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.

DS has been on camp for a week now. For those asking about taking bed linen, they were given the option of either doing an Amazon order in advance and having it delivered there, or stopping at Walmart/Target on their way to camp from the airport. DS opted for buying it on the way to Camp. He took 2 of the quick dry towels with him as they don't take up much luggage space. He also took his sleeping bag as they've been warned it is still very cold in The Rockies!

It feels pretty strange not hearing from him. We've had one WhatsApp as he landed and another to say it was good but cold the next day. The camp have put a couple of things on Instagram this week and I think I spotted his hoodie, so know he's still alive!!

Swimmum I agree about the not hearing from them, though I am getting a text a day so far. But with the time difference and her busy day, it's all a bit haphazard.
DD is having a good time - she said people were a bit quiet the first day or two, but are starting to relax. They've had lots of training and 'getting to know you' stuff, with more training to come ahead of a practice camp on Thursday, whatever that entails. They've been to Walmart, DD was 😲 at the size of it. Her bedding was provided with what looks like patchwork quilts on each bed which is sweet. There are 6 in her dorm and they have communal bathrooms and semi communal showers (separate but in same room). She said the food is "very American" (no shit!) - but she's quite excited to have tater tots next week, having grown up on crap American kids' TV. They've had campfires with s'mores which she was delighted about. The area is nice but very remote so nothing to do other than chill out/hike unless they get the camp bus into the small town.

My daughter is having a teams meeting tonight with her camp organisers and all the others that are going to work at the camp.

They said it will be a chance to meet the others and ask any questions.

Will let you all know how it goes. X

DS actually called us yesterday! He's having such a good time. It was only 8am there and he had already been out for a run with some of his new friends before breakfast. They are currently getting the camp ready, so he's been cutting down trees and building tents! He's also been fishing and caught some trout. We were then woken up at 4am with photos of a baby bear in the toilet block and another photo of a baby moose and her mum!! I think he totally forgot the time difference.

Sadly we also woke up to the news about the attack in Colorado. I was hopeful that it's such a huge state it wouldn't be anywhere near his camp. Unfortunately it happened in the town closest to camp, so now praying no-one from his camp was affected by it.

We are in the last stages of packing for DS2’s flight on Thursday (we are driving to Heathrow on Wednesday).

it’s feeling a bit real now 🥲

Gosh hasn’t it come round so quick.

We will be driving to Heathrow very early hours for my daughters flight🙈

@Lbettoo quick!!

I hope you have a safe journey tomorrow.

Ah my daughter doesn’t go until the 21st.

She had a very useful teams meeting last night and was really buzzing afterwards.
They got to meet each other as well as a lot of the staff.
They explained that they would take them on a shop the day after they arrive, all bedding is provided. They will be having every Saturday afternoon until Monday morning off where the will be a change over of kids going in.
They one thing she was so excited about is they will organise a 3 day trip to New York for them.
It all sounds absolutely amazing and I am so thrilled for her.

Hope your send off with your son won’t be too hard, I am dreading it😢

Hi everyone! I'm so glad to have found this thread. Our son flies out to Boston tomorrow and whilst we're so so proud of him I'm in bits! I know it's an amazing opportunity for him and he's so excited! Reading that some of you are feeling the same makes me feel slightly less ridiculous!

No you are not ridiculous at all, absolutely normal for us to feel a sense of sadness and proud at the same time.

Is your son excited and maybe a little nervous too?

Welcome to the thread by the way.

Thank you 😊Yes you've summed him up perfectly, he's really excited but also a little bit nervous! I just want him to have the best time and meet lots of new people. He's never been one for going out and socializing a lot so I'm hoping he makes lots of new friends 🙏

Oh I’m sure this will be the making of him.

How old is he, what has he been up to?
My daughter is on a gap year and then off to uni in Sept😢

He's 18 (19 in a couple of weeks) and just finished his first year at Uni. He didn't move away though, he went to our local Uni so this is a big move for him!

This is a warm up for you not having your daughter around then 😢

He sounds just like my DS. He has grown in confidence so much during his first year at uni, but after speaking to him at the weekend after his first week at camp, we could hear how happy he is. He's already made friends. This experience will be the making of him!

Oh that is so lovely to hear 😊

Ah yes a very big move for him too then.

Im sure we will be fine and just need to know they got there safe and settling in well.🤞

For those parents dropping off at Heathrow do you have a plan? My daughter doesn’t want us to hang around but I don’t want to head back home to Birmingham until I know she got her flight without any issues.

Thinking of going for breakfast somewhere and pass some time.

❤️

Good luck tomorrow, hope your son has a safe Journey.
Look forward to hearing all bout his experience.

Thank you 😊

Hello! Can I belatedly join this thread please?
My DS is going next week. He's excited. I'm a nervous wreck 😬.
Hope everyone's offspring are settling in well.
Not looking forward to saying goodbye next week!

It's hard saying goodbye, even if you're used to them being at university and living away. However, once you know they're through security and settled, it's fine! DS has been over there for nearly two weeks now. The camp have posted a few photos on Instagram and we've spotted him in those and he looks so happy. They were taken into the nearest town yesterday and the day before and he was sending us photos for Walmart and the ice-cream shop! Even in his messages he sounds more confident! This experience will be the making of all of them.

Yes I should be used to saying goodbye by now. For some reason this feels scarier! I'm not too worried about the camp bit. It's the travelling round America afterwards that is stressing me! Although that is 2 months away so I should just concentrate on now I guess!
It's good to hear your DS has settled in well.

We said goodbye to DS2 yesterday afternoon, it was hard but thankfully DS1 was also there (we haven’t seen him for 6 months). 🥲

He’s currently in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and have been getting messages from him, so we know he’s having a good flight.

The house is really quiet but I’m sure that will become normal in time.

Hello 👋🏼 Our son flew out yesterday and went through security with no problems at all! He has just video called us from a beautifully sunny camp and so far so good! 😊