Summer kids

We are actually planning much less this summer than last...mostly because I have classes 5 days a week from June 14 to July 16... Both DDs will go to sleep-away camp for the last week of June, and since dd13.75 is going to high school, she begins marching band practice (4 mornings a week + Band Camp!) at the end of July!

Our older scouts are planning to run a two-day "day camp" with a circus theme at the end of June. They have crafts and activities planned for up to 10 children (ages 3-6) each day. This is part of their "Silver Award" project, which is the highest award they can earn as Cadets.

We have several long weekends planned for camping at Punderson State Park (closer, to you, Heidi!) and a week (yep, seven days!) scheduled for camping on Kelley's Island. We've not camped for that long in the tent, but...what-the-heck! Why not?!? Much of our camping will depend on the weather, though, because we won't go if the entire week-end will be yucky! We don't mind a little rain, but we aviod expected, days-long downpours!

I asked DD9 what she wanted to "learn" this summer, expecting "dinosaurs," "lizzards," or some such topic...she said, "long division!" She can't be my child! Anyways, it looks like "more math" may be the theme for us this year!

We're going to go through this book and see how many we can read, too!

Last week I cleaned the easel, stocked up on new construction paper, crayons/markers, etc., and bought a wonderful set of oil pastels and paper for DD13.75's drawing...(did I tell you all that I just had a still-life that she drew framed and hung in the hall? It's incredible! I'll try to photograph it and post.) I still need to sort through the bits-and-pieces of craft stuff and do some organization in the basement. If I get it "findable," they will do the rest!

We need to fix and fill the pool, too, but that may wait until next week-end.

For "not much," that seems like alot, huh?

Happy Summer Break!

Lenora

1. I'm planning-challenged.

2. We are down to one vehicle. So, no more impromptu visits to the lake, not unless I *plan* (see no. 1) to drop DH off at work. At least until he gets a used something-or-other to get to work.

However, I had planned to visit my college roomie next weekend. She lives near Charleston SC and I thought I could at least make a weekend of it. I'm thinking of renting something for DH to drive to work while I'm gone with the minivan. There's a beach not far from her town. I think I'll book a motel for two nights and just hang out and visit her and another old friend.

Lenora's inspiring me to get our pop-up camper repaired and go someplace with good (but easy) hiking. If I can get DH to plan for it. He's more planning-challenged than me.

My eldest DD is 8 now. Is that too young for camp? I went to girl scout camp at that age, but nowadays how do you screen for counselors, etc? I have read that sexual predators often take jobs like those and it makes me leery. Really, I'm not trying to be a wet blanket...do I worry too much?

Camps can be accredited, which means they meet certain minimum safety standards. Do sex offenders have to register in Georgia? If so, you could get the counselors' names to check on them, I suppose.

I don't let DD8 go to overnight camps but she has been going to day or half day camps since she was six. She is going to a public school and the camps she attends have public school teachers (some from her school) as counselors. This year, I had to cancel two of the three camps because of the rising gas (and grocery) prices. We can't afford so many extra trips to town on top of the camps' tuition right now Anyway, I don't think that you worry too much. The thought is always on my mind as well.

DD8 will still get to go to a two week long half day camp for gifted children at the local university. I also planned for at least one "day trip" per week to a State Park so we can go swimming. Otherwise, it's going to be a "back yard vacation" for us

Last year, DD(then-8) went to camp for three days. My girls go to a United Methodist camp (there are three in our conference.) Each camp has a comprehensive "Child Protection Policy" including screening all employees and volunteers with fingerprinting and nation-wide criminal background checks. They have regulations regarding camper/staff ratios and privacy (ie. counselors being alone with campers, etc). Of course, no "policy" is worth anything if not enforced, but I know the director of their camp personally, and he is absolutely devoted to creating a safe (in every way) environment. (I still verify every year (this is dd13.75's 5th year there) that the screening was conducted on EVERY employee who will be at the camp.) I would absolutely avoid a "church" camp (or a church itself, for that matter) that used its religious affiliation as an excuse not to address these issues!


Susannah, the Girl Scouts use similar screening regulations, and the staff at GS camps are almost totally "female" with the exception, (probably) of a camp caretaker (Our GS camp has a "resident family" as caretakers.) An all-female staff reduces the possibility of sexual abuse by about 98%. My only objection to OUR GS week-long camps is no hot water! I wouldn't love that for an entire week, and neither would my girls.

(Note! Although I'm sure that the Boy Scouts have similar policies, I would not place my son (if I had one) in an "all-male" environment for a week...statistically, that is a much higher risk.)

Frankly, I consider camp as an important part in "protecting" my girls from predators. Self-confident, independent, strong children with healthy attachments are not targets for predators...predators target insecure, unattached, introverted children. The more healthy attachments my girls make, the better. I have great confidence in this particular program.

If you have not read "Protecting the Gift" by Gavin DeBecker, DO SO! (Lynn has a link for it.) It is imperitive reading for all parents!

Love to all, and happy camping!


Lenora

my DD16 will be trying to get her drivers license,,,,I am not too keen on this but I must let her grow up,,,I think shes a tad afraid because of all the kookie drivers out there

she will also do the band thing,,loves it. marching practice and parades. she also is going to have to do History over the summer as she is going to try and AP test. I believe its because the class is so long that she has to do some work this summer and take a regular test the first wk back. This will help the class go faster and then they will do the AP testing a month before school ends. If she passes the test it will count for a college credit. Cool she will be a junior

I hope she is going to try and be sociable this summer,,,remember shes the one that loves her room

DD13 is turning 14 this summer she is in four honors classes next year so she has summer reading to do. She has to do an analysis [sp ] not a 'book report' and turn it in when we pay for her classes. They are books from a list of course.
I know she will be off with her friends alot.

of course my girls have their regular chores and then in the summer we do a JOB JAR. I love that jar nothing horrible to do just a bit more than the regular make beds and stuff

and we are all going to go on a Disney cruise at the end of July. It is a land and sea [ carribean] on the Wonder ship
in August we are going to my moms for a few days,,,looking forward to that we are going to her house in WIS.

then school starts again ,,,such a short summer