Americans - please answer (if you can)?

Question

Did any of you guys go to Summer Camp as a kid?? What were they like and what did you do in the day/night. Whats the food like?I'm going to be a camp leader this summer (I'm from UK) and just trying to get as much info and perspectives as possible. Thanks

Answer 1

I've never gone to summer camp, but I've sent my 7 year old daughter to summer camp for the past two summers, and she absolutely loves it!

The one she goes to is a Christian based camp, although it doesn't seem to be really religious. They do have a short prayer in the morning, along with the pledge of allegiance to the flag ... but that's the only relgious activity that they do.

At camp, the children go on group hikes... they have certain activities that they do on different days... like on Wednesday, they horseback ride... and on Tuesday and Thursday - they go canoeing for an hour (with a camp leader in their canoe)... They swim in the lake every day for two hours - (the children's swimming area is kind of roped in by some docks, so the children can't venture out into deep water), and they have a beach/sand play area for them. They have a basketball court, and a tennis court there, but my daughter has never mentioned playing there.
On rainy days, they do crafts and sing songs and play games inside.


They also have craft time, and they roasted marshmallows on a bonfire... and I think once a week they have a "special guest" come to the camp for an assembly - like a "exotic animal specialist" that brings lizards and snakes... or someone from the art musuem comes in and shows them some kind of art exhibit.

It's all about learning and having fun with the other kids... and for me, I'm happy because she gets to do things that I don't usually take her to do.. (like the horse riding)

For food - it's easy stuff, like hamburgers and chicken sandwiches - and chips and juice.. It seems to be things that are easy to make for 200 people - nothing really gormet... but maybe if you go to a more expensive camp, they have better meals??

I bet you'll have a great time, and you will make a lot of friends iwth the other counselors.. I think they all get to be like "family" away from home.

Answer 2

I went to summer camp ever summer from the age of 9 to the age of 14. I loved it!

I started out at a Girl Scout Camp and then started going to an all girls camp in West Virginia. It was a more upscale camp with lots of prominently families sending their girls there. The parents were snobbish, but the girls were nice!

During the day we would take riding lessons (all of our teachers were from the UK), swim, hike, trail ride, play tennis, volleyball, or soccer. We also did dance, arts and crafts, archery, and drama. Each area had a specific counselor that taught that subject.

At night we had dances (all girls, but we were all so young we didn't notice), campfires, performances, or overnights on the mountains or in the Field. There were 3 night activities at my camp.

Very good memories, and you'll get to see a bit of America as well! Let me know if you have any more questions. My email is [e-mail].

The link for the camp is: http://www.camprimrock.com

Cheers!

Answer 3

Yes, I went to the same YMCA summer camp every summer from the time I was about 8 until I was 16 and then became a Junior councilor for a couple of years after that. I very much enjoyed it.

This camp was on a lake so many of the activities were waterfront related such as skiing, sailing, swimming, and canoes. However, we also had horses, crafts, field sports, day hikes, etc...

The day was generally divided into "activity sessions" (a couple in the morning and a couple in the evening). You would pick whatever activity you wanted to do and simply show up at the start of the session. Each day we also had a "free swim" period where your cabin would enjoy the swimming area with a couple of other cabins.

Food was served family cafeteria style and each cabin had their own table in the dining hall. Kids would rotate through KP duty.

Each camping session lasted about 10 days to 2 weeks. I often stayed for 2 back to back camp sessions.

Here is a link to their website.

http://www.campgradyspruce.org/Index.cfm?FuseAction=Page&PageID=1001099

I was also a Boy Scout and went to a Boy Scout camp for a couple of years as well. That was definately fun, but not nearly as fun as Camp Grady Spruce.

Answer 4

I went to camp once. Let see....we stand in cabins and were divided up by age and gender. It was a church camp, so during the mornings and early afternoons we had "lessons". They were fun though...it was a lot of churches merging together and the preachers of the churches were the teachers. Then, in the afternoons there were games to play, swimming, fishing, hiking, and "cantene"..which is when you buy all the snacks. There was a camp fire every night and a movie. There is always something going on it seemed. I remember the food being okay, but not great.

I hope this helped some. I only ever went to camp once and I remember that when I got back I was exhausted...so, I imagine you'll have your work cut out for you. Good luck!

Answer 5

My children have gone to summer camp. The camp they go to is on a lake & there is canoing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, archery, arts & crafts, group sing-a-longs, hiking, ...other stuff too. They seemed to like the food. American kids foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, mac & cheese. BTW my town (& others) host a week of UK soccer camp with young men (& a few women) who come over from UK. Very nice people & great with the kids. Have a great time!

Answer 6

I went to summer camp when I was a kid. It was an overnight camp for a week. We were able to choose a program for the morning (Horseback riding, outdoor adventure, arts and crafts or swimming) and go to pick 3 shorter activities in the afternoon (archery, swimming, horseback riding, arts and crafts, sports and games, biking etc). We had many different types of foods... hotdogs, hamburgers, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, pizza etc. At night we had a different program and had freetime. We had bonfires at night and made s'mores (toasted marshmallow on a graham cracker with a piece of chocolate). We sang songs and got to spend time with other campers. I loved it. I think I went 8 years in a row.

Answer 7

yes, very recently too.

Camp during the day is nothing but excitement, smiles, and acting crazy for the fun of it, getting excercise, meeting new friends, and trying new things.

The night time is for staying up past the time that the leaders say to go to bed and telling secrets!

The food is decent, though be careful when it comes to things like meats just incase they are undercooked. The dessert is amazing tho!

i wish that i could be a leader at a camp this year, but too busy. Hope that I helped, and have a great time!

Answer 8

The best part is when you ask a Tattoo Questions and Sex or College, you get American answers which is way out Tattoos in UK ( and rest of the world some countries 14 or none at all ) age 16 no need parents signature or consent, USA you have too! UK and rest of the world Legal drinking age 18, USA 21 ! lol Legal sex age 16 in UK , USA varies from state to state from 16-18 College UK most graduate by 19- 20 , USA ? They just started College drink binge But I love NYC and been living here so long love the Yanks! :p

Answer 9

i went to Girl Scout camp every summer, for a week at a time.

during the day, we would hike, boat, swim, do all kinds of physical activities, arts and crafts, etc.
at night, we would sleep in tents, try to stay up late, get scared to death by spiders, and avoid sleeping as much as possible.

food was OK. nothing spectacular, kind of like school food.

Answer 10

There was usually games, crafts, hiking, swimming,skits (little plays kids made up and performed),singing around the campfire ect...I had fun at most of my camps. I met some very cool people from all over. I hope you have fun!