The end of May brings the beginning of June....and the start of camp!
I'll be traveling to camp over the next few days and will be away from my email. If you have an urgent question, please call my cell phone or feel free to leave me a voicemail at camp. I'll be sure to return your call just as soon as I can.
See everyone soon!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Oh Jerry, Where Art Though?
Not too worry friends, counselors and campers! Jerry Malloy is indeed returning to camp as one of the premier 2009 Chippewa staff. Apologies to Jerry for our accidental exclusion in the latest newsletter. There certainly isn't anything forgettable about Jerry, though he can be hard to find during counselor hunt.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Lost Boys?
At the risk of being a bit controversial, I thought I'd share a recent article forwarded to me from one of our British counselors. Sue Palmer has written an interesting piece which touches on many of the themes that a camp like Chippewa addresses. While I suspect many of her generalizations and observations at the beginning of the article are a bit overstated and likely controversial, her fundamental conclusion is one that I share....that boys need positive male role-models. She concludes :
"The essential element during the transition from boy to man, as at all stages in a boy’s life, is the attention of other human beings. Human role models are important from the moment of birth, as parents unconsciously provide examples of social behaviour, language and life skills. And boys need the consistent presence of a father figure, providing examples of acceptable male behaviour as they grow up. But as boys enter their teens, there may be tensions between father and son — hence the recognition across all times and cultures that adolescent boys need to move beyond the family and spend time learning from other men. Perhaps the most significant difference between the lives of adolescent boys in the past and teenage boys today is the company they keep. Until the second half of the 20th century, boys over the age of about 14 lived and worked with men. "
So at the risk of being a bit controversial, here is a link to the entire article. Again, I don't believe that the sky is falling with boys in our society. In fact, Ms. Palmer's assessments may be a bit alarmist, but I agree that positive male role-models, like the men on the staff at Chippewa, have much to offer as boys mature into manhood. In many cases, boys may lack those positive male role-models in everyday life.
"The essential element during the transition from boy to man, as at all stages in a boy’s life, is the attention of other human beings. Human role models are important from the moment of birth, as parents unconsciously provide examples of social behaviour, language and life skills. And boys need the consistent presence of a father figure, providing examples of acceptable male behaviour as they grow up. But as boys enter their teens, there may be tensions between father and son — hence the recognition across all times and cultures that adolescent boys need to move beyond the family and spend time learning from other men. Perhaps the most significant difference between the lives of adolescent boys in the past and teenage boys today is the company they keep. Until the second half of the 20th century, boys over the age of about 14 lived and worked with men. "
So at the risk of being a bit controversial, here is a link to the entire article. Again, I don't believe that the sky is falling with boys in our society. In fact, Ms. Palmer's assessments may be a bit alarmist, but I agree that positive male role-models, like the men on the staff at Chippewa, have much to offer as boys mature into manhood. In many cases, boys may lack those positive male role-models in everyday life.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Luggage Fees or Shipping Bags
I have been receiving a few calls and emails about the possibility of shipping luggage to camp to avoid the fees that some of the airlines are charging for luggage. The short answer is...no problem. A few thoughts:
First, make sure that the cost of shipping the bags does not exceed the cost of luggage traveling with your camper on the flight. I suspect that the costs will be close given the weight of the baggage.
Second, if you choose to ship, plan on shipping the luggage one week in advance of the session. This will allow plenty of time for the baggage to arrive, plus a little extra time for any issues that arise while the bags are in transit.
Next, please be certain to use a service that allows for tracking of luggage as I anticipate that several bags will be arriving by delivery service. The tracking service will be your best resource to ensure that the bags have been delivered. While we will make every effort to make note of the bags that have arrived, we aren't typically in the habit of taking inventory for deliveries of luggage. Rest assured, however, that we will store them in a safe location.
Finally, please don't forget to consider the transportation of luggage on the way home from camp. It's a two-way trip after all! If you would prefer that the luggage be shipped home as well, you will need to provide pre-paid shipping labels. You are welcome to send those to us at your convenience during the summer. If you are unable to send a shipping label, we will charge an additionally handling fee due to the number of bags that we anticipate being shipped. In any case, please indicate which service you will be using so that we can schedule a pick-up of your son's luggage.
Generally speaking, I think you'll find that a little extra planning will help save money this summer. In choosing a service, it is our preference that the luggage travel with your son. However, if you choose to ship, I would recommend that you use UPS. They have been the most reliable and least costly at our rural location.
As always, please don't hesitate to call or email with questions.
First, make sure that the cost of shipping the bags does not exceed the cost of luggage traveling with your camper on the flight. I suspect that the costs will be close given the weight of the baggage.
Second, if you choose to ship, plan on shipping the luggage one week in advance of the session. This will allow plenty of time for the baggage to arrive, plus a little extra time for any issues that arise while the bags are in transit.
Next, please be certain to use a service that allows for tracking of luggage as I anticipate that several bags will be arriving by delivery service. The tracking service will be your best resource to ensure that the bags have been delivered. While we will make every effort to make note of the bags that have arrived, we aren't typically in the habit of taking inventory for deliveries of luggage. Rest assured, however, that we will store them in a safe location.
Finally, please don't forget to consider the transportation of luggage on the way home from camp. It's a two-way trip after all! If you would prefer that the luggage be shipped home as well, you will need to provide pre-paid shipping labels. You are welcome to send those to us at your convenience during the summer. If you are unable to send a shipping label, we will charge an additionally handling fee due to the number of bags that we anticipate being shipped. In any case, please indicate which service you will be using so that we can schedule a pick-up of your son's luggage.
Generally speaking, I think you'll find that a little extra planning will help save money this summer. In choosing a service, it is our preference that the luggage travel with your son. However, if you choose to ship, I would recommend that you use UPS. They have been the most reliable and least costly at our rural location.
As always, please don't hesitate to call or email with questions.
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