Field Trip Day, a time to gain independence at summer camp

“From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!” Dr. Seuss

Summer camp is often a child’s first truly independent away-from-home-for-more-than-a-night experience. Campers navigate social situations, learn new skills and make some decisions on their own. Field trips are part of the lab for all of these important developments. Every camp has safety and contingency plans, provides supervision and chooses age- and interest-appropriate activities. If that sounds kind of dry and formulaic, it is! But, picture this from one camp’s perspective.

Thursday. Field Trip Day. Seems simple: we do it almost every week, children love it, plans are made in advance, emergency supplies are packed, campers wear their blue camp shirts, staff have lists, buses arrive, attendance is taken, and off we go! Reality? Not exactly. It is all true, but it begins like this. 

Reveille. Waiter’s Call. Line-up. Ronni and Ken walking through bunks to encourage everyone to move from the bed to the door and then to the flagpole. Breakfast. Does everyone have a beanie? Yes, you do need your beanie. At every meal. Yes, today, too. After breakfast announcements: Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! Blue shirt for everyone. Check in your clean laundry if you can’t find it. Make sure you have water to drink. Yes, we will bring some. No, you don’t need money, we are getting lunch for everyone and there is nothing to buy. Time for the blessing. Dismissal. Head to your bunks for a really thorough clean-up.

PA announcement: Ok, everyone, time to head to the buses. Heard at the bus, “Where’s your shirt? Why didn’t you tell me? I think Ronni has an extra. Go to the office! Is everyone wearing sunscreen? Find a seat, please. It needs to be quiet for attendance. No, counting is not sufficient. Ok, we’re off!

 Field trips are awesome! We offer mostly choice trips, so there is generally something for everyone. This time, campers choose between the Boston Museum of Science, Treetop Adventures and Nantasket Beach. All are successful.

One may think that field trips are just fun and games. But, there is much more. While the campers have fun, they have opportunities to really learn some life skills. They learn to prepare for the events of the day, they may have to choose their own food and they have to manage their spending money. Very rarely do they have these opportunities at home. In some ways, field trips embody the very essence of a camp experience. Campers hanging out with their friends, choosing their activities, managing time and even money, being held accountable for reporting in if they are teens, and traveling together as a group if they are a bit younger. They even have to keep track of their own belongings! Let’s hope it translates at home!

RONNI GUTTIN is education director at Temple Emanu-El  and the director of Camp Avoda.