Day Camp took boys to a baseball game

amother

OP ↓

Mon, Aug 26 2024, 10:39 pm

I heard about it today.
I just wonder if this is a thing in other camps.
This is supposedly a regular yeshivish (out of town) camp.
I know many yeshivish people take their kids to baseball games. It happens to be that it's not something that my family is into. We don't have a TV and we don't follow sports.

But I think what's bothering me is not so much the appropriateness of it (I have never been to one, but I am just assuming that its a pretty kosher activity.)

Rather, I'm bothered by the idea of taking my kids to a spectator sport. I pay the camp to keep my kid entertained in a wholesome way. Let them take the kids to a field to play baseball or volleyball. Let them take them to an interactive museum. Even boating or horseback riding.

But what's the point in having them sit on bleachers and watch a bunch of adult gentiles playing a game? Why should they sit and cheer for a team that has nothing to do with them, along with random strangers screaming their heads off? If a parent wants to take his kids, fine. But why does a camp think this is a good way to entertain the kids? I would be just as annoyed if they plunked my kids in front a screen and had them watch cartoons.

I asked my boys if they had fun. They both said they were bored the whole time. My little one doesn't understand the rules of the game. (He is 7.)

I'm just wondering what others think. Am I making a big deal out of nothing?
Is this something that is done in other camps?

amother

Charcoal

Mon, Aug 26 2024, 10:45 pm

I love baseball games. I think they are really fun. There is singing in the beginning and in the middle of the 7th inning (there are 9 innings). There are lots of cute videos and games in the middle between the innings. Lots of cheering for your team. Usually it’s a nice day and you might be under an awning so it’s not too sunny (that’s the kind of seats I buy, all the way in the back so it’s under an awning of the building). Some people get bored. My husband doesn’t like them. But I do.

amother

↑ Heather ↓

Mon, Aug 26 2024, 10:49 pm

amother OP wrote:

You are totally making a big deal out of nothing. Some kids like, enjoy, and follow sports. Some kids don't. My son would hate going to a museum but loves going to baseball games. Most elementary age boys really enjoy going to baseball games.

amother

Burntblack

Mon, Aug 26 2024, 10:50 pm

Do you think your kids are busy doing something the entire day? I assume that there’s also things like talent shows or other performances. I can’t imagine Kids being busy for an entire full day of camp without anything whether they’re sitting and watching it all. That sounds exhausting. I can understand if I didn’t tell you if I go to the baseball game. I also find it boring. I’m just surprised by the fact that you think your kid should be busy physically doing something the entire day. just don’t think that’s possible

amother

↑ Honey

Mon, Aug 26 2024, 10:57 pm

amother Burntblack wrote:

I think she means filling their days in wholesome ways. My kids don’t have screen time - computer, internet, movies ever. We don’t go to baseball game (although I’m not against it) or circus or shows. We don’t even go to concerts bec we are in galus and don’t have bais hamikdash. . And yet they manage to fill their days in wholesome ways.

Many camps manage to have wholesome programs without baseball games.

But diff things are expected and acceptable in diff communities.

amother

↑ Heather ↓

Mon, Aug 26 2024, 10:58 pm

mha3484 wrote:

Our OOT camps don't do this and I wouldn't like it. People drink a lot, use profanity and on a hot day are barely dressed. How exposed I want my boys to that is a personal choice not one the camp should make for me.

Been to many baseball games- don't hear much profanity or see a lot drinking. Lots of empty seats. People dressed pretty much the same you see the everywhere else.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Aug 26 2024, 11:01 pm

amother Burntblack wrote:

A talent show made up of kids from the camp is wonderful and relevant.

I guess I don't see the relevance of watching a bunch of random non jews playing a sport.
Maybe part of my problem is that I didn't grow up with the culture of following sports, and, while I understand that, relative to other things guys can get into, following professional sports is considered parve. But I still don't see why its so appropriate to introduce it to kids.

Would you think it's any different than having your kids watch cartoons ? If not, would you be okay with a camp doing that?
If yes, what's the difference?

oohlala

Mon, Aug 26 2024, 11:12 pm

Honestly I don’t see what the big deal is. Usually camps go to minor league games where the atmosphere is very family friendly. Most boys enjoy it. I happen to like going, and I know nothing about sports.
But I understand that many super yeshivish pple would find it unacceptable… I am not that yeshivish.

amother

Diamond ↓

Mon, Aug 26 2024, 11:17 pm

My daughter (in town!) day camp took the whole camp to Mets game last summer. She hated it (we’re not sports fans) but lots of kids enjoyed it. I’m glad they took her so she got an experience she may not have gotten from us. I had no religious objection: tons of frum people even rabbis are sports fans. It’s not a religious thing it’s just a personal preference.

amother

Seashell

Mon, Aug 26 2024, 11:19 pm

amother OP wrote:

My son’s camp takes them to baseball games that are optional, some parents choose not to pay for them or send their children. My son has been asking to go to games all year, but I’m like you. I don’t follow sports and I have zero interest in doing that. I’d much prefer that he play sports instead of watching others play. But I was happy to have him go with the camp and experience the game without my involvement in it. I don’t particularly like it, but it’s not that terrible. In my opinion, watching a live game in person is very different than watching a cartoon. Going to experience a game is better than watching it on a TV from your couch. Going to a broadway show is better than a movie. It involves effort and in person socialization that’s taking place in real time. I wouldn’t be ok with cartoons at camp at all.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Aug 26 2024, 11:23 pm

amother Diamond wrote:

I don't know if everyone would agree that it's not a religious objection.
Again, I know it's not completely treif. I'm only thinking that it's not so wholesome.
I have one son who loves sports (he's 20). I have allowed him to go with other families or friends who I trusted. So I'm not completely against it.
But I don't see the value in introducing spectator sports to frum kids.

amother

↑ Diamond

Mon, Aug 26 2024, 11:28 pm

amother OP wrote:

I’m ok that we see that we see this differently. As you saw you had lots of people agree with you and lots who didn’t .give your feedback to the camp

I don’t have any sports fans in my family and none of us are frummer than another family who enjoys sports. It’s just not something we enjoy.

amother

↑ Heather

Mon, Aug 26 2024, 11:33 pm

Someone could also say the same thing about an amusement park- why introduce frum kids to the adrenaline rush of a Roller-coaster- but lots of daycamps and sleepaway camps do it. People who follow sports have an appreciation for the game, athletic skill- I think that's more wholesome than a Roller-coaster- but other may disagree.