Experience with Lake Greeley Camp?

April 5, 2007 6:21 PM

Anyone have any experience with Lake Greeley Camp near Scranton, PA? My 9-year-old son is dying to go to sleep-away camp this summer, and we have agreed to try a two-week session. The reviews on CampRatingz.com for this summer camp are very favorable, and the programs listed on their website sound perfect for him (plus they have a first-time camper guarantee). Still, I would love some independent confirmation that Lake Greeley is as good as it sounds.
posted by Ike_Arumba to sports, hobbies, & recreation (9 comments total)

I don't know about Lake Greeley - but it sounds fantastic! I just wanted to put my word in that I'll be spending the summer in the Poconos and know the area pretty well (I grew up in the area). I know that doesn't help you out at all unless you wanted me to check the camp out in May for ya! But, it does sound great and I may consider sending my children there!
posted by Sassyfras at 6:36 PM on April 5, 2007

May I just say that two weeks away from home the first time out for a nine-year-old might be a bit loooong?
Would you consider trying a one-week session, and if he loveloveloves it he can go longer next year?
And f he absolutely hates it he's only got a week to endure.
posted by Dizzy at 7:40 PM on April 5, 2007

May I just say that two weeks away from home the first time out for a nine-year-old might be a bit loooong? Would you consider trying a one-week session?

Funny, I was going to say exactly the opposite.

I grew up spending summers at came, from about age 8. It takes a week or so to really get into the rhythm of camp, figure out what you love about it there, and meet the other campers and such -- after that is when it really starts getting fun. For the first couple of years, I went to 3 1/2 week camp, which felt kind of short (even then). From age 10 - 16 or so, I went to camp for 8 weeks, then 7, when the camp I went to started getting shorter (for those reading along, I can't recommend Mondamin highly enough). Without fail, when it came time to go home, I was bummed that I didn't have more time at camp. There were kids as young as 7 at the 8 week camp -- they did just fine.

Camp for just one week doesn't really give a camper the true picture of what summer camp is all about. Even two seems short.
posted by toxic at 9:00 PM on April 5, 2007

May I just say that two weeks away from home the first time out for a nine-year-old might be a bit loooong?

I went to sleep-away camp every summer from the time I was 7. I was on the younger side of their enrollment list at 7, but there was no question that a 7 year old was old enough to handle 2 weeks away. 7 wasn't even the youngest age they accepted, although I think the youngest kids had older siblings there.

FWIW, I was sent to camp that first year because my mom was undergoing an intense smoking cessation program and she needed to not have kids around for a couple of weeks, not because I really wanted to go. I had a great time, and it probably would've been even better had I been really excited about doing it.

I say if the kid really wants to go, then chances are he'll have a great time. I'd let him go for at least the 2-week trial you agreed to, and I wouldn't be surprised if he asks to stay longer once those 2 weeks are up. Camp is fun.

Sorry I don't have first-hand experience with Lake Greely, as the OP was asking for.
posted by nadise at 9:01 PM on April 5, 2007

Most important thing to look for: see if you can find stats on how many of their campers and counselors return the following year. The American Camp Association may have this info if you contact them.

Sleepaway camp in general is a great experience for a kid, and 9 is certainly not too young. The first week is usually the hardest (getting over homesickness), so I would say if you think he can handle 2 weeks, that would be better.
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:48 PM on April 5, 2007

Most important thing to look for: see if you can find stats on how many of their campers and counselors return the following year. The American Camp Association may have this info if you contact them.

Thanks LobsterMitten, good advice. I will try that.
posted by Ike_Arumba at 5:14 AM on April 6, 2007

LobsterMitten has it. You're looking for a high return rate. Having worked in 5 or 6 different camp settings, I'd agree that it's the single best marker of how well kids feel taken care of and how well they enjoy it.

That said, deciding on a camp can be really tricky. Camps are very, very different from one another. Each has its own personality. A kid that hates one camp may love another.

