from home you want your child to travel as well.  Some parents prefer to send their children to a summer camp within a few hours of home while others view summer camp as a way to introduce a global perspective to their children and send them abroad to attend summer camp.  This is particularly becoming a trend in Europe, where European parents are deciding that they’d like their children to experience traditional American summer camps.  However, increasingly, parents from all over the world are making this decision as well.  Many American parents find the amazing reputations, beautiful campuses, and the breathtaking scenery of Northeast Pennsylvania idyllic and send their children from as far away as California, Florida, and many other states.

The structure of a camp’s program should be given careful consideration as well.  Campers like to make decisions about their daily activities at camp, and Camp Weequahic gives them the opportunity to do so.  Our program is a choice program that allows campers to choose their activities each day.

Once you have decided what type of camp, length, location, and program are right for your child, you will likely find your search narrowed to a manageable number of camps.  Since you are reading this blog, you have found Camp Weequahic’s website and are on the right track.  We also invite you to check out our Facebook page, and sign up to follow our Twitter feed.  By doing this now, you will give yourself plenty of time to watch, read, and listen.  If you are unfamiliar with camp, you will be pleasantly surprised at how active our summer camp community remains throughout the winter.  In fact, many Starlight families will tell you that camp never really ends for them—and that’s a good thing!

Create a Camp Atmosphere All Year Long

October 15th, 2011

Just because your children are no longer at camp doesn’t mean you can’t create a camp atmosphere in your home.  There are several things you can do to keep the camp spirit alive all year long.

This doesn’t have to be a radical flip of the switch that completely eliminates conveniences and luxuries from your lives.  In fact, such an act is probably not very realistic for many families.  But taking small steps to reduce your children’s reliance on things such as television, video games, and cell phones is a great way to remind them that don’t need them as much as they think they do.  Designate a day or two each week in which you won’t turn on the television or play video games.  Have a family game night instead.  Board games and card games are a great, light-hearted way to bring the entire family together for a few hours.  Turn off cell phones during meal times, before a designated time in the morning, and after a designated time in the evening.  Yes, with the invention of smart phones, we’re becoming increasingly reliant on these convenient little gadgets, but you may be surprised at just how much you enjoy the peace and quiet of a few hours without them each day…and, your family will also likely remember just how much they appreciate having a conversation with someone who is not looking at their cell phone or texting the entire time.

Keep supplies for creative bursts.  Arts & Crafts, Eco Science, and Nature don’t have to be activities restricted to the camp setting.  In fact, many of the projects that your children do at camp can quite easily be done at home, and they’re a great way to fill an afternoon or evening on which you’ve decided to have a break from television and video games.  There are books readily available that walk you step-by-step through such popular camp projects as tie-dying, candle making, beading, shrinky dinks, Mentos geysers, goo, and many more.  YouTube also has a host of videos that demonstrate kid friendly home science and nature experiments.  Keeping a closet or a chest of standard supplies for these types of projects will prevent you from having to make a shopping trip every time the kids want to have some summer camp style fun.

Have a “campfire”.  You might not have a backyard big enough (and there may be some local ordinances against this, even if you do), but consider having a backyard fire.  A patio fire pit, if you have one, is actually ideal.  An operable indoor fireplace works, too.  Make s’mores, tell stories, share memories.  This makes for a great evening to invite friends over because, as every camper will tell you, the more the merrier at a campfire.  If you live in an area in which weather permits, actually taking a weekend camping trip is always fun, too.

Start a garden (if you have a yard) or cook with your children once a week.  Gardening and cooking programs are popular at camp.  Even if you don’t have the space in your yard, herb gardens are easy to maintain and can be grown indoors.  Besides being enjoyable and fun, cooking is a valuable life skill for children to learn.  Let your children look up healthy recipes, talk about nutrition with them, and, most importantly, let them do the work in the kitchen.

Have regular family “out of the house” trips.  At camp, children regularly take “out of camp” trips to places such as local sporting events, the movies, or bowling… They look forward to these trips as a special treat and time to create some very special memories with their camp friends.  Why not make special memories like these as a family?

By making just a few (fun) adjustments, your entire family can enjoy the spirit of camp throughout the year, and it just might make those ten months of waiting a little more bearable for the kids!

Weequahic Soccer…Kaizan!

October 14th, 2011

There is a great Japanese word, “Kaizan.”  It means improvement or change for the better.  However, it is more than just increasing productivity, or producing a final result.  It is a culture, a daily process that involves praise and encouragement to reach big goals.  At Camp Weequahic “Kaizan” is the perfect word to describe our soccer program.

Soccer has doubled in popularity over the past three summers and is now one of our top team sports.   Campers have the opportunity to participate in daily skill development, tactical instruction, recreational play, and private lessons.

Our choice based program allows campers to choose as much time at soccer as they want.  Instruction for the first time player or more advanced player is available throughout the day.   Campers may also choose our specialty soccer camp during our once a session Wee Excel day. When it comes to instruction, each player is evaluated and placed in soccer classes with other campers of similar age and ability.

Weequahic’s soccer program is directed by a professional soccer coach and staffed with NCAA level college age players who have experience coaching and playing at the college level.  More importantly, they understand the importance of praise and encouragement while creating a fun and engaging environment to grow as a soccer player.

Camp Weequahic’s soccer culture is also supported by Director Kate Kelly and Program Director Sue Baldwin, who were college soccer teammates at Dartmouth College. Kate, a three time team captain for Dartmouth, went on to coach soccer at Northfield Mt. Hermon, a prestigious boarding school in New England, for four years.

Sue was an All- American player who continued her soccer experience with coaching stops at Stanford, Virginia, and Michigan State. She continues to coach actively for local clubs in her hometown of Athens, Georgia.  She also offers private instruction.  Sue guides Weequahic’s soccer director throughout the summer as well as offers special clinics and private instruction to Weequahic’s most enthusiastic soccer players.

Weequahic soccer players are also reaching new heights competing in inter camp soccer games with the Wayne County Athletic Association.  (The Wayne County Athletic Association is comprised of over 20 camps that host tournaments and games throughout the summer.) Camp Weequahic  fields girls’and boys’ soccer teams in all age brackets.

If you are looking to improve your game or just have fun playing soccer then join Team Kaizan at Camp Weequahic this summer!