Iain McClements | Camp Twin Creeks - Part 3

I choose my Phone over Food…

I choose my Phone over Food…

After discovering the CNN.com article that claimed some 13-year olds check social media upwards of 100 times a day, this was the quote that struck me the hardest;

“I would rather not eat for a week than get my phone taken away.  It’s really bad.”

Understandably, right?  That is some sense of perspective and as an older human being I am not one to judge but just one to worry about where this leads.

Of course this is a great time to remind us all that 2 weeks at summer camp means no technology but this sort of statistic makes me even more self aware and concerned that we adults struggle to cope without the crutch of social media and our devices too.  Imagine what we could or should be doing instead?  Thinking, talking, looking, breathing, driving or just waiting….  I personally find it hard to sit at a red light these days and just wait for it turn green.

When our campers leave the West Virginia mountains after 2 weeks they always talk about how much they enjoy the break from technology, and all that involves.  We love offering them that respite and look forward to doing so for many years to come.  In the future when we’re dealing with holograms, virtual reality social media, or whatever the next big this is, we will continue to provide children with a safe and happy place free of many distractions but with the type of activity and natural distraction that will always be welcome – watching a rain storm from a porch, campfire chats, card games, bedtime stories, walks with cheers to and from activities and much more.

Looking Ahead. Already?

Our winter is but 4 days old and our week was so productive!  From planning video and social media campaigns for the next 9 months, to working on a new brochure design, gathering and responding to feedback, staff career fairs, saving a date for our first winter reunion or enrolling our first new family for the 2016 summer it’s been a great week and felt so good to be ‘back’.  We even emailed every 4th grade camper and family that attended camp this summer to offer them their free National Parks pass.  Almost half has responded and received their pass by email today.  What a week!

Next week will see more office and camp excitement for sure!  Custom socks in the clothing store, perhaps?!  2016 summer dates confirmed, absolutely!  Our first official enrollment mailing for the season too – look out for that in your email inbox starting late next week.

Enjoy your respective weekends with family and sports schedules, send pictures of any fun you have to our Facebook page and we’ll see you all next week!

 

Happy New Year!

It’s here, New Years Day; the day when we all return to work and the children all return to school.  Right?  I thought this to myself as I walked the dog this morning – she has to get a walk in the off season, no freedom of camp to enjoy – and corrected that thought as I remembered that, for most, the work year does not end in May nor begin again in September.

But anyhow, I digress.  Happy New School Year Day!  No streamers to clean up and no party in Times Square the night before but still a day full of excitement and I am sure some uncertainty in households throughout the land.  Some children have been back in school for days or weeks already but today probably marks the day when EVERYBODY is back.  New hair, new shoes, new backpack?  Perhaps.  New attitude?  Hopefully!  New approach after a fun time at camp, walking a little taller and more assured?  Again, hopefully.

Send the camper in your household my very best for the start of this school year, and the best from everybody here at Camp Twin Creeks.  Today, we begin planning for the 2016 summer here in our winter offices and that is great news for all concerned!

Summer Thanks!

Amy and I are home now, a few days and a few miles away from our wonderful summer home in West Virginia and we’ve reached the moment when we are often asked by friends, the question; you know, the question…”how was the summer?”  We look at each other, smile and tell them that the summer was great.  We tell them the summer was without serious incident and we survived!  That really does not do our summer justice though, but it’s a concise reply and will usually suffice.

What we should explain to our friends is that each summer we witness wonderful people, both campers and counselors.  We see growth and happiness and true comfort that I believe can be seen best in a residential camp setting.  Campers return relieved to be in their summer home and happy place.  We get to see this on a daily basis and we are so lucky.

Amy and I, along with many of our head staff, also meet and get to know many wonderful families.  No matter if this was summer #1 for your family or summer #15 it is always a true pleasure to meet, talk and work together with the goal of giving your child a truly amazing summer camp experience.  Whether your camper traveled 30 miles or 5,000+ miles to be at Camp Twin Creeks, thank you for allowing them the opportunity, for making the investment in their childhood and for trusting Amy and I to look after them.  This is a responsibility we will never take lightly.  Thank you so much!

Finally, in summary, we soon start planning for the next 9 months of winter and of course the 2016 summer.  We will host reunions in different regions and countries, stay in touch with emails and newsletters and also maintain our social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and beyond.  Look out for news of program and facility improvements, staff returning and much more.  We also have a few surprises planned from our multimedia team this summer.

Finally, for real this time, our 2016 rates and dates will be officially announced in the next couple of weeks along with your first re-enrollment opportunity.  Until then enjoy the last few days of summer, or the first few days of the school year and remember what I tried to end each session requesting; “make the rest of your world and lives a little more like summer camp.”

Best wishes, Iain and Amy