Getting The Camp Experience

By Sally Friedman

Camp ... even the word is evocative, conjuring up images of campfires, children happily swimming in lakes with muddy bottoms, snug cabins in the woods . . .

But if that's what you thought camp was all about these days, it's time for a wake-up call. The proliferation of camps that appeal to special interests, camps that teach, camps that explore nature or computers or chess or math, have taken their place alongside the traditional settings remembered so fondly by earlier generations.

Meet the new world of camping, 2008 style. And celebrate the fact that the old-style camps do still exist for those who love the way things used to be.

Even taking into account this new generation of campers, young people with their own dreams and expectations, the whole idea of the "camp" experience - in whatever form - still appears to be a relevant and popular one.

"There is a camp for every child, and every child deserves a camp experience." That's the belief of Michael Chauveau, executive director of the American Camp Association's Keystone Regional Section, one of 24 ACA divisions across the country. Mr. Chauveau happens to be the longest-serving regional director in the United States.

"Studies show that children who go to camp tend to succeed in life and in work," he said, also noting that camp teaches valuable, lifelong lessons and skills like cooperation, communication and team-building, along with independence and leadership.

That's a tall order, even for the best camp. And it's more important than ever, according to Tufts University child development expert, Dr. David Elkind, the keynote speaker at the 2007 American Camp Association National Conference.

Dr. Elkind, like many other childhood experts, laments that today's youngsters are in constant motion and that good, old-fashioned play can at least compensate for some of that overscheduling and stress.

And speaking of stress, parents selecting a camp obviously face an embarrassment of riches - there are so many camps with so many features that the selection itself can be daunting. But they also face the perennial parental angst of sending their child off without them.

The ACA understands that parents worry about what happens when they leave their precious "cargo" behind and drive away. Who will see to it that a possibly homesick and worried child will be comforted and helped?

Enter the independent camp consultant - a new breed of professional who can offer guidance for a fee. You can do your research on the Internet and in the library, or even the phone book, for names and services offered. To be completely safe however, don't forget personal references from other parents.

Web sites are especially useful because they help present a broader picture of camp life than the old brochures ever did. And speaking to camp staff and directors can be equally insightful - they, too, want your child to succeed.

The simple summary: The ACA dubs camp's attributes the Four C's: compassion, contribution, commitment and character. Those are the accomplishments that parents should be looking for.

Not Your Father's Or Mother's Camp

He had recently emigrated to the United States, and was working as an accountant back in 1977, when Julian Krinsky, a native of South Africa, decided to take on a few private tennis students. And for good reason: Mr. Krinsky's background included being a former tennis pro who played at Wimbledon and in the Davis Cup competition.

Three months later, Julian Krinsky had quit his accounting job and had begun to concentrate totally on recreation for youngsters. He sensed that there was the potential for tremendous growth in the camping industry - and he was right.

Today, Mr. Krinsky runs what can best be described as an empire. The Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs are expected to attract youngsters from all over the world, starting from his base in King of Prussia. Mr. Krinsky and his wife and business partner Tina, recently reflected on that vision of the child-centered future that they transformed into their dream.

"Today's youngsters are extremely sophisticated, extremely enlightened, and always seeking something that's ahead of the curve," said Mr. Krinsky, "so the goal is to find out what their passions are, and to offer that world to them in a meaningful way."

The Krinskys, husband and wife, have done just that, leasing campuses around the Delaware Valley and offering a smorgasbord of choices to kids from middle school through high school. The summer programs, which include traditional elements like arts, sports and fitness, are staffed with both professional teachers for the program content, and with young adults who try to make sure that life behind the scenes, and in the dorms runs as smoothly as possible.

Most of all, Julian and Tina Krinsky did what was simple - and wise. "We listened to kids and carved out our niche," explains Tina, who handles the marketing end of the Krinsky operation.

This summer, one very popular Krinsky camp will be located on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania where an arts and architecture program will allow enrollees to work with Penn faculty. There will also be science exploration program on the Penn campus for middle school students who want hands-on science. And at Princeton University, a general pre-college program, complete with Princeton's bucolic and beautiful campus as a "perk," will be offered.

And that's just the beginning. Krinsky programs include internships for inside glimpses of various professions, summers devoted to community service in shelters, soup kitchens and non-profits, and even business workshops for future Donald Trumps.

"Parents and teens are discovering the invaluable results of spending a summer preparing for college and their future," said Julian Krinsky. Tina Krinsky concurs: "As kids have changed so has the summer camping industry."

And at Krinsky camps, that includes staying wired. Cell phones, text messages and Facebook are not banned, and are, in fact, encouraged. "Today's savvy teens are Generation Now. They need an instant connection to the world," noted Sarah Heidliff, Teen Marketing Specialist for the Krinsky camps.

And that's what they get.

Tradition! Another Kind Of Camp

No cell phones allowed at the traditional Camp Shohala for Boys in Greeley, Pike County, with the Pocono Mountains as one of the main attractions. A "sister" camp, located 15 miles away in Milford, under different management, sometimes provides the social context for the lads.

Director Duncan Barger, who literally grew up at the camp started by his grandfather in 1943 and continued by his father, is a devout believer in tradition. "We think a sense of continuity is very important, and we have kept our camp small and traditional," he said.

Archery, horseback riding, canoeing, sailing and swimming and that quintessential camp experience "Color War," are all part of life at Camp Shohala, where boys from 7 to 15 live in small cabins with bunk beds - the original cabins that have been there since 1943. The cabins have bathrooms, but the shower house is separate.

Mr. Barger has shrewdly made some concessions to contemporary kids, too. Windsurfing and water-skiing, technology programs and Web design are also on the menu. "But we've stemmed the tide of modern life to the extent possible - no go-carts or video games, no cell phones, no Gameboys," explained Mr. Barger.

Children from the east coast generally populate Camp Shohola, although there are youngsters and staff from Mexico, Spain, England and France who also attend the camp.

"One of the real benefits of a single-sex camp is removing the pressure to impress. We think the atmosphere is really healthier for the kids, and we know how to channel all that boy energy," said Mr. Barger. "We've been doing it for three generations."

Philadelphia's own Grace Kelly and her daughters, Princesses Stephanie and Caroline, found a camp homeland at Camp Oneka, a traditional girls overnight camp in Tafton, also in the Poconos, that is celebrating its 100th anniversary this summer.

"We are committed to the girls' camp concept as a means of allowing girls to enjoy new experiences in a supportive, non-threatening, non-judgmental environment. We believe that Oneka's environment helps girls shed stereotypes that may limit their growth," said co-director Barbara Dohner, a registered nurse who shares the camp responsibilities with her husband Dale, a biology teacher associated with Radnor High School for over 35 years.

Oneka, as befits the First Family of Monaco, is located on the very private and picturesque Fairview Lake, a natural, spring-fed, clean, and relatively warm (76 to 78 degrees Farenheit) body of water. Water activities are very much in the forefront because of the location, and include swimming, sailing, boating and tubing, among many other water-based activities.

Coed Camp

Mickey Black's late grandfather, Hughie Black, a popular high school teacher and well-known basketball star of the old South Philadelphia Hebrew Athletic Society (SPHAs), recognized that lots of Philadelphia kids wanted to get out of the city over the long, hot summer. So he and his wife, Selma, founded Camp Pine Forest in Greeley in 1931 in the Pocono Mountains. In what was a rarity for that era, the camp was co-ed.

Initially a Jewish camp, the place thrived under the stewardship of Hughie and Selma's children, Marvin and Annette Black and Libby and Ted Halpern.

Today, Pine Forest, which is still predominantly, but not exclusively Jewish, has Mickey Black and his wife Barbara at the helm. And in some ways, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

"We certainly preserve our traditions, because in so many ways, that's what camp is all about. But we also move with the times," said Mr. Black, who also oversees Lake Owego for Boys, and its sister camp, Timber Tops for Girls, making his camp grand total about 800 youngsters and 400 staffers - "a small city," as Mr. Black suggests.

"The basics have been the same since 1931, with the emphasis on friendship, independence and fun," said the veteran camp director. "But we definitely have expanded activities from our original eight or nine to about 45 now, with everything from basketball and archery to rock-and-roll, rocketry and rock climbing and so much more."

Mr. Black also is quick to point out that even camp food has changed with the culture. "Food planning has become far more complex today. We're dealing with vegetarians and vegans, with a medley of food allergies, and that means we're always trying to find options and looking for alternatives. Food at the camp remains 'kosher style,' but not kosher."

Something else that has changed - and done so dramatically - is the demographic of Pine Forest and its sister/brother camps. "We now have campers and staff from Europe, South America," said Mickey Black. "This summer, [we have] our first children from China. The global village has caught up with camp!"

Camps With A Religious Identity

Faith-based camps are very much in demand in this camp era, with numerous choices from most denominations. One of the most successful in this region is the Carson-Simpson Farm Christian Center, a ministry of the United Methodist Church.

The original mission, back in 1919, was to bring children with financial need to camp for a time to get away and enjoy nature in a spiritual atmosphere. In addition, a day camp was added in 1992.

Spiritual well-being is a high priority at the camp, which is located in Hatboro. "Our program includes daily Bible time where the kids can learn about God's love for them in a creative way. Our Friday chapel is a time of celebration and singing," explained Program Manager JoAnne Carroll.

The day camp operates from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with some programs running from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. "There is great opportunity for growth in the child," said Meg Neitz, Day Camp Director.

Special Interest Camps

In a rural setting in Salem County, N.J., there's a Camp named Appel Farm that's alive with music and art. Appel Farm has a long and lustrous history, and was actually started by two classical musicians who deeply believed in the talent innate in each child - talent just waiting to be discovered and nurtured.

Albert and Clare Appel have been running four- and eight- week sessions for the past 47 years for campers four to 19, with a full staff of artist-educators.

"There are no auditions to attend," explained Dee Billia, who handles marketing and public relations for the camp, "and campers are given a wide variety of choices for their major and minor programs, with lots of free choice times."

The emphasis is on art for art's sake, and the mood is non-competitive. "It's a great place for young people to feel accepted, at home and creative," said Ms. Billia.

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Source: The Bulletin - May 12, 2008
Original link: Getting The Camp Experience