Ok, not everything… but an awful lot.  From ages 15 – 19 I worked as a summer Camp Counselor at Camp Winadu in Pittsfield, Mass (where I had also been a camper from age 10).  In addition, during the non-summer months I continued working as a counselor in New York City for a childrens play group, Shelley’s All-Stars, which was also run by the owner of Camp Winadu.  I had a lot of great, challenging and funny experiences working with children over those years, and learned many tips and tricks that certainly prepared me for being a dad and shaped some of the ways I have approached my own journey into fatherhood.  I could probably fill an entire blog just with stories from my Winadu/All-Stars days, but instead I think I will occasionally share some “Summer Camp Confidential” tales with you here at Dad-O-Matic.  I will start with…

JUNK IN THE TRUNK? WHAT PARENTS ARE PACKING!

Each summer, the counselors would arrive at camp a few days before the kids did for our staff orientation.  When I was a counselor for the youngest group of campers, 6 and 7 year-olds, one of our duties was to unpack in advance for the kids in our bunk.  We did this since they were really too young to do so for themselves, and also, as they were mostly first-time campers at that age, we believed their transition to “sleep away” camp would be easier if upon their arrival they already found their familiar things on their beds and in their “cubbyholes.”  For us counselors, unpacking the standard issue camp trunks that had been shipped ahead was our first introduction to the kids who would shortly be in our charge for the next 4 – 8 weeks.  It was always fun and fascinating to “meet” our kids through the experience of unpacking their clothes and belongings, and it was amazing how accurately we could predict what a kid was going to be like, just by what was in their trunks and how their trunks were packed.

READING PANTS INSTEAD OF PALMS…

If the trunk was not new, and the official camp “uniforms” were well-washed and worn, we knew the kid was a repeat camper or had older siblings who had been to camp before.  If virtually everything in the trunk was un-opened and brand new, we knew the parents, or quite possibly a nanny or other “employee” had simply called a camp supply store and ordered everything remotely from a catalog.  There was nothing that would be familiar to the child.  No personal touch.  From our perspective, it was clear that the “all new” kid was going to be a handful and the “hand me down” kid was going to be a breeze.  Other indicators were toys and games.  Some kids had books, and sports equipment.  Others had expensive or inappropriate toys that would most certainly get lost, broken, or cause jealous conflicts amongst the bunk mates.  Some trunks seemed as though they were thrown together as an afterthought, with dirty and torn items tossed in unfolded, with no regard for the list of basics that every camper needed to bring.  Other trunks were a perfect mix of old and new items, complete with a “special” toy or a worn “blankie” that the wise parents knew would give their son some welcome comfort in their absence and without the familiarity of home. Those were usually the trunks that also had some handwritten “surprise” notes saying “I LOVE YOU” or “HAVE FUN” as well as some pictures of family and pets.  Some parents completely disregarded the “rules” and sent ahead trunks filled with cookies, candy and other “contraband.”  As we unpacked, we learned as much about our kids as we did about their parents, and invariably our “predictions” as to which parents would be nice and which would be… er, not as nice, were proven mostly spot-on come visiting day.

DOES CLOTHING MAKE THE KID???

After having this experience at camp, when I had kids of my own and they were young enough that their mom and I were in control of what they wore and what they owned, I think I was much more conscious about selecting things that were age and personality appropriate and that presented my kids in ways that reflected both who they really were, and who we wanted them to be.  I didn’t want people to take a look at my child and think, “Sheesh, what were the parents thinking!??” as I thought all too often myself as I unpacked those tell-tale camp trunks.  How about you?  If you’ve ever sent your kids away to camp, what kind of “packer” are you?  How much thought do you give to your kids dress and “stuff” and what it may mean to everyone else?  What about every day, and not just for camp?  Please add your thoughts in the comments, or if you prefer, send me packing!

Jeff Sass is the proud dad of ZEO (Zach, 20, Ethan, 18 and Olivia, 17).  He is also a seasoned entertainment and technology exec and active social media enthusiast.  You can see more of Jeff’s writing at Sassholes! and Social Networking Rehab.

Photo Credit: www.thetrunkfactory.com