Ever since we announced the opening of Somerset, we have been overwhelmed by the excitement and good wishes of friends, alumni, and, in some cases, complete strangers. New summer camps don’t come along often, let alone a camp with the incredible history and traditions of Somerset.
We’ve also been overwhelmed by the number of friends and acquaintances who follow their well wishes with: “I cannot imagine sending my child away to camp and being apart for that long.” Now, we know not everyone “gets” camp but we feel compelled to respond to those people with two comments. First, thank you for the good wishes. And, second, we can’t imagine you NOT sending your child to camp.
We, of course, have an overwhelming bias towards camp. We’re “camp-lifers” who believe that camp has had a profound impact on our lives in terms of how it shaped us into the adults, leaders, partners, and parents we are today. Certainly, our lives would be less fulfilled without the values, lessons, and relationships forged during our time at summer camp.
There is no one size fits all when it comes to camp. A 7-week sports camp is clearly not right for everyone, but we do believe that there is a camp for every child! Maybe it’s a 2-week theater camp, or a 3-day backpacking camp, or science camp, or cooking camp. Perhaps it’s same sex, or coed. Overnight or day. Far from home or around the corner. At the end of the day, none of these criteria matters because most every camp shares the most important attributes above all else:
A caring and nurturing staff that is committed to empowering children to help them be their best selves;
A community removed from the daily norms and pressures of home and school;
An opportunity to live with, and connect with peers on a deeply personal and emotional level; and
The chance to improve existing skills and develop new ones.
While Somerset may not be right for every child, our hope still is that there is a summer camp that is accessible to all and that there is a camp for every budget, interest level, skill set, and child. Those parents who make this experience possible will be equally fulfilled by the growth and personal accomplishments that they will witness in their children. It’s a gift every child deserves.
-JH
