summer camp 2022 Archives - Monterey Bay Parent

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Imagine summer camp—but for demigods. At Camp Half-Blood, the children of Greek gods and goddesses train to use the powers his or her immortal parent has given them. Plenty of friendly camp competition with a fantasy twist! Tack on a good mystery, an iconic trio, and a quest that goes even beyond the camp grounds, and you’ve got yourself the makings of a real page-turner.

Camp (A Click Graphic Novel) by Kayla Miller

In this fun and bright graphic novel, best friends Olive and Willow head off to camp for the first time, but find that their experiences are very different. A great choice for those nervous about summer camp, Camp touches on what it’s like to make new friends and step out of your comfort zone. There are five graphic novels in Kayla Miller’s Click series, but they don’t necessarily have to be read in order.

Holes by Louis Sachar

The classic “Holes” isn’t exactly about a fun summer camp, but it’s an adventure, all the same. Winner of the Newberry Medal and National Book Award, this book follows a boy named Stanley as he spends his summer at a correctional boot camp in the desert in Texas for a crime he didn’t commit. As the title suggests, he and the other boys spend every single day digging deep holes at the warden’s instruction—but although the warden insists the hard labor is for “character development,” it’s clear he’s searching for something, and Stanley is determined to find out what.

Spy Camp (Spy School Book 2) by Stuart Gibbs

Middle-schooler Ben Ripley has spent a year learning to be a top-notch super-secret spy, and now that summer’s here, he longs for a summer of fun and relaxation—but unfortunately, he’s required to report to a wilderness camp for a spy survival training. It’s not long before enemy spies start to sneak their way into camp, and Ben finds himself responsible for rooting out the imposter.

How to (Almost) Ruin Your Summer by Taryn Souders

Chloe McCorkle is determined to raise enough money to buy herself a new bike before the first day of sixth grade. Before she can make any money at home, however, she’s sent off to career camp. She decides that, to make the best of the situation, she’ll learn cake decorating and then put those skills to good use when she gets back home—but with an invincible spider, a psychotic goat, and a snobby bunkmate running circles around her, she’s finds it’s much harder than she ever expected. Perfect for ages nine to twelve, How to (Almost) Ruin Your Summer is a laugh-out-loud book for determined dreamers.

Kate Higginbotham is a writer, reader, and editor from North Alabama. After self-publishing several YA novels, spending time abroad, and graduating from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, Kate moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she spends her time elbow-deep in literature of all kinds. She currently writes the “Book List” column alongside freelance editing and other publishing ventures.

Late last summer, we decided to send our daughter to sleepaway camp. It was a decision that we made with some trepidation. Covid had put a damper on sleepovers at friends’ houses, which can serve for practice being away from home. But, we really thought that she was ready for the camp’s shortest session of ten days. My wife and I were impressed with the camp’s strict health protocols of requiring a PCR Covid test within a few days before beginning, a rapid test upon arrival, mask-wearing, testing every three days, and minimal mixing across groups. In looking at the camp’s program, we also saw the potential for concentrated time for fun after more than a year of limitations and restrictions. The camp was not cheap, but with a scholarship and support from our local congregation’s campership funds, we felt we could give her an experience that would be good for her after a tough year of being deprived of activities during the pandemic.

Before she left, we had prepared her by showing her videos of the camp and the kinds of activities that she would do. She looked at the images of cabins where she would stay. We reminded her that in any emergency, we could be there in a couple of hours and her grandmother could also be there if we could not. To avoid homesickness, my wife and I followed the advice of camp experts by not saying, “We can come get you, if you miss us.” We did emphasize that we would miss her, but that it was only ten days.

As her dad, I planned to mail letters at regular intervals. I remember my one sleepaway camp experience, the excitement of having your name called for mail, and wanted to re-create that experience for her. First, I wrote her a letter from our dog with his perspective of not having her in the house. Because he is a dog, his spelling was not good, and he referred to my daughter as Loud One, since that is how we have said we think he perceives her. Second, I mailed her a letter on a large, round piece of paper, starting the letter on the edge and moving the words around the circle in a spiral. I thought she would find it amusing to have to keep turning the letter to read what I had written. Towards the end, I wrote her a typical letter, telling her about what we were doing at home in a boring way (to keep her from feeling left out) and reminding her to try something new, talk to someone new, and eat something new. I coordinated my letters with my wife so that our daughter would receive something from one of us regularly. From her reports, she now wants to live at camp.

She thrived there. Her first letter to us said that she made a friend “in five seconds.” The camp provided a portal where they posted pictures of the kids engaging in activities. I scoured the photos to see what the signs of her experience were. I could see her silly jumps into the pool with friends. Her tentative smile high up on a ropes course was there. One image showed her arm-in-arm with a new friend. Another photo had her hair sticking to her dirty, sweaty forehead in a late afternoon of activity. The signs of her growth and transformation were there.

I really admire my daughter for going with an open mind and immersing herself in the experience. I know that, when I was an almost 8-year-old like she was, I would not have been brave enough to do what she had. But, I like to think that this is part of parenthood–making kids into better versions of who you are.

For me, it was also odd to have her gone for ten days. In addition to just being quiet around the house, there were no time pressures to get her up and ready, to transport and pick up, or to complete a meal in a timely fashion. Some might celebrate such a lack of obligation, but I have to admit it threw my own rhythm off. I found I missed her in a way that I had not experienced before because she had gone away, and I remained at home. The experience left me more appreciative of what she has brought into my life.

This year, she is going back for longer (two weeks). She is already practicing her group’s cheer and singing the songs that she learned to be ready for the new session. I too am readying myself for her absence. I know that she will be having growth experiences and doing things independently from my wife and me. And really, I think this is the point of camp…to learn new skills and grow as a person.

Robert (Rob) S. Weisskirch, MSW, Ph.D., CFLE is a Professor of Human Development at California State University, Monterey Bay and is a Certified Family Life Educator. He and his wife are parents to a chatty, elementary school-aged daughter and reside in Marina.

Summer Camp Books for Your Young Reader

First Time Camper: Off to camp she went!