Summer Camp Chronicles
By GLENN VICKERS II
Who’s really thinking about snow when you have summer on your mind everyday? In under 110 days, the sounds of childrens laughter will shift from the hallways of schools to the fields of their favorite summer camps.
As a child, both of my parents had to work hard to keep a roof over our head and food on the table for six children. This was especially true during the months of June, July and August. As the oldest, I easily could have been a “latch key kid”, but my over active imagination would have found me in the occasional mishap so I needed supervision. Fortunately we lived one block away from my grandparents home, also known as Nanny’s House. Between Nanny and Papa we had the best summer camp a kid can ask for.
As the Boys & Girls Clubs of Prince William/Manassas and many other youth development organizations get ready for summer camp, I can’t help but reflect and smile that many of the things that families look for in choosing a summer camp today are similar to what Nanny’s house provided me.
Safety and Supervision
Nanny clearly had the experience as a retired nurse and raising four sons of her own with my Papa. Other children from the neighborhood were allowed to play outside at Nanny’s House, as long as they had their parents permission.
The funny thing is that with all of the technology that keeps our children safe today (i.e. finger print readers, surveillance cameras and engaged employees; I seemed bound everyday as a child by an invisible line that Nanny instilled in me that was EXACTLY 20 feet away from her view of vision of me from her kitchen window. In the child care industry that’s called….sight, sound and supervision. At that time, I called it low jack for kids.
Programming and Social Development
Television was not an option and computers were bigger then our family car. We were outside climbing trees, playing sports, riding bikes and talking (not texting ) with friends. I was even America’s Top Chef as a special kitchen helper during lunch time with my Nanny.
Even though school was out, Papa seemed to always have me read pages from their encyclopedias in their bookcases (yes I said encyclopedia, not Wikipedia). He would ask me questions to make sure I understood what I read. This is the same guy that conspired with my parents to trick me into thinking that summer school was ” a magical place where even when you get good grades” you still attended for parts of the summer voluntarily.
Price and Affordability
My parents didn’t pay my Nanny and Papa a weekly fee during the summer. To this day both of my parents have said “knowing that our children were safe, healthy and learning valuable lessons of life was PRICELESS.” If you have trust, you have everything.
Reputation
My grandparents did pretty well as I mentioned earlier with children. I have to give them credit for raising college educated children that became doctors, real estate brokers, entrepreneurs and remarkable fathers/mentors. Nobody questioned that my grandparents knew what they were doing in raising productive citizens. They were respected and didn’t need a press release to tell the world that.
As your moving snow from your car, remember that summer camp season officially started. As you Google, Bing, Yelp, PWCMom or ask a friend about summer camp options I hope that all of you find your Nanny’s House.
More to come…..
Glenn Vickers II is Regional Director for the Boy & Girls Clubs of Prince William County/Manassas located in Dumfries, Dale City and Manasssas.
