Summer camp description: What is Camp? | How to define Summer Camp

What is Camp? | How to define Summer Camp

What is camp? How to define summer camp or just “camp” is more difficult than it might first appear. Even without a dictionary, we all tend to speak about and understand camps as somehow special. We believe they can be defined, shown to be unique and different than other organizations for children or experiences designed for kids. The difficulty of defining “camp” starts to become clear, however, when faced with a definition that is too wide, vague or ambiguous. For example, saying it’s “a place to have fun” seems inadequate. After all, it’s easy to think of very “non-camp-like” examples that would fall under this vague definition. Is going to a movie, or playing video games in an arcade, or riding a bicycle (all ways to have “fun”) a “youth camp?” Certainly not. Conversely, a definition could be inadequate by being too limited or restrictive. Would we all agree that a youth camp strictly is “a day program to teach teenage dyslexic boys how to play chess?” Certainly not because we can think of many examples of camps that don’t match up with this narrow definition.

The challenge is to establish a definition that’s not too wide, thereby allowing anything to be included in our understanding of “camp,” and not too narrow so as to exclude clear examples of a summer camp.

So, how do we do it? What would be an adequate definition of summer camp? It’s important to realize, first of all, that by asking for “an adequate” definition, I am suggesting that there is more than one definition we might write, each of which being more or less suited to any particular context, or need for a definition. Put differently, there really isn’t one correct definition of camp. There are many. An adequate definition of camp is a matter of deciding on the right level of specificity for our purposes, and since these can vary, so can our definition. If we wish to distinguish “youth camps” from schools, we might write a very different definition than if we want to claim camps are distinct from amusement parks.

Methods of Defining ‘Summer Camp’

With that caveat, here are two methods of defining summer camp that are broadly adequate. The first relies on what camps do, on their unique functions as organizations (an operational definition).  And, the second focuses more on the range of substantive attributes camps express as organizations. Functions vs. Attributes.

1.
A summer camp is a youth development organization, supervised by professional adults, that strives to foster personal growth for children by providing them fun, safe educational/recreational programs, outdoor experiences and group activities while away from home during the summer months.

2.
A summer camp is a youth development organization comprised of the following nine attributes:

1. Gender: single or multiple.
2. Age: a narrow or a wide range of ages served.
3. Population: special needs or general population.
4. Program: provide a narrow or broad group of activities.
5. Time: be residential or operate only for limited hours during the day.
6. Religion: include religious training/guidance or be non-religious.
7. Location: operate in a single location or focus on trips/travel.
8. Profit: be a for-profit business or non-profit organization.
9. Corporation: be private and independently owned or overseen by an agency.

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Both of these definitions should be understood as adequate, but not absolute because they could easily be made more exclusive by adding functions or attributes, as the case may be, or more inclusive by removing criteria from each.

In other words, we should recognize the context-dependent nature of these definitions, while still celebrating the unique goals and accomplishments of summer camps, the benefits they provide children, and the organizational character they have sustained for many years.

Program & Activities — The Summer Camp

Summer of Fun, Tools for Life

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Summer of Fun, Tools for Life

The Summer Camp offers four levels of summer camp programs for girls age 6-18, advancing from general sessions for first time participants to Hiking and Canoeing, Leadership and Counselor-in-Training programs. Living within a diverse peer group, campers experience a variety of new and traditional camp activities and enjoy spending time in the great outdoors. While there are risks involved with summer camps, our counselors are trained to mitigate them and guardians will be notified by our on-camp registered nurse if an area of concern develops. Our curriculum is specifically designed to meet the developmental needs of young adolescent girls and progresses for returning campers, many of whom return for several summers, while maintaining best safety practices.

General Camp

Ages 6-12

General Camp is a 10-day fun and welcoming introduction to camp life, activities, adventures and skills. For most girls, this is their first opportunity to spend time away from home and join a community of peers who, while from different places, share many common life experiences. Counselors guide girls with unconditional acceptance and understanding, as each experiments, explores and builds self-confidence.

Summer Campers sleep in rustic cabins with nine girls their age and three counselors. Days are filled canoeing, kayaking, swimming, sailing, dance, land sports, photography, drama, archery, pottery, knitting, sewing, arts and crafts, science explorers and adventure day trips. Evening activities include talent shows, scavenger hunts and dancing. Each bunk group spends a night camping in a tent and roasting marshmallows for s’mores over an open fire. 

Hiking and Canoeing

Returning Campers ages 12-13

Our 13-day Hiking and Canoeing program expands upon skills and personal growth from General Camp, by encouraging girls to trust their peers and practicing team work as they explore by foot and boat. This program focuses on social, athletic and outdoor skills as campers explore Maine’s hiking trails and canoe on the Saco River. As girls complete these adventures, they feel the strength of their physical accomplishments and support of trusting bonds of friendship, that often last lifetime.  

