Transcript of our interview with Steve, YMCA Camp Pine Crest: Parent Interview with Steve Lang

What’s unique about YMCA Camp Pine Crest?

What is unique about YMCA Camp Pine Crest is the diversity of activities for the campers. My daughter has been to one or two other day camps or overnight camps, and they all have the very traditional swimming and canoeing. But when we got to YMCA Camp Pine Crest, they had two high ropes courses, a low ropes course, archery, and all these things that she really wanted to try. So I thought that was unique about it.

I also like the idea of getting her to do out-trips and getting that experience. We do that a little bit with our family, but it’s different to do it with people her own age in that kind of setting. The two-week campers get to go out for different amounts of time.

If that’s something that she likes to do because she’s discovered it through camp, she can then continue because they offer trips to the French River and other areas. So I know she can do that later on and still be a part of that camp.

What would you highlight about Camp Pine Crest?

Certainly the staff. I’ve been able to interact with some staff at other camps, and they’re nice. But I just found that the staff overall at YMCA Camp Pine Crest were really attentive and understanding of the campers’ needs.

There was also this feeling of inclusiveness and wanting the campers to make the most of the situation that they’re in and get the most out of camp. I really found that right away when we went to the open house. There was just the friendliness with which we were welcomed, and everyone seemed to be interested in Olivia, my daughter, and what she wanted to do. So it just really made it feel very welcoming.

How did you know that Camp Pine Crest was the right fit?

One of the nice things was that they offered an open house for anyone, but especially for newer campers. My daughter has gone three times now. Even though she’s gone three times, we continue to go back to the open house because she just enjoys being up there and being in that environment.

The first time we went, she got to see all the facilities and meet the people. She got to meet a few of her counselors and some of the other people who would be at camp.

Driving up, she was a little bit nervous, which I understand. But when we got there, the staff welcomed everyone, and she was able to go around and try different things. Looking at her face and seeing her excited about being at camp, it just seemed to be a really good fit. She felt she was really going to enjoy herself at the camp, and I had the same feeling.

Was there any noticeable personal growth in your child after time at YMCA Camp Pine Crest?

I realized right away that she had grown a little more confident. I went to pick her up, and there were lots of campers getting ready to be picked up. I spotted her, and she was doing some sort of art activity, building something out of grass for somebody, just like a wreath or something.

She looked up, and I waved to her, and she gave me a head nod like we had seen each other earlier that day. We hadn’t seen each other for two weeks. As much as she may have missed us, she was a little bit stronger and a little bit more independent, which I think is a big part of what going to this kind of camp offers.

You kind of wonder if they’re going to run into your arms crying and sobbing because they’re so happy to see you. There’s a part of you that always wants your little kids to do that. But when that didn’t happen, I recognized that it was growth and that she would be stronger and more confident because of it. So as hard as it might have been to see, I certainly recognized it for what it was, and it was good.

How can parents overcome hesitancy to send their children away overnight?

I knew she was in a safe environment. She was with people her own age, and the counselors were right in the cabin with them. So if there were any issues, there was somebody there, and they weren’t having to wander around and find someone. There were also supporting staff throughout the facility.

It’s always hard. This year in particular, when my daughter was away, the first two or three nights were difficult because there was no contact. You’re wondering, “How is she doing? Is she getting by okay?” All these things are always playing on your mind.

It made me feel very confident that as much as she might get homesick, there would be someone there. In her case, there were campers in her cabin who had been there before. The first time she went was new for her, and so they were there to help support her as well.

She said, “The first night, I was a little bit homesick.” But then she started to make friends, and that’s all part of the growth that we want to see in our kids. We want them to be strong, confident people. Sending them overnight allows you to have that happen in a very safe environment.

Go to the camp during the open house, meet the counselors, and meet the other permanent staff who are running it. I think you’ll get a sense of the safety that they have. They’ve been doing this for over 100 years. They’ve learned how to handle these kinds of things, and that’s been passed down over the years.

I got the chance at the open house and at other times to talk to some of the staff who are really running it and get a good sense from them. So that helped my confidence that she would do well there and that it would be a safe and supportive environment.

What would you tell other parents about the overall value of sending kids to YMCA Camp Pine Crest?

It’s very different to have these experiences with your peers and to grow that independence, which I think is a very important part of going to camp because you don’t have Mom and Dad to lean on. As much as we as a family go camping and do some of the same things, it’s not the same.

There’s always a part of us as parents that doesn’t want our children to grow up. I look at my daughter, who’s 12, and she’s growing up so fast. There’s a part of me that wants to keep her as I remember her, as this innocent little kid, but then we also want our children to grow up and be strong, confident people. And it is hard to do that with parents around.

I found the drive home amazing. You just listen to your child telling stories about all the amazing experiences she had.

I think every kid should go to camp and get that experience because when they’re older, they’re going to go off on their own. Even in high school, they’re starting to be a bit more independent. They’re going to go off to college, university, or something like that. And it’s great to see that they already have some of that confidence built into them from these previous experiences.

What does your child say about YMCA Camp Pine Crest?

She looks forward to it every year. It’s a big part of the summer that I know she really enjoys. The question is just which kind of direction she’s going to go, and she’s still thinking about that. But she loves the camp.

She’s talking about some of the friends she met this past year and maybe trying to connect with them so that they can all go at the same time. Although she made lots of friends, it’s always nice to have one or two friends there already.

Any final thoughts?

Camp Pine Crest offers such a great opportunity for young people. We get so wrapped up in our computers and our lives, and now especially with online learning, even if you’re in class, you’re still doing stuff online all the time. It’s just great to get outside for two weeks, every day, rain or shine.

I think we’ve gotten away from that. And I think it’s great to have young people connect with the outdoors and realize that you can have fun outside.

There are so many unique experiences: the high ropes, the low ropes, canoeing, archery, and all these things. You can kind of do them a little bit in the city at different places, but to be able to do that for two straight weeks is just a phenomenal opportunity.

Take your child and watch their reaction when they’re walking through camp and getting to try all these things. During the open house, you’ll see very quickly that it’s something that will be a change for them. It’ll change them in a very positive way.