Archive for September, 2011

Summer Camp: Defining Routine and Ritual

Friday, September 30th, 2011

Routines.  Everyone has them.  For some, they encompass everything that takes place from the time we wake in the morning until we go to bed at night.  For others, they come in short bursts throughout the day, such as at mealtimes or bedtime.  However, establishing routines as daily parts of our lives is important, especially for children.  Childcare experts agree that establishing regular routines for children is essential for healthy development.  The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning reports that “Studies have documented that schedules and routines influence children’s emotional, cognitive, and social development.”

It’s no secret that summer camps provide loose routines that allow room for healthy creative development through structured daily programs and schedules that maintain consistent meal, activity, and bedtimes.  Maintaining a routine throughout the summer is also valuable in easing the transition from summer to fall and back into summer again.  However, one special aspect of summer camp that is often overlooked is that it helps children learn to understand the difference between routine and ritual—what makes one necessity and the other tradition.

Barbara H. Fiese, Ph.D., Syracuse University, defines routine as something that “involves a momentary time commitment so that once the act is completed, there is little, if any, afterthought.”  However, she defines ritual as “symbolic communication” that has “continuity in meaning across generations.”  Rituals take place within the home family setting.  However, for children, it’s not always clear how to tell the difference between what is done simply to be done and what is  done because it’s significant to their heritage.  This is where the summer camp ritual takes on a special significance.  Even executives such as Michael Eisner have publicly recalled the important role that summer camp rituals have played in their lives.

Summer camp often draws a distinct line between routine and ritual.  Campers understand, for instance, that cleaning their bunks or cabins everyday is part of a routine.  That following an activities schedule is part of routine.  That hearing TAPS in the evening to signal bedtime is a part of routine.  They, too, understand that campfires, however regular, are rituals.  They are more than just a fire that they gather around to eat s’mores.  Campfires have meaning that goes far beyond the fire itself.  The same can be said about opening night shows, closing, and fireworks.  Campers understand that these are not just routines done merely to achieve a goal.  They’re rituals that make their summer camp the place that it is and them a part of it.

By being able to tell the difference, children are able to accept routine as something that needs to be done and prevent rituals from simply becoming routine by understanding the value in them.  Dr. Fiese says that children will often revisit memories of rituals in order to “recapture some of the positive.” experience.”  This perhaps explains why so many camp rituals remain sacred to campers far passed their camping years.   At Camp Starlight, several rituals come together throughout the summer to create an atmosphere of family, friends, and tradition:

The rituals begin almost from the moment campers arrive.  The Opening Night show is a first night tradition in which the staff formally introduces itself in always creative and entertaining ways, veteran campers and staff reacquaint themselves with some of their favorite sing-along songs (Singin’ in the Rain, Can’t Smile without You, and the Starlight Alma Mater, anyone?), and campers and staff who are new to Starlight become familiar with one of the most symbolic and important gathering places on the Camp Starlight campus—The Starlight Playhouse.  For everyone, it’s the initiation into the Starlight family.

Campfires play an important role at Camp Starlight throughout the summer as well.  At the beginning of camp, they help campers and counselors alike bond by setting a theme and introducing Starlight values.  At the end of camp, as the scenes of bunk plaque presentations to directors Allison and David, they provide closure.  Bunk plaques are emblems through which each bunk has the opportunity to show what its campers and counselors are taking away from the summer.  The Starlight Dining Room is adorned with them and everyone at Starlight spends countless hours reminiscing about and reflecting on their significance.

The end of the summer at Camp Starlight is full of rituals that bring the fun to a meaningful close.  Every year, around the first week of August, campers can be heard chanting “1,3, 5, 6, we want Olympics!”  The always secretive Olympic break is a hot topic of conversation from the day campers arrive and,  inevitably, one of the most exciting moments of each summer.  But perhaps the most unique thing about Olympics is that even though it’s a competition, it’s actually about coming together as a family and respecting how each and every individual makes valuable contributions to that family.  Within Olympics are such valued rituals as the always crazy and exciting Apache Relay, which is a race in which campers are given the opportunity to demonstrate what they’ve learned over the summer; Rope Burn, a sacred event for Senior campers and one that many former campers list for years to come as one of the most significant events of their camp careers; and Sing, an event that comes near the end of Olympics and involves the two Olympic teams dueling through song.  The themes are always awe inspiring, the lyrics nothing less than impressive, and the sets fabulous….especially considering that such a wonderful show is put together in less than a week by some very passionate campers and staff members.  Sing never fails to be as emotionally significant as it is entertaining.

