{"id":277,"date":"2012-07-05T10:28:08","date_gmt":"2012-07-05T14:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/blogs\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=277"},"modified":"2012-07-05T10:28:08","modified_gmt":"2012-07-05T14:28:08","slug":"lazy-hazy-days-of-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/lazy-hazy-days-of-camp\/","title":{"rendered":"Lazy, Hazy Days of Camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>These are the first weeks of summer camp<\/a> at many of our wildlife sanctuaries.<\/p>\n

Seeing all the campers with their lunches in tow, I can\u2019t help but remember my own summer camp experience. Growing up in Maine, I was no stranger to the woods and, to me, camp was an extension of the woods at the end of our street\u2014a place to run and play, build forts, dig in the mud, and eat plenty of blueberries. Whether the kids who come to our camps have spent tons of time in the woods, or are kids for whom nature is new, I’m jealous of their hours outside and the treasures they are about to discover.<\/p>\n

Where else can you create and eat edible dirt, make goop, run, yell, get dirty, and hang around with some the coolest people you\u2019ve ever met? While campers quickly learn that counselors are to be listened to, they are also not quite \u201cadults\u201d in the eyes of the campers, they are much, much cooler! And they are also the only people I know able to rival the campers in energy level. If you\u2019ve seen the counselors in action, you know how much they do over the course of a day and how high their enthusiasm and energy level is.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Visiting camps is part of the job for me\u2014a part I love\u2014and what I get to see is amazing. Camp is a place where both kids and counselors can be themselves. I\u2019ve had staff tell me that this was the first time that they\u2019ve found a place where their love for nature was appreciated and shared, and not made fun of. I\u2019ve seen kids who were terrified of bugs competing with other kids to catch the most dragonflies. I\u2019ve also met many, many kids whose knowledge of critters not only surpasses mine, but I think some of our teacher-naturalists’ too!<\/p>\n

And when I meet campers like this one\u2014proudly showing off his camp patches and telling me how many years he\u2019s been at camp and how much he loves it\u2014I am proud to part of an organization providing these kinds of experiences for thousands of campers each summer.<\/p>\n

Have you or your kids gone to a Mass Audubon camp? Share your experiences with us in the comments section!<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information about our network of 18 day camps and our overnight camp Wildwood, visit our website<\/a>. There are still spaces available at some of our day camps across the state and at Wildwood.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These are the first weeks of summer camp at many of our wildlife sanctuaries. Seeing all the campers with their lunches in tow, I can\u2019t help but remember my own summer camp experience. Growing up in Maine, I was no stranger to the woods and, to me, camp was an extension of the woods at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[35],"class_list":["post-277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ecokids","tag-camp"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-4t","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4077,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/summer-camp-2014-highlights\/","url_meta":{"origin":277,"position":0},"title":"Summer Camp 2014 Highlights","author":"","date":"September 17, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Before we say an official\u00a0goodbye to summer 2014, here\u2019s a look back at some highlights from our camps across the state\u2014and beyond! New Programs Many camps offered new programs that brought campers closer to nature in exciting ways. Stony Brook Nature Day Camp in Norfolk offered its first Adventure Camp\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "EcoKids"","block_context":{"text":"EcoKids","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/ecokids\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/09\/MABA-dana_instruction_group_ceramics.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/09\/MABA-dana_instruction_group_ceramics.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/09\/MABA-dana_instruction_group_ceramics.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/09\/MABA-dana_instruction_group_ceramics.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13643,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/in-your-words-nina-swett\/","url_meta":{"origin":277,"position":1},"title":"In Your Words: Nina Swett","author":"Ryan D.","date":"March 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"In Your Words is a regular feature of Mass Audubon\u2019s\u00a0Explore\u00a0member newsletter. Each issue, a Mass Audubon member, volunteer, staff member, or supporter shares his or her story\u2014why Mass Audubon and protecting the nature of Massachusetts matters to them. In the Spring 2020 issue, we interviewed three counselors from Mass Audubon's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "In Your Words"","block_context":{"text":"In Your Words","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/in-your-words\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Nina Swett (bottom right) enjoying some downtime with fellow counselors","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/03\/Nina-and-Jackson-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/03\/Nina-and-Jackson-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/03\/Nina-and-Jackson-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/03\/Nina-and-Jackson-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14508,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/hip-hip-hooray-for-camp\/","url_meta":{"origin":277,"position":2},"title":"Hip, Hip, Hooray for Camp!","author":"Ryan D.","date":"August 7, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Summer just isn\u2019t summer without camp. Sunshine, fresh air, friends, and fun in the outdoors are the optimal nourishment for body, mind, and soul. So when COVID-19 shut down Massachusetts this spring, our camp and education staff immediately got to work, developing plans to open some of our day camps\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Outdoors"","block_context":{"text":"Get Outdoors","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-outdoors\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Campers inspect a bird nest at Wachusett Meadow Nature Day Camp in Princeton","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/Wachusett-Meadow-Day-Camp-August-2020-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/Wachusett-Meadow-Day-Camp-August-2020-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/Wachusett-Meadow-Day-Camp-August-2020-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/Wachusett-Meadow-Day-Camp-August-2020-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1905,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/12-reasons-mass-audubon-camps-rock\/","url_meta":{"origin":277,"position":3},"title":"12 Reasons Mass Audubon Camps Rock","author":"Hillary T.","date":"March 19, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"When you choose a summer camp for your child, we know there\u2019s no shortage of options. We also know that as parents, you\u2019re always looking to provide your kids with the best possible experiences. Perhaps we\u2019re a bit biased, but we think our camps are the bee\u2019s knees, the snake's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "EcoKids"","block_context":{"text":"EcoKids","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/ecokids\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/03\/CampPic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14950,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/the-power-of-camp\/","url_meta":{"origin":277,"position":4},"title":"The Power of Camp","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"November 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Today is\u00a0Summer Camp\u00a0Day of Action\u00a0for Black Lives.\u00a0 As a statewide conservation organization that operates\u00a019\u00a0nature\u00a0day camps and a residential summer camp\u00a0serving\u00a0more than\u00a015,000 campers, we stand with our colleagues and friends in the camp world\u00a0affirming\u00a0that\u00a0Black Lives Matter at Camp.\u00a0\u00a0 Nature itself is untainted with prejudice; however,\u00a0too many Black and Brown community members\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Kids at camp","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/0042_RoxburyLatin2017_042_750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/0042_RoxburyLatin2017_042_750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/0042_RoxburyLatin2017_042_750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/11\/0042_RoxburyLatin2017_042_750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15094,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/camp-is-coming-an-update-on-summer-camp-2021\/","url_meta":{"origin":277,"position":5},"title":"Camp Is Coming! An Update on Summer Camp 2021","author":"Ryan D.","date":"December 24, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"What's that? Did you say camp is coming? Yes, camp is coming! Mass Audubon's camp staff love winter, but we really miss summer camp, and we bet you do, too. Across the state and at one special property in southern New Hampshire, our camp staff is hard at work getting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sledding with Wachusett Meadow Camp Director Elizabeth Broughton","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/12\/Screenshot-2020-12-23-111423.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/12\/Screenshot-2020-12-23-111423.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/12\/Screenshot-2020-12-23-111423.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/12\/Screenshot-2020-12-23-111423.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=277"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}