My love/hate relationship with overnight camp
I dropped off my almost-fourteen year old daughter at overnight camp today. She’s the one kneeling in the green shirt you can sort of see and the blue hair you cannot really see at all.
It’s not a difficult drive if you’re talking logistics. I wind my way to the highway for fifteen minutes and make a right. I drive about 100 miles or so and make a right off the highway, and then less than ten minutes later I make a right into camp.
But if you’re talking something else…it’s much more than three right turns and straight on til the middle of August.
I love that when my daughter was ten she wanted to go away to a camp where she knew no one.
I love that she had the wherewithal to do something brave.
I love that she wanted to go back.
I love that she can rock climb, canoe, sail and shower with cold water.
I love that she loves to get dirty.
I love that she wanted to go to the four week camp and that she wanted to go back again.
I love that she met her friends today with big hugs and how everyone commented how she cut her hair, and not that it was streaked with blue, although I’m sure that story will come later.
I love that she meets girls and counselors from all over the world and from Chicago suburbs.
I love many of the girls are Jewish even though it’s not a Jewish camp, because she doesn’t have a lot of Jewish friends at home.
I love that she takes the teddy bear she named after the Jonas Brothers.
I love that she took the same sundress for socials that she took last year, but all brand new socks still attached with those annoying plastic tags.
I love that she takes fishing every year as one of her activities.
I love the smile I see when she turns to leave with her old friends.
I love that she told me not to forget to write her every day.
I love being able to give her this experience - one I never wanted and still don’t want.
I love sending her packages and seeing photos on the camp website.
I love that she loves camp.
But I love and hate that she is gone for four weeks.
By Melanie on Jul 20, 2009
This is so sweet! I’ve been wondering if she goes to one of the JCC camps, but you said it’s not Jewish, so that would be a no.
Can I just tell you that when I worked on the brochures for Camp Chi we all decided to wanted to go to camp. It sounds like so much fun! I used to go for one week every summer and as an adult I wonder why my parents didn’t send me for longer. I loved it!
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 20th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
@Melanie,
My daughter went to JCC Day Camps til last year - and did “Try Chi” once or twice for a three-day special visit. This camp is in Michigan. I posted a photo of the cabin since you commented too. I never wanted to go to camp — it still doesn’t appeal to me.
My motto is “Twenty Four Room Service Or Bust!”
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By Melanie on Jul 20, 2009
It looks nice!
I’m not really a “pampering” type of person. I like it now and then, but I think it’s fun to rough it for a bit.
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 20th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
@Melanie, OMG not me!
Roughing it, to me, is when I have to re-use the towels!
(just kidding, I do re-use for the sake of the environment)
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Melanie replied:
July 20th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
@SuburbanKvetch, ROFL!! You might not like it where I live…
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By cathy on Jul 20, 2009
Just did my Camp Chi drop off yesterday and still no pics online
Boo!
I hear you..good for them..bad for us..in a way…part of the day
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 20th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
@cathy,
here’s to moms left behind! let’s focus on the “less laundry” factor (at least til pick up day)
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By fern on Jul 20, 2009
I so miss my camp days. They really were the best times of my life. I still have close friends from camp. So happy for all the kids who love camp–especially yours!
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 20th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
@fern, thanks! you know first hand how it is when the head count goes down around the house though. very strange!
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By J on Jul 20, 2009
4 WEEKS???? That breaks my heart, and makes me think of college. She’ll have an awesome time, though.
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 21st, 2009 at 6:10 am
@J,
Tell me about it! This is her fourth summer, so I know she has fun, which makes me really happy even when I’m not!
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By debbie on Jul 21, 2009
Four weeks is a long time! I hope you make it:)
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By Melissa on Jul 21, 2009
Isnt in an amazing feeling to see all your hard work pay off like such? She’s an amazing kid! (and I dont even know her!!)
= )
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