Author: Element6

Sending your kids to camp for the first time? Here are some tips to help make the transition as smooth as possible!

• Choose camps based on your child’s interests.
  You know what your children like, so sign them up for something they will enjoy, but don’t be afraid to throw something new into the mix. Even though it’s summer vacation, there is still plenty of learning to be had.
• Get in the know.
  Check out the organization’s website to get information about the programming and policies. Even if it’s just a general outline, this will give you and your child an idea of what his or her day will look like. If you’re unsure about any of the activities, check out the registration options. Many camps have half day options so you can choose which activities you want to focus on.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
  If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the camp to get answers.
• Complete your registration as soon as you can.
  Sometimes camps have limited capacity and the earlier you get in your registration, the more likely you are to secure a spot. It’s 2018, so most camp registrations are online and easy as pie to complete.

Now that you’re a camp expert and you have completed your registrations, what’s next?

• Get your camper excited about the first day of camp.
  The goal of camp is to have fun! So make sure that you come to camp ready for fun new experiences. Talk about it at the dinner table and discuss what your child is excited (and maybe nervous) about. If your child is nervous (and you might be too!), give the camp a call or send an e-mail. Camp staff are always happy to help!
• Know what you need to bring to camp and prepare the weekend before.
  Most camps list what you need to bring on their website. For the most part (and depending on the activity), day camps tend to spend a lot of time outdoors, so be sure to dress your child according to the weather (don’t forget the sunscreen!). Be sure to pack plenty of healthy nut free snacks and water in your camper’s lunch. Most camps don’t have refrigeration, so if there’s anything in your camper’s lunch that needs to stay cool, ice packs tend to come in quite handy.
• Introduce yourself to the camp staff on the first day of camp.
  If you have any concerns about your child that you think the staff should know, be sure to share it with them at this time. The first day of camp is like the first day of school. Everyone is meeting each other for the first time, and it might take a little bit longer to start up the activities on the first day so be patient as everyone gets to know each other.
• Make summer camp part of the routine.
  We don’t need to quote a bunch of studies to prove that having a routine is beneficial to just about everyone on this planet. Falling out of routine is easy to do over the summer vacation (that’s what vacation is for after all!), but being out of routine for the summer can make it tough to adjust back into the school routine in the Fall. Just like during the school year, set your alarm for the same time every day so you can arrive to camp at or around the same time.
• If you have any questions about camp, talk to the camp staff.
  The onsite supervisor is the one in charge of the camp and should be able to address any questions about camp that you might have. If not, contact the head office.
• Have fun…It’s summer camp!
  We think this one is self-explanatory!

Growing up, my childhood lacked exposure to summer camps, and I struggle to recall how I filled my days. My parents never enrolled me in such programs. Now, as a mother to three boys, I realized the challenges of having them at home all summer, especially dealing with the dynamics of three energetic boys 24/7. Recognizing my inability to entertain them for nine weeks straight, even as a stay-at-home mom, I found the idea of sending them to camp to be a practical and mutually beneficial solution. While they gained much from the experience, it was also a relief for me.

Sending children to camp isn’t merely about having someone “watch your kids.” The essence lies in motivating and stimulating them while ensuring they have fun. Over the years, my boys have participated in various camps, some they loved, others they disliked, and that’s perfectly acceptable. The range of activities has been diverse, spanning from soccer and gymnastics to cooking, art, science, and even city-run camps. Some camps were costly, while others were reasonably priced.

What excites me about sending my boys to camp is the wealth of experiences they gain. They get to try new activities, occasionally venturing into uncharted territories, and sometimes, they delve into areas they already know they love. The benefits extend beyond screen-free days and exposure to fresh air; they develop gross and fine motor skills, independence, responsibility for their belongings (despite the occasional losses), leadership skills, socialization, and the ability to function as part of a team.

The criterion for selecting the best camp for my boys has always been simple: did they have fun? Regardless of the specific camp, the ultimate factor was their enjoyment. While they might not emerge as the next Messi, Chef Ramsay, or Picasso, their interest and engagement were evident through the joy they derived. They learned to interact in a social setting without my presence, embraced responsibility and compassion, and discovered new aspects of themselves and their interests. This upcoming summer, my 16-year-old will be working at one of his favorite camps, my 14-year-old will volunteer at the same camp, and my youngest, at 10, will continue being a camper—all choices they made because of the fun they experienced.

‘Twas the night before the match, when all through the house
All of the players were stirring, and so was coach Strauss;
The jerseys were hung in the closet with care,
In hopes that the sun soon would be there;

The players were jumping and laughing in bed,
While visions of victory danced in their heads;
And mom in her onsie, and I in my briefs,
Had just settled down with a sigh of relief,

When the morning came we arose to a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the landing I flew like a flash,
I stubbed my toe and tripped over the trash.

