Coach: Summer camp opportunities are busting at the seams

If you are a parent, the possibilities are endless.

If you are a young child, how do you decide?

Summer camps season is now upon us, folks, and if you thought the selection process was tough at your local all-you-can-eat restaurant buffet, just wait until you check out this nearly endless list of ways for your youngster to pine the summer away.

Just perusing offerings from the Deerfield, Glenview and Northbrook park districts, you will find Summer Kick Off Camp, You Are My Sunshine Camp, Kaleidoscope Camp, Little Champions, Sports Mania Camp, Summer Escapades, Beyond The Bell Camp, Barrel of Monkeys, Playtime Pals, Summer Explorers, Sun Troopers Camp, Little Acorns, FunQuest Camp, Friendly Farmers, Camp Ice Cool and - are you ready for this? - Robothink: Battle Bots Camp (ages 7-12 only, sorry).

Wait. There is more.

Deep breath; now inhale, and take in a few more offerings such as Safety Town Camp, So Big Camp, Sun And Fun Camp, Little Scampers, Trailblazers, Camp Wilderness, Camp Funview, Swish and Splash Adventures, Art Camp, Rookie Sports Camp, Stage And Screen Camp, Pathfinders, Camp Sunshine, Awesome August Camp and - are you ready for this? Part - The Asylum Skateboard Camp and The Ultimate Frisbee Camp.

Yup. Camps for skateboarders and ultimate Frisbee players. If you are a counselor at one of these camps, you better really love these unique, outside-the-box sporting adventures. If you don't, you'd better be getting paid a lot.

Note: These are just the camp offerings from our local Park Districts. If we delve into the private camp possibilities we could be here for paragraphs, but suffice it to say that Banner Day Camp, Good Times Camp, Apachi Day Camp, Hi-5 Sports Camps, North Shore Country Day Camp, DeComa Day Camp, YMCA Camps, Rootz Adventure Camps and Tamarak Day Camp are just a few bites available on the smorgasbord.

Much different, that's for sure, than the days when parents just sent the kids out to play in the neighborhood during the summer, called them back in at dinner time, and then sent them out again until after dark, and everything would be just fine.

Now? It is like a jigsaw puzzle trying to figure out how, when, why and where you can fit in all these activities for your kids, matching up days and times offered, with proper age group, skill levels, and interests, while not forgetting the crucial transportation part of the equation.

That's enough to make calculus class seem almost rudimentary.

But tough choices aside, summer is here and the multitude of camps are about to begin. No question that they are full of fun, new experiences, and new adventures while providing kids a much-needed break from the rigors and routine of the long school year.

As one who has been a camper himself (eons ago), a camp counselor (a little less than eons ago), a camp director (subtract a few more eons), and a longtime camp observer (forget the eons, and no, I do not mean that in a creepy way!) I have but a few suggestions for the coming camp season.

I will break it down into three categories: Campers, Counselors, Parents

Campers

Try new things: This is what camp is all about. It may be a kayak trip, a new sport like karate, a new activity like yoga, or a playground game you have never played. Whatever it may be, you may feel nervous about trying something new, but give it a shot. You never know and, many times, summer camp is where you discover a new passion or interest that can possibly last a lifetime

Seek out new friends: You will often sign up for camp with a few of your close friends, or at least people you know quite well. The easy thing to do is hang with them all the time and stay in your "social comfort zone." But camp is a time to make new friends! So early on - in the first week - put yourself out there. Join different groups, find ways to interact with those you don't know and, in the casualness and freedom of the summer camp atmosphere, you will find it pretty easy to make new friends with the kids who were strangers at the beginning of the summer.

Counselors

Get your rest: "You can't fly with owls at night and keep up with the eagles during the day." This applies to all of you teenagers turned counselors who want to enjoy the late nights of summer hanging with friends, but then find you must wake up and deal with relentlessly unforgiving group of young campers bright and early at 9 a.m. Remember, the little kids don't care how much sleep you got or how tired you are, they just show up ready to roll and want your attention right from the get-go. Additionally, and most painfully, the volume meter at camp is usually somewhere between loud and pulsating, not conducive to your morning "recovery program." So the message here is get your rest! Oh yeah - don't forget to wear a hat and sunscreen!

The "Oreo Cookie Approach": This technique means keeping an eye out for the kids in the middle - the ones who often need your attention most. It never fails that every camp will have the popular, more social kids, the better athletes, the easy-to-talk-to kids and, of course, the obligatory troublemakers. Par for the course in every group. The problem is that these groups often will demand a majority of your attention, and thus, I might argue, take your time away from the kids who really need you: The ones in the vast in-between. The easily forgotten ones who can benefit most from your attention and encouragement. Remember, the best part is in the middle!

Parents

Pick your kids up on time: A small thing, but it really helps the camp staff and your child.

Get to know the camp staff: Talk to the directors and the counselors. Observe (from afar) some of the camp activities, and give counselors positive feedback and encouragement as appropriate. Add in any suggestions or constructive criticisms that may be helpful, and don't be afraid to let counselors know how to best connect with your child.

Summer camp is for new beginnings. A chance for our youngsters to reset in a different environment than the walls of the school they have been attending.

Have fun, enjoy, and good luck finding the right ones!

• Jon Cohn of Glenview is a coach, retired PE teacher, sports official and prep sports fan. To contact him with comments or story ideas, email jcsportsandtees@aol.com.