Camp. It’s a rite of passage for many youth, and this year, my eldest daughter, Emily, will be going to two sleep-away ‘camps’ for the first time ever. I’ve written before about her love of singing and musical theater. This summer, Emily will have the opportunity to participate in two programs – one at The University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem; the other, Broadway Artists Alliance in New York City.
She’ll be at the first program in Winston-Salem for a few weeks, rooming with her best friend in a campus dorm, where she’ll get the chance to sing her heart out with other aspiring divas.
Any parent who has ever sent a kid to camp (or has been the kid that went to camp) realizes there is a classic conflict. New campers are simultaneously delighted by the idea of their newfound independence, and terrified at the thought of being away from family and the creature comforts of home for so long. Emily is already talking about how much she will miss us. (And, I’m already feeling nervous about my ‘baby’ being so far away from home!)
The themes are the same as they’ve always been. Week One begins with lots of sound and fury. I hate it here, and I’m not having fun. I don’t care what the brochures tell you, it’s miserable torture:
Then we move on to the second type of letter – “It’s okay, I guess.” From here we get some rather matter-of-fact news about what’s going on that is only mildly concerning:
Next, we start to see bonds form as the kids make friends. And with friends, comes plenty of trouble. This is when we start to get the ‘don’t be mad’ letters, proving that they’re finally grateful for the distance from mom and dad:
By this point, you assuredly miss your little camper, and you’re anxious to go pick them up. I know I’ll miss Emily like crazy, and I’ll be more than ready to bring her home. (Plus, we’re already planning weekend trips across the state so we can go check on her. Thankfully, her ears are already pierced, so we don’t have to worry about THAT!)
Of course, by the end of their experience, the campers are hugging their friends and crying – they can’t wait for next year!
Fuel for Thought,
~Bob
