Camping these days

Collier, Trip and Garrett

Ansley and Mady

When I was growing up, use of the word "camp" during the Summer had a very different meaning than it does to my kids today.  For me, it could mean one of two things...either my family was going on REAL camping trip.  I'm talking, 4 man tent, cheap air mattresses, outdoor potties where you bring your own toilet paper or just use a leaf, no shower in site, and good times!  Or, it could mean church camp, the kind that you leave your parents for a week to go stay in cabins with a bunch of other kids your age, while other kids (just a few years older than you) pretended to be in charge and teach you things!  That was what Summer Camp meant.  One of those two options.  And, other than that, the Summer was filled up mostly by days spent at the pool, perhaps a few swim lessons, maybe a VBS for a week, or a library reading contest, but the kind of summer camp craze that abounds today was nonexistent for me as a child.  Now, for Trip and Mady, there are SO many summer camps to choose from, it's a bit ridiculous!  You've got art camp, preschool camp, day camp, basketball camp, cheerleading camp, baseball camp, soccer camp, gymnastics camp, karate camp, tennis camp, golf camp, swim camp, the list goes on and on!  So, this year, we decided to pick one camp for each kid to participate in!  Listening to the other moms talk about all the camps their children were signed up for, I began to feel like the world's worst mother; that I was completely depriving our children, keeping them from having a normal life.  WHAT!?  It is so hard to live in this world, but not be of this world.  Remembering that time with our children is more precious than anything they will glean at these one week camps; it's a real challenge for me!  Anyway, last week was camp week for Trip and Mady.  Trip went to Lego Space Camp aka Star Wars Mania!  They built different space related machines with legos while learning about their function, but mostly just played with legos for 3 hours.  He was in heaven!  He loved every minute of it and keeps telling me every day that he misses it and wants to go back.  And, Mady went to Princess Ballet Camp.  She loved it too!  They learned some dances and made their costumes and props for their show.  And, I REALLY loved watching her little dance at the end of the week!  So, here is my conclusion!  After much internal battle with myself over the value of these camps in the big picture, here is what I have learned.  Camp sure ain't what it used to be...but it's still FUN!  And, when taken in small doses, well worth it!   PS: These pictures are not from camp...in case you were confused by them.  These are the kids Trip and Mady went to their camps with!  CUTE KIDS!