A banquet and a fireworks display (known as the “burning of the lake”) close out the summer.  Banquet is a family meal.  It’s a time when everyone formally says, “thank you” for all of the great times over the summer and exemplary staff members are honored.  Banquet is even more significant for the Upper Senior Girls, who work tirelessly every year to come up with a theme, décor, and a menu.  The “burning of the lake” isn’t just any fireworks display.  It’s symbolic in many ways.  It’s a night when everyone says goodbye, when the camp alma mater takes on a different kind of significance for many older campers, and the year is quite literally burned away to make room for the next.

Reflections of a Camp Starlight Counselor and Former Camper

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

As school starts back up again, I can’t help but think about Camp Starlight, my second home. Everything about Camp Starlight is amazing. When I need a good laugh, the first thing that comes to my head is a story from camp. I am the person I am today because of it. My best friends are those I met at Camp Starlight, not just as a camper, but when I made the transition to counselor. Being a counselor is one of the best life experiences a person can have. You are able to be a kid again and, at the same time, you are able to have an influence on your campers’ lives. This summer, the Upper Senior girls asked me to be their coach during rope burn, which is such an honor. As I watched the girls build the fire, it brought me back to my times as a camper. I remember being Upper Senior captain and thinking how rope burn was the most important thing I had ever done. Looking back, it probably wasn’t, but it was my whole camp experience that changed me. I know that I would not have been able to do most of the things I have done in my life without the camp experience. A great thing about camp is that you can learn something from everyone. Even your campers can teach you something. I have had the opportunity to grow up with such great role models simply because these people were my counselors. Camp Starlight is something that will be a part of my life for years to come because it makes me the person I like to be.

–Julia, Camp Starlight counselor and former camper

Bazooka Bubble Gum

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

At the end of every summer, once you have returned home, there is always one song or tune that you simply cannot forget or erase from your mind, thanks to Camp Starlight. I am not talking about the traditional songs like, “I Can’t Smile Without You”, “Singing in the Rain”, “Sweet Caroline”, or “Friends,” but the songs you grow to love. These songs somehow become some of our favorite camp memories and have created new Camp Starlight traditions.

Two summers ago, we were introduced to a song that focused on one’s facial hair; and things got kind of hairy. This summer, thanks to Girls Bunk 11 and their divisional award winning MTV night performance, we now have the “Bazooka Bubble Gum” song imprinted in our minds (and hearts). If you wish to find an easy way to return to the summer of 2011, listen to the song and fondly think of your Camp Starlight summer home and family. Just in case you need a refresher, here are the lyrics…

My mom gave me a penny,
She said to buy a henny,
But I didn’t buy a penny,
Instead I bought bubblegum,
Bazooka-zooka,
Bubblegum,
Bazooka-zooka,
Bubblegum.

My mom gave me a nickel,
She said to buy a pickle,
But I didn’t buy a pickle,
Instead I bought bubblegum,
Bazooka-zooka,
Bubblegum,
Bazooka-zooka,
Bubblegum.

My mom gave me a dime,
She said to buy a lime,
But I didn’t buy a lime,
Instead I bought bubblegum,
Bazooka-zooka,
Bubblegum,
Bazooka-zooka,
Bubblegum.

My mom gave me a quarter,
She said to buy a porter,
But I didn’t buy a porter,
Instead I bought bubblegum,
Bazooka-zooka,
Bubblegum,
Bazooka-zooka,
Bubblegum.

My mom gave me a dollar,
She said to buy a collar,
But I didn’t buy a collar,
Instead I bought bubblegum,
Bazooka-zooka,
Bubblegum,
Bazooka-zooka,
Bubblegum.

My mom gave me a five,
She said to stay alive,
But I didn’t stay alive,
Instead I choked on,
Bubblegum,
Bazooka-zooka,
Bubblegum,
Bazooka-zooka,
Bubblegum.

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After Camp: Keeping the Momentum Going

Saturday, September 17th, 2011

Sure the kids are home from camp and are settling back into their school routines.  Maybe they’re still a little bit camp sick, but it’s possible to keep the camp momentum going throughout the year.  Here are a few suggestions we thought we’d pass along.