Look for a camp program that matches your son's interests and personality. There's no one-size-fits-all program. What does he enjoy at school and with his friends? Is he sporty, one for organized games and skills instruction? Is he crafty, someone who might like kite-building or pottery-throwing or tie-dye? Is he social, someone who wants to interact with others, put on plays, get silly? Is he adventurous, someone who wants to explore the woods and go on canoe trips and try new things? There are camps that are good for all these kinds of kids. Even a great camp can be wrong for a great kid, if there's a mismatch.

Your best bet would be to arrange a camp visit, if you're within driving distance. Call ahead, ask if you can tour the camp with the director or a counselor, and see how it feels. Any camp worth its salt will be happy to provide this service, and will in fact be used to offering it. If possible, ask to see some daily schedules and some photo albums. Make sure they show you one of the cabins where your son might be staying, and describe the daily routine. This'll help your son prepare, as well, and you won't have this sense of sending him into an unknown world.

If that's not possible, call the camp and ask if they can give you the names of a couple of parents to call. Again, a good camp should have at least a few enthusiastic camp families who will be able to give you an idea how their kids have enjoyed the camp and why they chose it. Based not only on what they say but how they seem to you as people, you might get more information to help you decide.

9 is not too young for camp (though increasingly the culture seems to feel it is). My main summer camp (8 years as staff) started with kids age 7, and we even had a few younger sibs at six from time to time. The kids do fine unless they are unusually anxious, in which case a few more years is warranted. The best sign that a kid is ready for camp is that the kids wants to go to camp, asks to go to camp, and is excited about camp. Cold feet during the weeks leading up to Day 1 are normal - even sick-to-the-stomach homesickness is normal - but if parents can view this as a natural part of helping their children build an individual identity and sense of independence, everyone does all right. I have spent a few nights consoling sobbing kids; homesickness happens (even to the teenage counselors...), but it's no reason to deny a child the incredible opportunities for fun, skill acquistion, growth and development that camp provides. The parent message needs to be "We will miss you and you'll miss us, but we know you can handle it. We want you to have a lot of fun and you are very excited about trying (X activity) and having new friends. We'll write you every other day and when you get back, we'll do (X good experience to look forward to."

And hey, if he has to bail out of this camp this year, he wouldn't be the first kid ever. You can try again next year when he's a bit older, or try a different camp program.

Congratulations on helping your son achieve a goal he's articulating so early in his life. I hope he has a great time and that you both find a camp program you love.
posted by Miko at 12:08 PM on April 6, 2007

I should emphasize one thing from my comments: All the questions you have -- call and ask the camp staff and director. Grill 'em. Ask about the return rate and everything else. They're used to it. That way you won't have to scrape around looking for stats elsewhere or getting third-party opinions; you can usually tell for yourself whether you like the answers you're hearing.

After looking at the website - Holy Cannoli, that camp is expensive. Not bad in itself, but relative to other camps, it's quite high. That means economic, racial, and social diversity won't be high. Not a problem, but it does mean a specific type of camp experience where the kids will encounter mostly kids like themselves.

It also looks huge - I couldn't find the overall number of campers, but it did mention 140 counselors. Huge. Ask about the camper-counselor ratio and how many counselors are available to your child during the overnight hours. Also ask what the ratio of foreign counselors to domestic staff is -- foreign counselors are one of the greatest things about camps, exposing kids to different accents and customs from around the world - but any more than 1/4 of the staff spells trouble. Some camps who can't attract enough American staff by recruiting from their former camper pool fill out the ranks with foreign counselor programs, which can end up being just rent-a-counselor gigs. Foreign staff change every year, so too many of them means a camp's traditional culture is not strong and there isn't a high appeal for campers to return as staffers.

Their 'first time camper guarantee' looks pretty good, and the Pen Pal program should help. They obviously put a lot of thought into creating a good transition into camp.

Overall, it looks like a solid, high-end, all-around traditional camp with a good philosophy and plenty of opportunities for kids to stretch and try many new things. Depending on your goals it is probably a good choice; just be sure to ask about the things above. Good luck!
posted by Miko at 12:17 PM on April 6, 2007

Miko:
Wow. Thank you so much for taking all that time to give such a thoughtful and informative response. Will be grilling the camp director with all the questions you suggest... having never gone to sleep-away camp myself this is all very much appreciated.
posted by Ike_Arumba at 4:15 PM on April 6, 2007