Tag Archives: camping

The Value of an Overnight Summer Camp Experience

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camplakeI can look back at my overnight summer camp experiences as some of the most memorable and enriching times in my life.  I have kept in touch with many camp friends over the years and even communicate with a number of them on Facebook.  I even roomed with one of my best camp friends, Julia, at boarding school when we were juniors in high school.  We met up last winter and even although it had been 20 years since we’d graduated, it was as if no time had passed. It was with Julia that I learned that a sailboat really could tip right over if you turned too sharp… and that rope burn really hurts.  I learned about making my bed with hospital corners, and that you could actually get dressed while still in bed on cold Maine mornings.

My children are 10,7 and 5 years old and I’ve started to explore the possibility of sending them to an overnight camp.  I get a bit nervous as I’m sure most parents do, but I also know that camps provide structured and supervised opportunities for independence and discovery, things that children need in order grow into the responsible teens and adults that we all hope they will become.  My kids have much less freedom to explore, here in the city, than I ever did growing up on 11 acres in New Hampshire. We spend most every weekend in the mountains but I know that a camp experience will be an important part of their education and development.

MomActive Live program on MomTV.com Wednesday at 10pm ET will be dedicated to highlighting the value of an overnight camp experience.  We’ll discuss the different concerns parents have and address such things as cost, types of camp, and size, among other things.  I’ve been corresponding with Ariella Randle Rogge Assistant Director/Program Director Sanborn Western Camps at High Trails Ranch and she has been gracious enough arrange for Mike MacDonald, director of Big Spring Ranch for Boys, and Julie Richardson, director of High Trails Ranch for Girls, to be guests on Wednesday nights program.  This will be an amazing opportunity to ask your questions and to learn about the planning and consideration that goes into your child’s summer camp experience at an American Camp Association accredited camp.  The chat room will be open and we’ll be monitoring it in order to address all of your questions.

Come Join the conversation with @banteringblonde on TheBlogFrog community.

or Leave a comment here and tell us a little bit about your favorite camp memories.  Will you, or do you, send your kids to an overnight camp?  Why or why not?

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Who Knew? Camping is Fun and Will Get You Moving!

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If you heard Friday’s show, you know that I was approaching my weekend camping trip with some trepidation…. with a lot actually.  I knew the kids would have a blast, but I’m not one to go without showering for several days in a row and, while I enjoy the outdoors, sleeping with the critters has never been at the top of my “must do” list.  

It occurred to me within minutes of arriving at our campsite, that this adventure was going to be awesomely bloggable and VLOGable (still editing the video!).  From the moment we arrived at our campsite in the Rocky Mountain National Forest, we were all moving fast to get things set up.  There had been some rain on the way in and we wanted to get situated in case it started up again.  As we unloaded the car and set up our tent the kids were carrying backpacks and sleeping bags down the trail to our site.  They were so excited running back and forth, eager to help us set up our “abode”.  
Our friends had arrived before us and were starting up a fire for dinner.  I’d be lying if I said we had planned our meals with ultimate nutrition and health food in mind, but we did have whole wheat buns for our burgers so I think you’ll have to give us a pass this time!
The kids were climbing up and down and all around on the mountain of rocks and by 10pm they were all pooped out and bundled up in their sleeping bags. We stayed up chatting with our friends, gazing at the sky and enjoying the beauty of it all.
The next morning we took the kids horseback riding.  OK, that is not a passive activity folks!  The trail ride we took wound up and down steep hills and I could definitely feel my core working to stay on the horse.  I also had K riding on the horse with me and got a major bicep workout trying to keep her on the horse!
Later in the day we took a little hike and marveled at all the wildflowers, bunnies, deer, and awesome critters we never see in the city.  The kids were definitely tuckered out by the time they settled in for the night.
As we packed up the next day, I decided that this was definitely something our family should do a few times a summer.  We all enjoyed the outdoors and togetherness without computers or TV, and we created fun (and active) memories for our family.
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