The sun it has risen, the time I didn’t know,
But today was the match, so we soon had to go.
We couldn’t be late, this league is premier,
There’s so much to do, but what did I hear?

First one, then two, they went by so quick,
I knew in a moment it must be team Kicks.
More rapid than eagles the players they came,
And they whistled, and shouted, and cheered out their name;

“Now, ALEX! now, BEN! now, COLTON and SAMMY!
On, MATTHEW! on JONNY! on, MILES and RILEY!
To the van in the driveway! to the seats they all filled!
Oh my gosh I need to get dressed! They are all so thrilled!”

As we reach the pitch the players are ready to fly,
When they push out of the van, they look up to the sky,
So glorious a day the birds they all flew,
With not a cloud in site, and the sky the perfect shade of blue.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard in the distance,
They came out of nowhere – the other team’s existence.
As I drew in my hand, I closed the automatic door,
Thinking this will be the last time it has a clean floor.

The ref was dressed all in black, from his head to his feet,
And boy was it muddy, just look at his cleat;
A whistle and note pad he had hung on his neck,
And made sure to do his final field check.

“Captains” he called, with a smile so merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
The captains shook hands and it was about to begin, the show,
Which team would win, only in the end we would know;

The whistle it blew, I tried not to breathe,
Being a soccer parent is hard, all I do is grind my teeth;
The players they had rhythm, and back in net was Kelly,
He was the last line of defense, if the ball makes it back – oh nelly!

Team Kicks gained possession and showed the team their best self,
And I cheered when I saw the look of pride they saw in themselves;
The net it neared closer it was directly ahead,
A kick and a swoosh in the net off of a head;

The boys showed so much spirit as a team they do work,
As my son looked over at me, saying “I did it” with a smirk,
The players they gleamed and all had a glow,
Us parents yelled out again “way to go!”;

The team jumped and cheered, when the ref gave a whistle,
And away they all flew to thank the officials.
This is my favourite way to spend all of my day,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL,  SOCCER IS THE BEST GAME TO PLAY!

The fun doesn’t stop when camp ends; there are plenty of games and activities that can be played from the comfort of your own home! Here are a few that we love to play:

• Drip-Drip-Splash (spin-off of duck-duck-goose) Great for a hot day, and should be played outside!
  Everybody sits in a circle and one person goes around and drips water on the player’s head. The person who gets picked to be “splashed” on gets the rest of the cup poured on their head. The player who gets “splashed” must chase the picker around the circle to an empty spot to avoid becoming the next picker.
• Freeze Dance This game is creative and fun for all ages!
  Have one person put some music on and have everyone dance around until the person decides to turn it off. When the music stops, everyone has to freeze! Anyone who moves will be considered out and can help judge those freezing during the next round. Make the game exciting by giving points to people with the most creative pose!
• Crab Walk Soccer Both entertaining and fun, this game can be played two ways depending on the number of people involved.
  6+ players: There can be two teams that sit opposite to each other a short distance apart. Two teams sit on lines a short distance apart. Players on both teams are assigned a number, starting at number one on each team. Place the soccer ball in the center of the two lines. Have someone call a number and the player from each team who is assigned that number has to crab walk to the center and attempt to get the ball over the opponents’ goal line! Once someone scores, the game is frozen and the ball is back in the center for the next round.
  <6 players: This game can be played without numbers, and have everyone divide into teams and attempt to score!
• Aussie Catch This game can also be referred to as ‘Down, Down, Down’.
  It can be played with any number of people and starts with someone throwing a ball continuously back and forth until someone drops it. When someone drops the ball everyone says “down on one knee” and the person must drop down and continue play on one knee. If the same person drops it a second time then everyone says “down on two knees”. If the same person drops the ball again everyone says “down on one elbow”. If it happens again everyone says “down on two elbows”.  It then goes to chin and then that person is out but can still stay in the position he/she is in to catch the ball and throw the ball.
• Character Bingo Fun for a rainy day and allows everyone to get creative and learn more about each other!
  Print out some sheets of everyone’s favourite TV/movie/book characters and create some bingo boards. Use copies of the pictures to call out the bingo board. First one with a straight line wins!

– Office Coordinator, Burlington

There are so many camp games out there. You may really enjoy some and you may not enjoy others. We have complied a list within Royal City Soccer Club’s office of our favourite camp games that we have played over the years. We hope you can try them and enjoy them as much as we did!