Hiking and Canoeing is specifically geared toward helping girls build self-confidence and coping skills.  A Community Outreach Educator works with our Hiking and Canoeing campers in small groups of 8-10, encouraging each girl to believe in herself and abilities. Once the campers complete the Hiking and Canoeing program, they radiate confidence and look forward to embracing new challenges.

Leadership Training

Returning campers ages 13-14

Leadership Training is a 10-day session deepening campers’ skills, knowledge and self-awareness through advanced activities and workshops designed to help girls make mature decisions regarding issues that affect their lives. Workshops include: healthy nutrition, safe and effective communication, drug awareness and prevention, American Red Cross Babysitting, healthy family planning choices, nonviolent conflict resolution, job application, interviews and professional behavior. Leadership campers also explore higher education opportunities through college visits and continuing education discussions. 

Leadership trainees help plan special activities for younger campers, assist the counselors and work with a diverse group of inner city and rural teens as they volunteer at the Good Shepherd Food Bank, Washington Manor (a residential care facility) and the Humane Society of Knox County. Young women who complete two years of the Leadership Training program may be invited to apply to return as Counselors-in-Training.

Counselor-in-Training

Returning campers ages 15-18

Our Counselor-in-Training program (CIT) is for girls who have completed the Hiking and Canoeing program and two years of Leadership Training. Using skills learned during previous years at camp, CITs accept responsibility for providing a safe, fun and enriching environment for the General Campers. The CITs work alongside camp counselors, assisting them with their everyday duties, including caring for the younger campers. Most CITs attend  two consecutive General Camp sessions.

Upon successfully completing two years of the CIT program, reaching the age of 18, and exemplifying mature decision making skills, many of our CITs return the following years as general counselors, providing guidance and support to girls in need, as they once were.

Literacy (All campers)

The Summer Camp’s Literacy program is uniquely designed to provide academic support and encouragement, assuring girls of their personal and academic strengths while specifically helping to increase literary ability. All campers and CITs, many of whom are reading below grade level, benefit from our Literacy program, which includes reading, journaling and creative writing. At the end of each session, every Summer Camper receives a book to take home—a gift from The Patrina Foundation.

A Typical Day

A Typical Day

Wake up time is between 7:30 a. m. and 8:00 a.m. Campers are scheduled for six activities each day-three in the morning and three in the afternoon. Rest hour follows lunch each day. Every evening the girls participate in an activity such as a counselor hide-and-seek, dance, talent show, campfire or swimming. Three nutritious meals are served daily. A snack is provided after the evening activity. Lights out is at 9 p.m.

7:30 a.m.  Wake up Bell

8:00 a.m.  Breakfast

9:15 a.m.  Bunk Inspection

9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.  Activity 1

10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.  Activity 2

11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.  Activity 3

12:30 p.m.  Lunch

1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.  Rest Hour

2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.  Activity 4

3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.  Activity 5

4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.  Activity 6

5:15 p.m.  Free Time: playground or bunk time

6:00 p. m.  Dinner

7:00 p.m.  Evening Activity

8:15 p.m.  Snack

8:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.  Ready for bed, story time

Description of the camp

Studios

Schedule of shifts

Daily routine

Sample menu

Location

Welcome to the City of Happy Childhood “Iskra”! The children’s camp “Iskra” is located in a picturesque place on the banks of the Mologa River, 100 km from the city of Cherepovets and 200 km from the city of Vologda. The occupied territory is 30 hectares. The clean air of a pine forest is saturated with biologically active substances of coniferous trees. This contributes to rapid acclimatization and restoration of the vitality of children. Picturesque nature and a clear river make children’s holidays in the camp unforgettable!

Accommodation

In the City of Happy Childhood “Iskra” children live in 10 cozy heated one-story houses made of timber for 35 people with counselors and tutors. Each house has its own name: Sunny, Forest, Starry, Sports, Fairytale, Marine, Rainbow, Emerald, Creative, Friendly. Accommodation in rooms for 4-5 people in the detachment of older students, 8 people in the detachments of younger students. Every house has toilets, washstands, foot-washers for boys and girls, dryers, a luggage room, fountains with purified water for drinking. Cold and hot water round the clock. Rooms and houses are cleaned daily by maids. Each child has their own bedside table, locker. Shower cabins for boys and girls in a separate bath building with European-quality repair. Counselors and educators live in separate rooms in the same building with children.

