Category: camp

Views From The Top of the Hill

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

I’m home… and I’m tired. It’s been a long day.

We started with a family day at Religous School. The theme was “Honoring one parents”, as the students were studying that. The Rabbi pointed out how the Torah say “honor your father and mother” in one place, but “revere your mother and father” in another. We explored the difference on why the order was reversed, as well as the difference between honor and revere. The point was that this is more of an adult commandment, focusing on the relationship between adults and their parents at the end of their lives, so that the parents don’t lose respect. For example, you need to make sure their needs are taken care of (but not to your personal financial detriment), you need to not “sit in their chair” (i.e., attempt to take their place), you need to not contradict or argue with them (find another way to resolve the issue). We talked about why the father comes first on honor (which actually relates to support) vs the mother on revere (which comes from the word with the sense of fear): the rabbis indicated this is because children are used to the mother providing sustinence, and fearing the father. Quite interesting.

We also did singing with our kids, an art project, and a discussion. We also got to meet some more folks at Temple, and discovered our chiropractor is a member there (and has a son in our daughter’s class). We discovered this when I was complaining to my wife about my back bothering me, and she pointed to Ron and said: Go talk to him!

After that, it was Visit/Tour Day at camp. After driving up to Hilltop, we took a tour of the camp. I had forgotten how beautiful the view is from up at Hilltop; the picture to the right shows the view from the chapel. The camp is a lot smaller (120 campers vs. 250 campers), and is much more of a single family. For example, at Kramer, campers eat in cabin units, and do evening activities in units of 3-4 cabins. At Hilltop, you can eat with your friends, and evening activities are done as the camp. This should suit S&F much better. She also ran into folks she knew last year, discovered that classmates from temple will be at her session, and was being asked questions by potential new campers as she was someone there age who was there last year. I think she is now looking forward to camp. (Note: For those of you who are Jewish and have kids in 3rd through 9th grades, I highly recommend these camps. They are great for teaching Judaism, especially Reform Judaism, to kids.)

After that, I drove home from Malibu. A much easier drive than the last time, which was in pouring rain. I drove; everyone else slept. I’m tired now, but it was a good day. Camp is such a special place to me that it always leaves me feeling wonderful and relaxed. My safe home away from home as a kid. I thank my parents for sending me there.

Note: This entry was originally posted on Observations Along The Road (on cahighways.org) as this entry by California Highway Guy. You may comment either here or there (where there are comment(s)).

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God Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

[Cross-posted, with minor modifications, to chk_is_life]

The subject is quite literal.

Today was S&F’s Camp Reunion day. So, because we both love camp so, we trudged out to Camp Hess Kramer. For those of you unfamiliar with the camp, it is about 1 mi N of the Los Angeles/Ventura county line, in Little Sycamore Canyon.

It was an interesting drive out. Kanan Dume Route (LA County N9) was open, but there was evidence of recent mudslides and loads of water pouring off the hills. Pacific Coast Highway (CA 1) was actually in worse shape: much more mud and water on the roadway. But we made it out.

Not that many people did. I’d guess that overall there were perhaps 20 campers there. A bunch of staff, including the new director, Doug; the past director, Howard; the assistant director, Becca; and the office manager, Cheryl. I don’t think anyone from the chk_is_life community was there; at least no one came up and recognized me (although it could be that I’m much older than the typical members of the community—you know how the LJ age breakdown goes). Hilltop was closed, as there were landslides on the road. At Kramer, the creek was within a foot of some of the bridges (by now, it may be over), and looked like a white-water rafting locale. S&F wanted to show me her cabin, so we hiked (in the rain) for a mile to the cabin area, saw the cabins, and hiked back. We had some more punch, talked about DVD vs. hardcopy yearbooks (they are going DVD only next year), and then came home. S&F will be going back to camp next year, although she still wants an 8 day session (not 12), so she’ll be trying the Tsofim session at Hilltop.

The ride home was worse. By this point, it was pouring. Visibility was nil. PCH was getting pretty yucky at points, but open. Kanan Dume was open, but again, yucky at points. In the valley, the freeway crudded up, so we took Ventura. At points, that was half under water! From what I understand, both Sunset and the McClure tunnel were closed, and at some point earlier in the day, Kanan Dume was closed (forcing the office manager to go all the way out to Las Posas to get in). But we made it home.

We then watched the camp DVD (for Session 1). Actually, it was quite good. There was a long “Howie Potter” sequence that was produced by the Video Elective (“Chug“) that was, ummm, interesting. There was a good shot of S&F (in her orange shirt) as she got off the bus. There was also a “PeePee” song that was designed to remind the kids not to get dehydrated.

I think she’s re-energized about going next year!

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She’s Back! She’s Back!

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

 
Small & Feisty is back home.

Her first words off the bus were: “Mommy, what did you do to your hair. I don’t like it.”

Her second words were: “I loved camp. When can I go back. I want to go back longer next time.”