Laura

I loved playing soccer baseball! Every time the teacher told us we were going outside to the diamond, I got super excited! Not only did it involve two of my favourite sports, it allowed me to work as a team with my classmates. Cheering was the best part because everyone got involved and encouraged one another, so nobody felt left out.

Whitney

My favourite camp game was called “Get it and Jet it”. You were split into teams and the counselors would yell out an object that your team had to run and find.  Once you found the object and brought it back to the counselor they would give you the next item on the list to find. This game was a blast to play because the objects got funnier as the list went on. We had to find things like a grey sock, an item that was orange or something that you could use as a musical instrument. I think this game worked so well because you worked together as a team to find these objects. No matter how many times you played the game it still could be fun because the counselors could pick anything for you to find. A big part of why I liked camp so much is that you played games that evened the playing field. No one was “the best” at get it and jet it. It made everyone be an equal contributor and was a fun way to be active.

Nicole

Games that involved team work were the games that I liked playing, such as European Hand Ball. The game was fast paced, I got to play on a team, and you didn’t need to be super athletic to play this game! I remember everyone smiling every time we got to play this.

Jessica

DODGEBALL!!! Dodgeball was by far the best camp game I ever played! There weren’t that many rules that I had to understand and listen to in order to play it and everyone’s energy was always really positive while playing. If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball…anyone could play!

Rachel

The most memorable camp game that I played was Horses, Knights, and Cavaliers…I mean come on…You got to become a horse, a knight or a cavalier all in the same game, how cool is that?! I loved interacting with different people at camp during this game and although it was competitive, it was also really fun!

Stephanie

Duck, duck, goose would have to be my favourite camp game. I never wanted to be the goose and there was always so much anticipation as the “ducks” got closer and closer to me. But when I did end up being the goose there was such a thrill that I felt, trying to stand up and run around the circle, hoping I would get to sit down again!

Aaron

I have always been a jock, since I was really little and soccer has always been a part of my life. Naturally, soccer was my favourite camp game to play. Actually, soccer was my favourite game to play any time. It was great being able to play a sport I love with all of my buddies.

Larissa

Four corners was the best! It got to be pretty intense sometimes, but in a way that was fun for everyone. Four teams would be cheering for each other, while also guarding their cones, while also trying to knock over other cones in another corner!  Who knew that such a simple game could be so much fun and got everyone involved.

Breanne

Zap! My all time favourite camp game. It’s a low key game that gets all the campers involved and there can be so many variations to this game. The best part about this game is that although you can get out, you are still entertained because it’s so fun to watch everyone else get zapped by someone else, especially if someone gets caught in the crossfire…woo!

Every child looks forward to Spring Break, because who doesn’t enjoy getting some time away from school? Parents also look forward to Spring Break because they get to spend some quality time with their children! There are an endless amount of things you could do during this break that won’t hurt your wallet, but if you find yourself stumped on ideas don’t sweat, I am here to help!

1. High Ho, off to the woods we go! Get those growing legs moving and go for a hike! It’s Canada’s 150^th anniversary and as a gift for all Canadians you can order a Parks Canada Discovery pass for FREE all year long! The pass will give you free admission to any National Park, National Marine Conservation areas and National Historic Sites! You can simply go to www.pc.gc.ca to order yours. Get out there and explore!
2. Lions and tigers and bears…Oh my! The zoo – a perfect fun filled day for everybody in the family! Pack up a lunch and some snacks and off you go.
3.  As Dory says “Just keep swimming”. It may not be warm enough to go swimming outdoors yet, but that doesn’t have to stop you! Bring your kids to your local recreation centre (one with an indoor pool) and bring out your inner kid. As an added bonus, if you are registering your child(ren) for our summer camp, going swimming will get them comfortable and excited to be in the pool during our afternoon leisure swim!
4. STRIKE! Unfortunately, it is not yet baseball season, BUT the bowling alley is just as great (open year round). It’s ok if you’re not a bowling champ – it’s just great to have fun! Just remember there are bumpers available in case you are known for throwing gutter balls (I’m definitely guilty of this!).
5. Lights, Camera, ACTION. Grab the popcorn whether it’s at home or at a theatre and enjoy a movie night. If you have more than one child you could give them a night of the week where they get to pick what movie you watch. You could also make a trip to the drive in (depending on where you’re located, these open as early as March). Oh! And don’t forget cheap Tuesdays at most theatres to save a buck or two!
6. Frosting on the cake. Embrace that sweet tooth and get baking! Find a recipe for your child(ren)’s favourite treats and spend some quality time together. Show them that baking is fun and it’s a great bonding experience. And the end product is always delicious!

Here’s to a great Spring Break full of family activities and making memories!

– Office Coordinator, 2017.