Stephanie Joseph
2/5
as a homeschooling helicopter mom and early childhood educator, who’s very involved in my childs education and personal development. this was our first camp experience. i have so many thoughts and feelings. let’s unpack an honest review. piers sailing center has so much to offer and they’re accessible. they educate children about sailing, water safety, sea creatures and they even learn how to fish. in between this they have time blocks dedicated to play. there are different groups of activities to do. to my knowledge the kids are allowed to choose where they would like to be. the program runs from 9am to 4pm monday through friday. they’re also super flexible with modifying your child’s schedule and days they will attend. i believe the camp is divided into different age groups. there’s even a “cool down ” area for the kids to retreat to in the office if they’re feeling overwhelmed or need a break. i heard about this program from our visits to piers park. which sparked me to enroll my kid who loves all things outdoors. omar who is the education director assisted me in doing so. he was very kind, helpful and gave me a brief run down of the program during the springtime. i was told that they allowed parents to be close by which was a plus for me. however i can tell it was a bit off putting for some of the employees. personally i think it’s strange when programs don’t allow it. so i lingered around like a fly on the wall throughout the day. i wish there was an onboarding orientation or debriefing for newer parents or families. so we could know what the day to days would actually look like before camp starts. what protocols are taken when children are having tough times, etc. i think it would be a really great opportunity for the parents to mingle and to become better aquatinted with the staff. as once the camp started i was really confused about what my child would actually be doing. i didn’t realize that he would be on a boat sailing his first day. my mommy nerves were not prepared for that. there was a bit of miscommunication of what i was told parents were permitted to do. i did have to ask a few times to get more of a clear response. i also didn’t realize that the staff would primarily be teenagers or younger adults. although it’s amazing that they’re embarking on a journey of learning how to be responsible and well rounded teenagers to adults. i personally wasn’t prepared for the level of responsibility they’re given. i ask alot of questions especially when it comes to who i’ll be trusting to care for my child when i’m not present. i know this is pretty uncommon this day and age. catherine who is the director of youth programs and omar sat down with me and answered every single question i had. which definitely eased my nerves a bit. i was told that all of the counselors or staff have either been apart of the camp themselves or have gone through extensive trainings and continue to sharpen their skills. i appreciate how mindful they are about allergies and ensuring every childs dietary restrictions are being considered. i know it’s camp, it’s hot and there’s a lot to handle. however the energy can sometimes feel a bit chaotic, unwelcoming , stand off ish or incredibly awkward. especially from certain staff members. i’m warm , bubbly and very friendly. so it throws me off a bit when folks who work with children aren’t. people skills are incredibly important when working with children and families. so i hope everyone continues to sharpen them and remember that if you don’t want to communicate with kids or their parents working with children and family’s probably shouldn’t be the proper career path. although i’m grateful my son is enjoying it, learning new ways to coexist with peers, remembering his manners, how to follow directions or rules, making new buddies and having new experiences. i’m not entirely sure if we’ll be back next year but it’s definitely left quite the impression and i’ve certainly got my steps in from walking around the park so far this summer.
