Camp America

[Lbet]

Are there any parents whose kids have done camp America?

My daughter is currently taking a gap year before going off to uni next.
She is really interested in doing camp America next summer.
We have had a good chat with a student who has just been for his second summer in a row. We have had loads of useful tips and advice from him. He did say you don’t do camp America for the money because you actually end up being out of pocket and you do it for the experience.
That suits my daughter fine as she is definitely wants to do it for the great experience.

Just wanted to know if anyone’s child has been and if you can tell me about their experience.

Thanks in advance.

@JockyWilsonsaid
my dd had the same set up,
like a baptism of fire
it was mainly adults she was looking after but on the whole loved it

Eleanor yes, really was! Adults too for DD - bit of a shock but seems really positive about it, glad your DD is also enjoying it. They've only got 2 weeks of young people staying apparently.

Tomorrow’s the day! Dd is flying to Newark. How are everyone else’s dc getting on? How are you mum’s coping with your teens gone. I’m going to miss dd so very much

Good luck for tomorrow I’m sure she will be fine. Mines been there since Monday, she’s just finished year one of uni so we’re used to her being away, have had messages daily and a couple of calls so not felt out of touch although missing her of course and 3000 miles does feel like a long way.
I think she’s getting a bit fed up of cleaning but it will be different and much busier when the kids arrive in a week or so. The American counsellors arrive on Monday and I think she’s looking forward to having a few more people to talk to. She’s a lifeguard and just found out she’s the only one of the 4 of them that’s got any previous experience and has also been told that most of the American counsellors won’t be able to swim so she’s a bit worried about that I think!

Tomorrow is the day for DD too, flying to Boston.

Spoke to ds earlier today. He's been allotted his bunk of kids- he's got the oldest kids as expected. Orientation week started today with 110 counsellors arriving.
One week till the kids arrive!
Good luck to everyone!

DS2 is getting on brilliantly. 3 days in he got made an instructor because of his experience with army cadets. So proud of him.

we aren't expecting him to be in touch much from tomorrow as the kids are arriving but he’s been out trying new things like horse riding.

last heard from him today to say he’s about to do a cookout and practicing for the lip synch competition 😊.

its very quiet at home but DH is enjoying the clean house.

Oh I forgot to add! He's been made deputy head of his department!

🎉 brilliant

DD has been gone 3 weeks tomorrow, it's flown by! She's got her second lot of campers arriving tomorrow - they spent Friday afternoon cleaning after the first lot left so today is out with a group of other counsellors on a hike in the local area, which looks incredible, all forest and lakes. She's still really happy and buzzy, though still doesn't like the food!

DS2 hasn’t mentioned the food much but he has said when they go out, the tacos aren’t as good as home .

My
DD is in a Lynx camp near Boston -
where is your DD going?
she flies
on 23rd after Alevels

@foxandhounds
It would be extraordinary if college age American students were not able to swim - most have to do swimming in high school. In my DCs' high school you couldn't graduate unless you passed the swimming requirement in PE.

That sounds similar to the camp DS is on. Where is your DD? DS went hiking last weekend and saw snow they were so far up the mountain! This weekend a group of them went to another town and stayed overnight.

He said his group last weekend were quite difficult as they were the oldest kids and knew each other, so wouldn't listen!!

DD is actually at a camp in Maine so about a 2/3 hour drive from Boston airport. It was a long day of travel yesterday but she said the camp was in a lovely spot and she seems very happy (but tired), so all good so far.

I hope your DD has a good trip too and enjoys her camp experience.

It’s so lovely to hear that the kids at camp are thriving. My dd arrived at Newark safely and is going back to the airport this afternoon to get her transport to camp. She met with two other girls who are going to the same camp as her. So so far so good!

DD is going as a lifeguard and been told lifeguards don't have to be able to swim well. Standards vary it seems. DD is an ex competitive swimmer who still does 3 to 4 hours a week training (so basically nothing in swim team terms) and is totally horrified.

It depends on the location they are life guarding. A shallow pool doesn’t require great swimming ability - so long as they can quickly and safely reach the bottom and then get to the sides for a rescue. Some pools are only 1.2 to 1.4m deep at camps and used mainly for teaching swimming and pool parties. Usually manned by someone in a chair plus two others walking down the sides.

The lake is an entirely different matter. At the camps I worked at they only ever hired the Aussies to work the lakes - they all had open water lifeguarding experience and were brilliant swimmers. I’d be rather worried if those who aren’t strong swimmers are stationed as lifeguards on the lake.

My daughter is tendering the boat, and they had to complete the lifeguarding training as well. They had 12 modules of test to cover first before arriving at camp, and the first week at camp was all day lifeguard training in the water and classroom. They then had to pass a written and physical exam.

They are on the lake and as you say, most of the kids are southern hemisphere dwellers. Strong swimmers but also have tender boat licences. I found it quite surprising that some who are waterski counselors, don't have boat licences. Just some experience.

Mine is off at another camp doing the American Red Cross practical course just now. She’s done the theory modules online and said was mostly similar to UK with a few things done differently.

She had the RLSS pool qualification in the UK and worked for a couple of years on Saturdays but was a bit horrified that none of the others hired to be lifeguards seem to have any previous experience.
No pool at her camp just the lake but not sure yet whether they have boats or will just be doing swimming close to the shore.

Pretty sure the practical course will include a swim test though so hopefully they will all pass that. It was the other non lifeguard counsellors that she’s been told might not be able to swim which I guess doesn’t matter too much

DS2 had to take CPR to get his American CPR
card before the camp started. Is this standard?

Not a specific course but dd had to send in her first aid certificate. And her RYA powerboat licence. She went through Camp Leaders. Maybe the agencies have different criteria?
My dd is a specialist counselor so I don't know if that makes a difference?

Well my daughter is off on Saturday. We are driving her to Heathrow very early Saturday morning. Going to be tough waving her off but I don’t feel too bad at the moment. I think now she is all packed and organised and ready to go is helping.
Any good recommendations for mosquito protection? I know she has a can of the jungle range but I think she needs to take a supply.

Any updates on any of your kids at camp?

Hope she has a smooth journey, it’s the start of a great adventure for her and will be good life experience.
Mine has been there 10 days now and is doing well, some ups and downs but lifeguard training finished yesterday and the American counsellors have all arrived now so it’s got a whole lot busier ahead of the kids arriving at the weekend.

Aww thank you so much. How you finding your kid being away?
I am looking forward to having lots of free time. I have spent the last 7 months driving my daughter to and from her temporary job to help her save on travel fare. Going to keep myself busy.

I am loving hearing about all the kids already out there having a great time.