My wonderful niece was rejected from camp

amother

Garnet

Today at 7:45 am

For all those wondering how it is possible that if she went to this camp for years then where did her bed go- here's what happened when I went to camp.
One year, a special needs program decided that they want to rent space on the grounds of the camp that I went to, and they took over one bunkhouse. Seems like it was more worth it for the camp to rent the space to them instead of taking tuition from the 60-70 campers that would have slept in that bunkhouse, I imagine that they paid a lot better due to govt funding etc. I'm not blaming the camp for agreeing, I would have done the same thing. Tachlis was that one age group was suddenly reduced by 70 campers because there was simply no space for them. Many many campers got rejected first half, but second half there is always more room so it didnt affect as much.

↑ Raisin

Today at 8:24 am

amother Anemone wrote:

I dont care where she lives her post is implying the girl does not have good middos. And its a snide comment on the op saying her niece has good middos. Its a nasty thing to say when a girl is disappointed for whatever reason you may not understand.

Life is full of disappointment. Sad

Its helpful to learn resilience early in life, although its a tough lesson and it often seems unfair.

I am also wondering, on a practical level, if camps are so overfull, why don't they make 3x 3 weeks sessions so all kids get a chance? (and I bet parents would be happy with paying less money).

amother

↑ IndianRed

Today at 8:30 am

amother Moccasin wrote:

I hear that, though I don't think it's quite the same as not being allowed back for another year of school.

At the same time, I can't help but think of the girl who didn't get in the 1st 3 years, and this is her 1st, if not only, opportunity to experience overnight camp. In the bigger scheme if things, why us she less important than someone who had a turn 3 times over? Maybe she applied ealier this year and it was a 1st-come, 1st-serve basis?
In any case, I'm not from a community that usually sends highschool girls to overnight camp as campers, so maybe that's why I see it as "she had her turn, now someone else is getting a chance."
But yes, being left out of the group is really tough.

But such a girl can go anywhere, she hasn't established her camp friends yet and become integrated into this camp environment yet. There are multiple new camps opening this year, why shouldn't someone who hasn't gone to camp yet apply to the new camps instead of taking a returning campers spot.

amother

↑ Anemone

Today at 8:41 am

Raisin wrote:

Life is full of disappointment. Sad

This is all true doesnt negate your earlier nasty comment

Elfrida

Today at 9:03 am

The only reason it makes sense for returning campers to get priority, is because camps want to retain their brand. If they know a certain girl fits their image, they want her back in order to retain that image.

Otherwise it really would be fairer for girls who haven't been to camp to get the first chance.

amother

↑ Bellflower ↓

Today at 9:17 am

amother Moccasin wrote:

Why does she need to go to this specific camp? There are newer camps that have more room. This returning camper has her 4 camp friends she's been going to camp with for years. They speak on the phone all year and catch up in person whenever they're in the same city. And now suddenly 4 of them are going back to camp together again and one girl was told no for no valid reason.

amother

↑ Bellflower ↓

Today at 9:21 am

Elfrida wrote:

To maintain friendships. To me, as a mother, the biggest gain of sleepaway camp is my daughters branching out and making real friends with girls they don't see all the time. It adds such a beautiful dynamic to their lives. I love hearing them talk throughout the winter, discussing what's going on in their cities! These friendships are also a big part of what makes up the camp ruach. This would be practically impossible if camp friends were for 4 weeks only and then the following year it would be a totally new crowd.

amother

↑ Bellflower

Today at 9:24 am

The girls that I know that weren't accepted this year were not in chayil (they're coming out of 6th and 8th). They had all gone first half before. Some of them were accepted for 2nd half, 2 of them were not accepted at all.

amother

↑ Ruby

Today at 9:29 am

Besides for friendships there is a certain stability of returning to the same camp. Knowing the staff. the grounds. the schedule. The songs.
That is very important to many girls.

New campers can get that in a new camp.
To shuffle girls from camp to camp takes away the stability, familiarity, and friendships otherwise made. It is missing the point of camp for many girls and taking away from the experience.

Many times the best staff in a camp are former campers that returned year after year and love the camp.
If you mess with that you lose the base you choose your staff from.