Nostalgia and Camps
Jan. 8th, 2009 10:02 amSo I've been messing around on Facebook - I found quite a few people from back in my Elementary School days - it's been fun to see those names again (and sad as my mom isn't around to reminisce with me.) I really need to open the xmas card from my oldest friend from those days, I should get her on facebook too.
I also found facebook groups for the camps I went to as a child. Of all the camps I went to/worked at/located in my home town - I think only 3 are still around - one daycamp (Merrick Woods) (which I attended the summers of 1973 and 1974) and one sleepaway camp (Timber Lake Camp - no relation to Justin Timberlake) (which I attended from 1976 to 1978). The camp I went to in 1975 (Camp Bauman) appears to still be around, but under a different name (Coleman Country Day Camp). Sadly it appears that the last of the 4 day camps in Oceanside closed within the past year. At one time in the 1970's there were *4* day camps in Oceanside - Treasure Island, Camp Allen, Bar-H and Camp Debaun. I think Treasure Island closed first, Camp Allen closed after the summer of 1979 when I worked there and Bar-H (which was behind the condos I grew up in - I saw our backyard umbrella in group photos taken there) closed in the 1980's. Camp Allen and Bar-H were replaced by housing (townhouses) - not sure what replaced Treasure Island.
Merrick Woods now seem to run about 5K for an 8 week summer - which is comparable to the ones I've found in NJ. (I wonder what it cost in 1973 and 1974?)
So I think a full-service day camp experience for Alan is out of the budget at least this year - I really enjoyed my 2 years at Merrick Woods - I still have a wooden giraffe I made back then on display in my living room.
I think Alan will attend either the daycare in our town which has a camp program (not the one he used to go to) or one of the 2 local Y camps. Of course we have to work out the drop off/pick up. I was hoping for a more full service place as I'd like him to get swim lessons - the closer Y buses (45 minute ride though) to a state park with a lake daily so there is swim time - but the further Y has better hours with scheduled swimming (not sure if consistent lessons). And the local daycare might have swimming field trips at least) I wish the recreation program in our town was an option - but I think it runs like 8:30-4 - too early for working parents. I heard there was a recreation in an adjacent town with swimming - figuring out how to get him there and the hours might be a problem.
I figure the first year of transition from daycare scheduling to school year scheduling is the hardest - it should be eaiser after this.
I also found facebook groups for the camps I went to as a child. Of all the camps I went to/worked at/located in my home town - I think only 3 are still around - one daycamp (Merrick Woods) (which I attended the summers of 1973 and 1974) and one sleepaway camp (Timber Lake Camp - no relation to Justin Timberlake) (which I attended from 1976 to 1978). The camp I went to in 1975 (Camp Bauman) appears to still be around, but under a different name (Coleman Country Day Camp). Sadly it appears that the last of the 4 day camps in Oceanside closed within the past year. At one time in the 1970's there were *4* day camps in Oceanside - Treasure Island, Camp Allen, Bar-H and Camp Debaun. I think Treasure Island closed first, Camp Allen closed after the summer of 1979 when I worked there and Bar-H (which was behind the condos I grew up in - I saw our backyard umbrella in group photos taken there) closed in the 1980's. Camp Allen and Bar-H were replaced by housing (townhouses) - not sure what replaced Treasure Island.
Merrick Woods now seem to run about 5K for an 8 week summer - which is comparable to the ones I've found in NJ. (I wonder what it cost in 1973 and 1974?)
So I think a full-service day camp experience for Alan is out of the budget at least this year - I really enjoyed my 2 years at Merrick Woods - I still have a wooden giraffe I made back then on display in my living room.
I think Alan will attend either the daycare in our town which has a camp program (not the one he used to go to) or one of the 2 local Y camps. Of course we have to work out the drop off/pick up. I was hoping for a more full service place as I'd like him to get swim lessons - the closer Y buses (45 minute ride though) to a state park with a lake daily so there is swim time - but the further Y has better hours with scheduled swimming (not sure if consistent lessons). And the local daycare might have swimming field trips at least) I wish the recreation program in our town was an option - but I think it runs like 8:30-4 - too early for working parents. I heard there was a recreation in an adjacent town with swimming - figuring out how to get him there and the hours might be a problem.
I figure the first year of transition from daycare scheduling to school year scheduling is the hardest - it should be eaiser after this.