Hi Folks,
IT OCCURS TO ME…
I do not like wearing a coat and tie. If the situation warrants, I can put up with it for a short stretch of time without complaining (too much). And therein lies a fundamental truth about the power of camp. One of the reasons camp can be so transformative in the lives of kids and young adults is the fact that it is only a segment of a child’s year. And a brief segment at that. The camp season has a clearly defined beginning and end, and almost from the day it starts, the end is right there on the horizon, coming soon.
So in the same way I may say, “I think I’ll put on a tie today,” a camper may say to himself, “I think this summer I’ll be a vegetarian.” There are 2 reasons that’s not the best example. 1) I have NEVER said “I think I’ll put on a tie today,” and 2) Dietary changes happen sometimes at camp, but we’re talking about even deeper issues than that.
We know for certain that kids use camp to “try on” different versions of themselves. And why not? Camp is – again – short term; it is a different environment with different kids, so it is a safe place to do some “lab work.” We have had many of our older guys tell us that camp was where they felt safe to explore the kind of person they want to be. They have great role models at camp, and they feel so strongly supported. It is with that opportunity and security that kids say things to themselves like, “At camp this summer, I’m going to be adventurous!” Or “I’m going to be outgoing and gregarious.” Or “I’m going to be kind and thoughtful.”
Does that not sound like your kids to you? Well, folks, it truly happens like that all the time. Whether it is being more friendly, more willing to say yes to a challenge, more open to a new food, more accepting of someone else’s faults, camp is a great place to “try it on” in part because it doesn’t last too long.
Lots of kids find they really like the new way of being who they are at camp. However, once they get back to their friends at home, many find it difficult or awkward to introduce their “new” selves to those friends. We believe that’s why some of these invaluable lessons they learn at camp about who they want to be and how they want to conduct themselves are more often implemented when they’re older and they head off to college. In many ways just like camp, college is a new setting, with new people and new freedoms, and it’s a chance to bust out the new “me” they’ve been working on at camp.
So often we hear people say they wish school was 2 months and camp was 10. We can truly understand the sentiment. Still, we know the shorter duration of the camp season compared to the school year supports great learning opportunities.
In no way are we advocating that less is more when it comes to the length of our camp sessions. To establish the support, trust, and mentoring relationships our counselors and campers share takes time. Too short, and it just can’t happen. Taking a balanced approach is how we can best assure these opportunities and relationships that facilitate them are available to our campers. It makes us so proud when we see the kids take those chances and grow so much in the process.
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| Date by Which Medications Must ARRIVE at Camp | 1st Session | 2nd Session/8 Wk Refills |
| 10 Days Before Session Begins – No Fee | June 8th | July 5th |
| 5 – 9 Days Before Session Begins – $50 Fee | June 9th – June 13th | July 6th – July 10th |
| 4 Days or Less Before Session Begins – $100 Fee | June 14th or Later | July 11th or Later |
ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS? If your son experiences a last-minute injury or illness requiring a medication to be prescribed beyond our designated deadline, we will, of course, manage the medication for him. If a late doctor appointment results in a prescription change or addition, we will manage that as well. In either event, we will add a Medication Handling Fee of $25.
And…finally, WE REQUIRE A WRITTEN DOCTOR’S ORDER TO DISPENSE ANY TYPE OF SLEEP AID TO CAMPERS.This includes Melatonin, Advil PM, etc. Camp is an active, healthy place free of blue light from electronic screens. Even kids who are highly sleep-challenged at home fall asleep quickly and naturally at camp.
Non-Medical Forms:
From your Keylog page on our website (www.camptimberlane.com), you will need to complete the following no later than May 15th:
- Travel Form (No need to re-submit this if you already did).
- Camper Profile Form (Not for CITs)
- Visiting Weekend RSVP form (For any parents coming to visit camp July 14th/15th. This includes Full Season families, 1st Session families picking their kids up and sticking around for some time, or 2nd Session families dropping their kids off and planning to come in early.)
Billing:
Your son’s financial account info is always online on your Keylog page, so you can always check it out yourself. In a few weeks we’ll send you a reminder email that your balance payment is due on May 15th.
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YO STAFF:
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TRIP NEWS:BRAVO TO OUR APRIL BIRTHDAY BOYS & GIRLS:
Sean Fehrenbach – 04/02, Michael Gordon – 04/04, Jordan Plocker – 04/04, Charlie Callen – 04/08, Owen Monieson – 04/08, Ethan Letwat – 04/10, Aleja Rodriguez – 04/11, Daniel Solot – 04/11, Jack Franzke – 04/12, Kobe Cerra – 04/13, Nate Gale – 04/13, Zachary Liss – 04/14, Ashton Mazza – 04/15, Evan Bloom – 04/18, Daniel Friedland – 04/18, Blake Lehrer – 04/18, Josh Meyer – 04/18, Rory Evans – 04/19, Aaron Berns – 04/21, Zach Kallmeyer – 04/21, Matthew Paley – 04/22, Evan Goreham – 04/23, Andres Canchon – 04/24, Noah Coen – 04/24, Nikki Moscinski – 04/24, Cole Peterson – 04/24, Noah Sexter – 04/24, Adam Stewart – 04/25, Levi Raskin – 04/26, Hitch Hitchens – 04/27, Simon Kanovitz – 04/27, Evan Waldman – 04/29.
COMING SOON…
Our next post will update you on campers and staff members who have joined us in the last month. Try to hold on till then!!
Benches up,
