|
The kids are back in school, breezes are blowing a little cooler
with an eye to ushering in fall, and you are entrenched in your
methodical schedule of getting the kids to the bus, making the
8 a.m. staff meeting, working through lunch, grabbing a quick
dinner at the kitchen table before the kids dash off to finish
their homework or snag a last half hour of TV, and falling into
bed, only to get up the next morning to do it all over again.
One thought pushes through the mental clutter: You need a vacation — one
the entire family can enjoy.
Family camp is the answer.
A week at family camp has some distinct advantages over a resort vacation, a
jaunt to Europe, or a trip to an amusement park:
- More bang for your buck. The dollar doesn't go as far
today as it used to. Head to Europe and you may have to take
out a second mortgage, but family camp is a reasonable way
to treat your family to a fun, relaxing retreat away from home.
- Planning is a cinch. Jeff Cheley, camp director at Cheley
Colorado Camps, said the convenience of vacationing at family
camp means "many of the time-consuming parts of a vacation
are taken care of — from planning meals, choosing activities,
checking schedules, driving, and much more — so families
have more time to relax and enjoy each other's company."
- Fun at any age. Family camp caters to all ages. So, whether
you're thinking of four-year-old Stevie or sixty-five-year-old
Grandma Maude, camp offers activities right for their age,
intellect, dexterity, and interest level.
- Alternatives abound. You enjoy tennis, your husband likes
hiking, your son is into the adrenaline rush of extreme sports,
and your daughter should have been born with gills because
she'd spend all day in the water if you let her. No problem.
Camp offers such a wide variety of activities there is
sure to be a number that appeal to each family member.
- Environmentally friendly. Camp provides a safe, respectful,
nurturing environment. Uplifting family values and good old-fashioned
fun are the rules of thumb.
Perhaps the biggest plus to vacationing at family camp is that
it "is an excellent way for families to bond," said
David Brunner, director of Medomak in New England. "Many
campers come to Medomak as a way to share with their kids (or
sometimes their spouses) the treasured camp experiences they
themselves had as children. Others just want an unhurried and
wholesome way to spend quality time with their kids, free from
iPods®, video games, Blackberries, and cell phones. Replace
all of those things with canoes, s'mores, campfires, archery,
arts and crafts, fishing, etc., and the magic just happens for
families."
Cheley agrees. "With no TV, video games, or DVD players,
families find constructive ways to spend their time together," he
said.
Nature plays a big role in helping families connect, too. Helping
each other traverse the obstacles of a high ropes course in the
treetops encourages families to work as a team and to trust one
another. Water activities in the lake, pool, or ocean can show
your children (and maybe even remind you) that you have a goofy
side, immediately upping your "cool factor" with
your kids. Learning the skills needed to ride a horse down a
wooded trail can increase your children's confidence, teach
them the importance of patience, and give them a healthy sense
of independence, even as they swivel in their saddle to shoot
a joyful smile your way.
You could spend your family vacation waiting in long lines at an
amusement park, or you could enjoy the many thrills family camp
has to offer in a safe, economical, constructive environment that
has the added benefit of strengthening the bonds you have with
your children and spouse.
Top of page |
|
|