  • Talk about camp with them.  Not only do children love talking about their camp experiences, but doing so helps them process the events of the summer.  In sharing their experiences, they’re able to gain perspective about camp.   If they haven’t already told you by now (and they probably have a hundred times over), ask them to tell you about their camp friends, their favorite activities and favorite events.
  • Encourage them to keep in touch with their camp friends throughout the year.  Of course, summer camp draws campers from all over the globe, so play dates and get-togethers might not be realistic for everyone.  But in the age of email, Skype, and Facebook (for some older campers), maintaining contact is easier than ever.
  • Encourage children to read camp literature, such as newsletters, and to keep up with the blog on your camp’s website.  Parents should regularly read camp literature and blogs as well.  Not only will they be informed, but they can pass along useful or exciting information, such as news about new camp activities or facilities, to their children.
  • If your children just can’t stop singing those camp songs, encourage them to teach you one or two.  Then you can sing along with them…It’s fun.  Trust us.
  • Encourage your children to share anything exciting that happens to them throughout the year with the camp.  Summer camps love to know what their campers are up to over the winter and are thrilled to share in something special whether it be winning a spot on a traveling sports team, landing a role in the school play, or earning a place on the honor roll.  Many are also happy to pass this information onto other campers and their parents via a special section in their camp newsletter.
  • Make a big deal over any projects they brought home.  Whether it’s a scented candle, a leather purse, a clay vase, or a wooden birdhouse, chances are they put plenty of time and energy into creating something special to bring home to you.  So display it somewhere prominent, even if it does have to be “archived” each year to make room for the next summer’s treasures.
  • Show them that you got their camp letters.  Point out your favorite parts.  Tell them which were your favorites, maybe even keep the letters in an album from year to year.  Children are much more excited about writing home from camp when they really feel that their letters are being read.  Someday, a scrapbook of camp letters might even make a neat gift to give back to them.

With a little bit of help from you, your children can keep the camp momentum going all year long!

Camp Starlight Senses

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

It has been over 3 years since I last stood in Starlight, PA, since I last heard the call to lineup, since I last smelled the Rec Hall, since I last tasted the chocolate chip pancakes, since I last felt the grass at kiddy campus, since I last saw a bim bam by the lake. And yet, my “camp senses” are as strong as ever.

Just a few days ago, I smelled something familiar. It was the kind of subtle smell that most would sniff without giving it a second thought. But I couldn’t; I recognized this smell. Without much thought, I knew what it was: banquet dinner, with those fancy mashed potatoes. Instantly, I was taken back to the last week of camp, when everyone on campus is squeezed into the mess hall dressed to the nines to enjoy a special meal to end the summer. I remembered banquets past and far past, what I was wearing, who I sat next to, who spoke and who had a star dedicated. I remembered the way I felt about the summer ending soon. And then, as quickly as it had come, the smell and the memory were gone.

In the same way that we never forget the taste of our grandmother’s matzoh balls, we never shake the “senses” that surround us each and every day at camp. These days, when I build a campfire, I am reminded of the way we built it at Rope Burn. When I hear a PA announcement, I am reminded of my days working the HC. After so many years at my second home, all it takes is the slightest nudge of the senses to take me back. In a way, I never left.

Marc Hassan, guest blogger

Everything I Need to Know, I Learned at Summer Camp

Friday, September 9th, 2011

Back in 1988, the book Everything I Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten was written by Robert Fulghum. However true the points the author makes may be, it is arguable that those who go to summer camp would feel otherwise. Although summer camp is packed full of fun times, arts and crafts projects, and songs around a campfire, it is also an experience rich in life lessons that carry on far into adulthood. Children who are still of camping age probably think that a crazy concept.  To them summer is simply two months filled with sports, activities, and bonding time with their friends. But those who are past the age of those simple days of fun in the sun feel certain they have taken far more from their summers spent at camp.

The years a child spends away at summer camp are the years when development is at an all time high. It is the age when a children build the foundation of their personalities, life attitudes, and personal relationships with others. The most basic lesson hidden in the experience of going to summer camp is the independence found in leaving the familiarity of family and friends at home. Going off to a new place without mom or dad around to help manage time and personal space is a giant step in the right direction for learning personal responsibility. In joining a group of kids their own age as a unit, the children learn to accept compromise, share, and respect others in a fun environment. As they step into the bunk, they also learn the roles of new authority figures in their counselors, instructors, and camp administration.

