The End of the Season, the Big Questions, and the Marvel of Who Your Child Becomes
We are approaching the end of the summer camp season. When school takes a summer break, parents must find places for the children to be occupied and stretched in some way. The sleep-away camp is a challenge. How old should your child be to go to a sleep-away camp? How long should they stay that first year? Should you buttonhole a friend to send her child to the same camp so yours will have a buddy? Will your child be willing to get on the bus? Is your child ready to spend a few weeks away from home, or is day camp the only option?
The questions come flooding in. Fortunately, one of the local schools has a camp fair a month or so before you have to make these decisions. So, you gather the children and head out to the camp fair. Perhaps the children will solve this dilemma for you.
The school gymnasium is filled with booths from camps all over the region. Some are local. Some are focused on a particular sport or theme. Some are sleep-away. In that category, some are quite camping rough, and some are 5-star elegant. You watch the children as they wander around, hoping to see a spark that will help you decide. Of course, you have a budget, so the 5-star elegant may be out of reach. But for the right place, you might be willing to stretch.
That process is now long behind you, and you are preparing to pick your child up from camp. They have been going to this place year after year. On one level, you are a bit surprised at the original choice. The camp is buried deep in the mountains, with woods all around. Access is a dirt road off the state highway. You are glad you have an SUV that sits high off the ground because, at one point, you actually have to drive through a stream if it has been raining. At other times, it is a dry bed. As you pick your child up this time, you are hoping for a drought because your SUV is in the shop and you are driving the station wagon.
You marvel at what your child has been enjoying. Log cabins with no AC. Outdoor showers. Outhouses. Who is this kid? At home, luxury is a must. Hot showers with fluffy towels. Flushing toilets, of course. Fully stocked fridge and snack cabinet. Who is this kid? How are they able to be thrilled with the bare basics for 8 weeks of the summer but can’t be bothered to clean the sink after brushing their teeth? How can they muck out horse stalls and not be able to clean up the crumbs when making a sandwich? How can they fight mosquitoes while climbing to the top of the mountain and refuse to go outside to pick up the newspaper that has missed the porch and landed on the lawn?
This child is a marvel, and you can’t wait for the trip home to hear all of the stories and feel the warmth of a summer well spent.
Explore related reflections:
The Right Mindset blog
Seasonal reflections
Therapeutic approaches
Learn more from trusted youth development and camp resources:
American Camp Association
Child Mind Institute – Benefits of Summer Camp
Psychology Today – Child Development
If you are navigating parenting stress, emotional transitions, or questions about your child’s development, therapy can offer clarity and grounding. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support insight, resilience, and meaningful growth.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst