overnight camp.
Other factors are important,
including previous day camp ex-
perience and overnight stays
outside the home. "Has he
stayed at grandma's? At
friends? Does he belong to a
Scout or religious group that
has gone camping overnight?"
she asked. If it's a coed camp,
will a sibling be attending? If
it's a single-sex camp, is there
a companion camp a sibling will
be attending?
Dr. Gary Gershman of Camp
Harlem tosses out a few more
questions for parents to consid-
er. What else will the child be
doing this summer — will he be
sitting around playing video
games or is he looking to get
more out of the summer than
that? Are his friends going to
camp?
"A lot of kids in the 11 to 12
age range are away at camp
and they want to be with their
friends. We get this a lot with
campers who come from cities
like Philadelphia," Dr. Gersh-
man said. "On the other hand,
we also have a number of
campers who come from small
towns and rural communities
and their parents want the kid
to at least be in a Jewish envi-
ronment during the summer.
Just remember, the earlier you
start children in camp, the ear-
lier they'll make friends, form
their cliques."
Ms. Lister believes that ex-
posing children to new experi-
ences like overnight camp is
beneficial. But she also realizes
that "there's a fine line between
nudging a reluctant child to do
something different and push-
ing too fast."
Myra Hettleman, associate
director of Jewish Family Ser-
vices' Children's Services in Bal-
timore, says that whatever the
child's age, readiness for
overnight camp depends on a
host of personality traits. "The
child's sense of trust in adults
and new experiences, his ca-
pacity to get along with other
children and to cooperate with
adults, his capacity to enjoy new
experiences and to be indepen-
dent," she listed.
Although she doesn't want to
focus on ages, Mrs. Hettleman
does add two provisos. First,
children of 9 and 10 are "read-
ier to be independent" than
younger ages, she says. Second,
for children younger than that,
a short session works best. `Two
weeks would probably be
enough," judged Mrs. Hettle-
man although camp directors
themselves disagree over what's
a good session length for a first-
time camper.
Some directors don't like
them, arguing, as does Judy
Young of Capital Camps, that
in 2-week and shorter sessions,
AWAY page 70
JCC Summer
Camp Is For
•
Everyone!
•
•
For a summer of fun and unforgettable memories make your plans at the Jewish
Community Center. We offer flexible, exciting new programs including
transportation to and from camp.
Your guide to a New and Exciting Summer!
•
•
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•
Pre-School thru 5th Grade
Safari
Teen Caravan
Camper's Choice
Camp of the Arts
All Pro Sports
Summer Travel Adventure
For more information and a full
color Summer Camp brochure
call
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661-1007
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Session I: June 27-July 21
Session II: July25- August 18
A
Sign up before May 1 for special discounts!
All the
"Best"
Clothing & Equipment
You Need
For Camp!!
Camping Outerwear, Equipment, Wool Sweaters,
Flannel Shirts and Much, Much More!
3405 ORCHARD LAKE ROAD, KEEGO HARBOR
Mountaineering & Backcountly Travel
(810) 738-5291
few
the
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you can:
At OSRU1
Paint a picture
Se e the stars e
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laste Shabbat
Climb the 'lower
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terrific kids!
For More Info,
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Union Institute
3111187.-I411 01.
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