“Kids should bring cell phones so that they could communicate with parents, especially in the case of homesickness,” Safran said. “Even if they don’t end up using them, it’s important to feel connected. They can call out if they need to.”
Depending on the rules of the camp, e-mail is also very important. Kids may not know their parents’ e-mail addresses. So Safran suggests parents write down on paper the cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses of relatives and close friends.
However, at the UCLA Recreation Center, electronic equipment is discouraged.
“Those are solitary activities,” said Tracie Lockwood, Director of Youth for Recreational and Instructional Programs for the UCLA Recreation Center. “We promote adventure and social programs. We encourage interaction and a sense of community between the kids and discourage individual play.”
The UCLA campus has two different youth camps. The athletic department provides instruction-based camps for specific sports that suit their interests, for example, lacrosse. The recreation center houses all the general day camps — instruction noncompetitive,science, theatre — for kids ages 4 to 18.
“We are more of the general camp. Kids participate in programs like science, theatre, sports, swimming, tennis, instructional in everything from animation, guitar and total health and wellness and travel adventure camps which includes surfing, sailing and kayaking.”
Some camps provide the materials you’ll need, but these are some necessities that camp supervisors and campers alike agreed upon.
THINGS TO BRING: 1) Sunblock We all know how it feels to get a sunburn. Ouch!
“On cloudy days, it’s almost easier to get a sunburn” because we often forget that the shine breaks through the clouds, said Safran. 2) Layers of comfortable clothes Even if it’s warm out, you never know when it could get cold.
“Even in California, it can get chilly,” Safran said. “Even if it’s just a day camp, I encourage parents to pack layers of clothes. Check the weather. It might get cold.”
It’s better to have more than not enough. 3) Group activity “Bring a game of some sort, like a deck of cards so they could be involved in a group activity,”suggests Safran.“It can make it easier for them to make friends and sometimes produce an almost instant bonding with other kids and inspectors. Food, if it’s allowed, pretty much things that they can share.” 4) Snacks “There were bag checks for food because one year some idiot brought a mini feast and a bear ravaged our tent,” recalled Phillips. 6) Medicine (if you need it) “Medicine safety is really important to us, and we have a very strict policy,” Safran said. “It’s very important for them to have the medicine in an appropriate way, that is, not in a Ziploc bag, but they must be in the prescription bottle that states what the medicine is for and how often it needs to be taken. Even if it’s just allergy medicine, the label should state very clear what it is.”
STEP THREE — HOW TO HAVE THE MOST FUN Have a good attitude and knock yourself out.You may not realize it while you’re there, but some of your best memories (and even friends) will be made at camp. While some necessities may have changed, one piece remains — bringing along a good attitude and interest in meeting new people and doing new things.
“Bring a good attitude and a willingness to be a part of a community. Kids should bring a willingness to try new things and be ready to be pushed out of their normal experiences and normal comfort level,” said UCLA’s Lockwood. “We encourage them to interact with kids of different social backgrounds; kids in different peer groups that they don’t regularly meet with.
“We really don’t require that they bring any physical items. It’s really just that they bring a positive and cooperative attitude... and, of course, a willingness to try something new.”
Being open to doing new things is key, according to veteran camper Phillips.
“I never went hiking or canoeing except for camp and it was fun, he said. “I still talk with my camp buddies 10 years later.even some of the ladies still call every now and then.
“For me, camp was about meeting new friends and girls, even though I was too shy to do anything but say ‘hi’.” said Phillips. “I learned a lot about being a team player and about caring for one another and looking out for people.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 24, 2007. Read the original PDF.