The relationships founded between counselor and camper are bonds that are remembered for many years past the days spent in the bunks together. These friendships teach respect and acceptance of the new adult assuming the position of summer caretaker for the child. It is a gentle transition, as the role of a counselor is generally focused on the child having a great time but also ensuring the child is safe, fair, and well-taken care of. Children learn that authority figures are not to be seen solely as someone who tells them what to do, but as someone who genuinely cares about their welfare, progress, and interactions with those around them. Camps enact policies such as group clean-ups and team building exercises utilize the necessary time spent doing chores and outdoor activities to become educational experiences for each child. The concepts of personal responsibility and teamwork become second nature at camp, and they are indispensable as the child moves on to college and adulthood.

Another indispensable quality learned through staff member relationships with campers is the characteristics of “coach-ability”; the acceptance of instruction and constructive criticism. Every summer, children are excited to spend time on the fields and courts during athletic activity periods. While they are learning the proper way to shoot a lay-up, they are also engaging in a fun, educational lesson in observing and learning from others. While they obviously enjoy one area more than others, they are expected to both try and improve in the all activities. They spend the day with others in their bunks or divisions who have different interests and strengths and, through those performances, are able to see that everyone has their own niche and range of capabilities. This builds the early cornerstone of mutual respect amongst others and the idea that they can learn something from another person, even if that subject matter does not necessarily spark their full interest. The camp implementing full participation expectations from every child also teaches them the idea that they should always play a part in the activity and do their best at the task at hand.

The final lesson most prevalent in a child’s growth in camping is the sense of pride that is found in being part of a group and engaging in its traditions. For years to come, former campers will reflect on campfires, evening activities, sing-alongs, and the everyday routines of their camp days as fond memories spent at a place where they found their summer home. There is a spirit of pride and camaraderie when they see a person from their camp get into a highly renowned university, publish their first book, or take the field as a collegiate or professional athlete. A shared sense of accomplishment for that person shows the strength of the bonds found in camp friendships and the acknowledgement of others’ personal victories. Those in their post-camping days find that through painting their faces, raising their voices in a round, and taking roles on as senior campers stick with them in later years as a sense of unity amongst a group of people. By taking part in something that stood before them and has continued on without them, they carry with them the role they played in a part of the history of that place. The good feelings and happiness found both in the moment and in years to come instills in a camper the value of relationships with others and taking pride in an establishment. This further develops loyalty and commitment in other organizations ranging from teams, sororities or fraternities, community service projects, and even in the professional corporations they find themselves in later in life.

In conclusion, it may seem that the issues at hand make a simple summer spent with friends too serious. However, those who look back on their experiences in camping with fond memories know the things they learned at camp are still with them. The relationships built often outlast those of neighborhood and schoolyard friends, and in them they find some of their greatest confidantes and oldest friends. The tools gained through taking part in summers at camp haven proven useful in the obstacles faced years later. Therefore, it is quite obvious to those who at some point called themselves a camper that they truly learned everything they needed to know at camp!

Camp Sick

Monday, September 5th, 2011

The summer of 2011 is over, a new school year has started, everyone has finally unpacked their camp bags, and now the wait for the summer of 2012 begins.  Ten months isn’t really that long.  Every year we manage to wait it out.  But when it’s September and the fun times we had this past summer are still fresh in our minds, it seems like an eternity; and, inevitably, we all feel a little bit (or a lot!) camp sick.  We all know the feeling.  Some of us find ourselves singing camp songs or have the urge to tie-dye something…maybe even set our ring tones to Reveille or just sit around with camp friends re-living all of the memories from the summer.  Saying goodbye to another summer in our own way is a rite that we go through every fall.  We not only say goodbye to our camp friends, but our counselors, and upper campers.  But on the upside of goodbye is hello.  Hello to all of our new friends who will join us for the first time next summer.  Hello to the challenge and excitement of planning a new summer that’s even better than last.  Hello to good times that turn into new memories.  Hello to a new group of campers.  Hello to the new counselors and staff members who choose to make camp their summer home next year.  Hello, everyone. We can’t wait to see you in the summer of 2012!