Food

An integral part of a good rest and recovery of children is a full five meals a day. The daily diet necessarily includes meat, fish, dairy dishes, own fresh pastries, fruits and vegetables, juices, confectionery. The tables are covered by the duty squad, the waiters work.

Infrastructure

The city of happy childhood “Iskra” is divided into streets: Central, Chernichnaya, Coastal, Coniferous Lane, etc. Canteen for 350 seats. Outdoor areas (large football field, mini-football court, volleyball court, professional basketball court, training basketball court for practicing shots). Two sports towns, indoor sports and recreation complex (futsal, basketball, volleyball, climbing wall, tennis). Park of Culture and Reading, an open-air cinema, an indoor sports and concert venue, a summer stage, a music lounge, a library, a medical building, a bath complex, an entertainment center, a game room, a computer room, a video salon, karaoke, air hockey, billiards, catamarans.

NEW SEASON 2017! Petting zoo and horse yard!

Security

The territory of the children’s camp is guarded around the clock. The nearest settlement is 1 km.

Medical care

During the holidays, all children are provided with life and health insurance. A medical center is open around the clock, there is an insulator. Professional medical workers have been working for a number of years.

Program

The entertainment program consists of a variety of cultural, educational and sports events, studio classes.

Every child in the children’s recreation center “Iskra” receives a passport of a citizen of the City of Happy Childhood.

Description of the children’s camp Contact, Moscow region Tour operator Sotszdrav

Camp “K contact ” is located 82 km from Moscow along the Minsk highway. The camp is located in a beautiful mixed birch and spruce forest on an area of ​​8 hectares in a dense forest. The picturesque forest is rich in coniferous trees, which has a beneficial effect on the respiratory and nervous systems. The territory is fenced. The camp is guarded, entry into the territory of outsiders is strictly prohibited.

Children’s camp infrastructure Contact

• Thematic sessions

• beach
• canteen
• classrooms for classes
• professional concert hall with stage
• billiard room
• two computer labs
• board games
• climbing wall
• rope town
• paintball field
• stable
• multifunctional sports ground
• volleyball and basketball courts
• football field
• dance hall
• 2 equipped campfire sites
• medical office

• Daily entertainment program: games, festivals, concerts, costume shows in which children are not only spectators, but also participants.

Food in the camp Contact

Children’s 5 meals a day. The diet includes meat, fish dishes, own fresh pastries, yoghurts, fruits.

Medical care at the children’s camp sister. The doctor daily inspects children’s rooms, bed linen, checks their cleanliness, examines children as necessary, and gives an opinion on their well-being. In emergency cases, the patient is taken to the regional hospital on the camp’s own transport.

Camp security Contact

The camp territory is guarded around the clock by departmental security forces, illuminated at night, 50 video surveillance cameras operate on the territory. The buildings are equipped with fire alarms and panic buttons. All camp activities are carried out under the supervision of counselors in mini-groups in compliance with safety regulations.

Counselors in the camp

Counselors, coaches, teachers who have been trained in counselor schools, highly professional teachers and counselors are not only experienced people, but at the same time young and athletic, the main thing is an established team. They will help children navigate and understand any situation, answer any question, and will always be there.

Camp squad system Contact

Children are divided into squads by age, in each squad there are 26-30 people (in squads of 7-9 years old – 13-14 people) and 3 counselors.

SUMMER CAMP CUPS AND SECTIONS CONTACT:

• Archery
• Trampoline
• Climbing wall
• Rope town
• Aeromodelling
• Burning and embossing
• Quilling and origami
• Medieval sword fighting
• Felting wool
• Football, volleyball, basketball, badminton
• paintball
• dash

Daily routine in the camp

Necessary documents for the camp

For registration of a tour

• Parent’s passport for registration of the contract
• Completed application for a child (PDF download), can be completed in the office
• Photocopy of the child’s birth certificate or passport
• Photocopy of the child’s medical insurance policy

For departure to the camp

• Medical certificate F 079/U (from a doctor at school or clinic).
• Medical certificate of contacts (from the doctor at the school).
• Certificate for swimming pool access (only in summer).

The cost of the trip to the camp Contact includes:

• accommodation in 4-5 bed rooms
• 5 meals a day
• cultural and entertainment program
• sports program, circles and sections, discos
• unique teaching staff
• daily photo reports of the past day
• medical care

• bus service: Moscow – camp – Moscow

The price does not include additional services on request:

• Clash of the Titans Paintball and Laser Paintball
• Trip to the Aquapark
• Trip to FUN CITY (laser paintball, bowling, video attractions, lunch)
• Baby photo session
• Shift video + squad video

Gift shop in the camp:

A souvenir shop will be open during the program.