by Toni L.P. Kelner / Leigh Perry
I never went to summer camp. Okay, I did a couple of stints at vacation Bible school, but I never did the cabin/sleeping bag/swimming in Lake Whatchamacallit thing. None of the outdoorsy stuff appealed to me, plus I was shy and a picky eater, so communal living really didn't thrill me. I'd say that my only experience with summer camps as a child was in books and in movies like The Parent Trap. (The original one--with Hayley Mills and Hayley Mills.)
I admit Hayley and Hayley lent a certain glamour to the idea of getting dumped into the lake and constructing bird cages out of Popsicle sticks, but I already had three sisters and didn't relish the idea of coming home with a hitherto unknown twin. So I was happy to have missed that particular rite of passage.
Then I had kids who wanted to go to camp, and took a whole new look at them. My gosh, even the rich Hayley never had camps like the ones that are available now. There are sports camps, math camps, science camps, high school prep camps, college prep camps, and fitness camps. There are camps for computer programming, animation, and game design. Kids can spend all summer at one camp, or switch venues every week.
Now my kids are no more into sports than I was, and honestly can be just as picky eaters, but they can still enjoy the wonders of summer camps in their own particular idiom: drama, art, and live-action role playing.
Maggie's was the first to go a'camping at Kidstock, a theater school in nearby Winchester, MA. We were gratified when she came home after the first day and told us she'd be playing Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet." Then she reassured us that she would not actually have to kiss the young actor playing Romeo. As it worked out, they had several Juliets of different age levels and acting abilities. Here's Maggie in costume.
Later on she appeared as a random member of the Capulet family in a massive battle with Montagues. Cutest. Fight. Scene. Ever.
Val joined the Kidstock fun when she was old enough, but I confess I can't remember what role she was playing in this glorious hat. (Hats play an important part in characterization.)
Both girls continued to attend summer camp at Kidstock for many years: acting, singing, dancing, making movies, doing Popsicle-stick free art projects. (Not a canoe in sight! And while I enjoyed attending ever single performance--sometimes going to the same show multiple times--I never felt wistful about having missed out on a camp like Kidstock myself. I'm not an actress or a dancer, and my singing is pretty much restricted to the shower.
In later years, both girls attended a different kind of camp: live-action role-playing camp. (That's LARP to those of you who share my geek cred.) Wizards and Warriors gave Maggie and Valerie the chance to create characters and design costumes to match. (Well, with a little shopping help from me.) The counselors led them through fantasy adventures in the mythical land of Siddleterra with mysteries to solve, battles to fight, and stories to tell. It's amazing.
Though Maggie has now aged out of the summer camp phenomenon, Valerie just finished a session Wizards and Warriors this week, and the big finale was the Feast of Heroes. Songs were song, heroes were recognized, and we managed to escape from a ring wraith. (Bilbo Baggins made a guest appearance.) Some of the parents--and big sisters--got into the spirit, too, and came in costume. Here's Valkyrie Stefansdottir, Maggie, and the aforementioned Stefan at the feast.
You know what. With Wizards and Warriors, I finally found a summer camp I would have liked to attend. Like? I'd have begged my parents for a chance to go. Of course, it's too late for me to dress up for such things. Or is it?
I think I'm starting to like summer camp after all.
PS - I very much hope to follow Marcia's example some day and establish Camp Grandmama! And just in case, I'll hang onto my hat.
You two should get the Best Parents Ever award. It's always great to hear about your girls' adventures. They're both so artistic!
Posted by: Mary | July 29, 2013 at 05:34 PM