Archive for May, 2012

Time to Start Thinking about Packing…

Monday, May 7th, 2012

May means a lot of things to a lot of people.  To some it’s Memorial Day and the official beginning of summer.  For others, it marks the end of another school year.  For summer camp parents, it means it’s time to start thinking about packing.  For first time parents, the task can seem absolutely overwhelming.   How much sunscreen and shampoo do I pack?  Do they really need shinguards?  How many t-shirts are enough?  For seasoned camp parents, packing is a science based on experience.  The art is in packing just enough but not too much or too little…and knowing which items the children have sneaked into their bags to take out and which ones to let go.  Packing properly takes time…and patience.

Camps provide rather comprehensive packing lists.  These should not be disregarded.  They’re compiled by professionals with years of camping experience who have excellent knowledge of what children’s bags need to contain in order for them to arrive prepared for a successful summer at camp.  Also keep in mind when packing that living space is somewhat limited at camp.  Your child will not have his or her own room at summer camp.  He or she will live together with several other campers as well as a couple of counselors. This means that there is not a whole lot of room for “extras” and labeling clothes is important as mix-ups are otherwise bound to happen.  If laundry is your primary concern, rest assured that camp laundry is done at least once per week.  Your child’s counselors and other camp staff will see to it that your child has clean clothes.

Summer camp values also often downplay appearance.  The emphasis of summer camp is on fun, friendship, and safety.  Before the end of the summer, your child will likely get wet, slimed, painted, generally messy, and a host of other cool things that tend to make children laugh and adults cringe.  So keep the really good stuff at home and send clothes that neither you nor they will miss too much if they have to be “retired” at the end of the summer.

It’s important for both new and seasoned camp parents to pay as much attention to the items your child’s camp asks not to bring as those items it asks to bring.  There is a reason your camp requests that certain items not be brought onto campus, whether it’s to help facilitate a specific environment, protect those with allergies, or to avoid other issues not conducive to the spirit of summer camp.  Packing “do not bring” items risks them being lost or confiscated until the end of the summer.  This ultimately causes undo stress on your children.  Alleviating stress that results from the idea of having to leave a beloved item such as a cell phone or notepad at home is typically accomplished by reiterating to children about what they will have at camp as opposed to what they won’t.

By following your camp’s advice and being proactive rather than reactive, packing for camp can be a fun countdown to camp rather than a reactive chore.

Whatley Returns!

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

One of the most popular members of the Camp Starlight Athletics staff members stopped by to give us an update on his new position at Feather River College and to give a couple of tips to all of our Starlight Soccer players as they try to stay in peak shape for the up-coming Wayne County soccer Season.

Feather River College finished the season 15-5-2 and ranked #19 nationally. In Matt’s first season on the sidelines, the team won its conference title and competed in the Division III National Tournament. With a great recruiting class and a core of young players returning, 2012 should be an even more successful and exciting season.

Here are some things that you can work on during the early spring to keep your soccer game in peak shape:

*Work on juggling, which will help your touches.

*Also, passing against a wall will help you with your passing and trapping.

*Another great drill to help you with your dribble and touches is to do a bell on the ball. To do this, place the ball between your feet and tap it from one foot to the other.  To make it even more difficult, try to do so without looking at the ball. You can also do stationary moves such as overs, unders, sole behind drags, etc.

“Hope these couple of drills help, and I look forward to seeing you all back on Alumni Field in June.”

Matt