A.R.E. Camp

These photos were taken A.R.E. Camp, in Southeastern Virginia, in August.

My children attended this camp and now their children attend every summer, and most of them went back in August for this camp reunion, which was attended by over 350 former campers and their families. In some cases, there were four generations who had gone to the camp over the years.

A.R.E. stands for The Association for Research and Enlightenment, which is headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA.

It is a beautiful place, full of loving, accepting and compassionate people. If you are seeking a sleep-away camp for your children, I couldn't recommend this one any more heartily!

Camp Stories + a Quote

We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.
Eric Hoffer, philosopher and author (1902-1983)
Note: This quote has nothing at all to do with the story below!

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Five of my grandchildren were at camp for the last two weeks, in the mountains of western Virginia. It is a beautiful place and from all reports, they seemed to love it there as much as their parents and aunt did. I got a letter from one of my two first-time camper granddaughters, who reported:

"Hello! It's my third day at camp and I am totally loving it! We made a few new friends and have met a lot of great people. We have played soccer and volleyball and the square dance is tomorrow night. The big campfire night is tonight - also soooo much fun! I miss you two, but I'll see you soon!"

It wasn't all a bed of roses, however, as she reported to her parents that there was a "mean" girl in her cabin. Her sister, the kid who sleeps til noon in summer, also reported that she loved camp - where they made them get up much earlier than that. She told her parents that she loved camp so much she "even tried spinach". This from a kid who eats no vegetables except corn.

I recall a very mean girl in my cabin the first year I went to camp. I was only six (probably too young for most kids, and it certainly was for me). I remember very little else about my camp years, although I attended from age six to thirteen, but I do remember very well the mean girl. Her name is burned into my memory (Jeanette B.) and I can only think of two other' girl's names, so you know how much of an impact Jeanette had on me. I wrote about this before - so go here to read all about it, then come back and tell me one of your camp experiences.

Oddly enough, I received an email today from a guy who went to Carbide Camps, inviting me to their reunion this coming weekend. I find it odd that there are reunions of those campers, but it seems that some of them had such great experiences that they want to relive them nearly every summer. I had some good times at camp after that first year, but nothing that would make me want to go to a reunion. I might run into Jeanette!