It was a hit! She discovered that she didn’t like drama elective, that she loved ultimate ball and ultimate frisbee, she didn’t do Arts & Crafts all the time. She wants to say blessings before meals now, but not after. She enjoyed the singing. She made friends. She loves her counselor Mo. And she’s like her dad: she made a friend so said she didn’t talk all that much at the beginning of camp, but wouldn’t stop at the end. She’s also surprised that she went to the same camp as her dad; she’s less surprised she made it through the week on her own.

She did it. She had a great time. We had a great time. This is a do-again.

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Dinner and a Movie

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

 
Tonight, gf_guruilla and I did something we haven’t done in a while (other than our regular theatre evenings): we went out to see a movie (Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore), and then had a lovely Italian dinner, before coming home.

The movie was excellent. I wish everyone would see it, and see how we’ve been led into fighting the wrong enemy. We should encourage Congress to investigate the claims made in the movie, for if they are true, we’ve been criminally misled. I said it best to my wife walking to the car after the movie: Clinton didn’t screw anyone, left a stain, and got impeached for it. Bush screwed the country, left a stain on our reputation around the world, and gets away with it. Where are our  values? Go see Fahrenheit 9/11. [Warning: Some scenes are too strong for children, and I’m not talking about all the footage of Shrub.]

On the Small & Feisty front: We didn’t receive a letter, but my dad received a postcard. She wrote that she is having a really great time at HK (Hess Kramer), and her counselor Mo is really cool. I think camp was a good investment: she’s having a great time and learning about Judaism, and we’re getting some needed decompression, and she’ll come back to happier and less stressed parents. Win-win, in my book.

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Small & Feisty Update

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

 
Alas, no letter today. Hopefully this is a good sign: that she’s having so much fun she didn’t think to write, and the homesickness is gone. Alternatively, she’s so p***ed at us she doesn’t want to talk to us anymore. I hope the former :-).

As I noted before, it’s interesting seeing this from the other side. When I was a kid, I waited for letters. I never realized that the parents waited for letters as well.

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An Update from the Camper I

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

 
Well, we got our first letter from Small and Feisty:

Dear Dad and Mom:

I am really homesick. My counselors are Jacklyn and Mo. I just played Loco.

and then the ink color changes and we have:

I don’t know what to write about. Send more pictures.

I’m not quite sure how to interpret this. It was postmarked Wednesday, which likely means it was mailed when she got there, and it was picked up Wednesday, and we received it today. I think this is just the initial homesickness, which hopefully she is past. We’ll learn more tomorrow.

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Can You Go Back?

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

 
During a break at work, I happened to come across the typical schedule that Small and Feisty should be following at camp (look for the boxes at the bottom of the page, not the teen schedule). Quite a busy day.

I was surprised at how the schedule had changed from what I remember it was during my camp days. For example, we didn’t have a daily t’filah (prayer), nor do I remember a formalized nikayon tzrif/machane (cabin/camp cleanup). Most of the rest of the daily schedule is somewhat similar, although we didn’t use Hebrew names for activities. Shabbat is more changed: I don’t recall a Friday pe’ulat Shabbat (Shabbat activity) nor a Tiyeil Shabbat (Shabbat Stroll)–I think we had a free choice on Fridays. Saturdays are also changed: it appears they have moved the campfire to Beach Day, gotten rid of Lazy Day Breakfasts (unless those are how the Shabbat aruchat boker (breakfast) is done). I also don’t recall a seudah shleesheet (traditional 3rd meal) at all. But much is the same, and I’m sure she’s having a good time. She should be getting daily letters, and gf_guruilla put a package of stickers and body-shop stuff in the mail to her today. Hopefully, we’ll get a letter from her today.

At home, its wierd. Its too quiet. I think we’ve forgotten what we did in the evenings before Small & Feisty was born. Did we sit and watch TV? Do needlework? I don’t even remember anymore. I know we didn’t go out all that much. In any case, I think we’ll take advantage of the absence of the embodiment of entropy, and attempt to “throw it away”, i.e., declutter.

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Off To Camp

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

 
Well, Small & Feisty is off to camp. She left just after 10:00 AM on Bus #3 to Malibu.

When we got to WBT, she was a bit shy, although as we were walking the halls, her counselor came up and said “You’re in my cabin. I recognize you from your picture.” She got to meet the girls in her cabin—all are 5th grade except for one 6th grader. Most, like her, are first time campers (although the first girl she met was a 2nd year). She was starting to warm up and make friends as she got on the bus, but as the bus got closer to pulling out, she got weepy. No surprise. Lots of moms and dads were weepy too. By now, she should just have finished lunch, sung Birkat Hamazon, and be going to her cabin (Davina) to settle in.

The camp staff was well organized. Luggage went right on the trucks, the kids were checked in and assigned a bus with the rest of their cabin. We met with the nurse who went over all her meds; she gave her the ones she was to keep with her (her inhaler, epipen), and gave her counselor the meds for tonight. Then the rest of the time was spent meeting and talking to the girls. Unlike when I went to camp, they brought down all the senior counselors to meet their kids.

I did get one sign of age. For many of the kids and the counselors, I discovered that I went to camp with their parents. I even got to see some folks I hadn’t seen in a while. It brought back memories.

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