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39 | Thursday, May 12, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Summer camp experience has longevity By Glen Herbert Some years ago, Michael Eisner, past CEO of Disney, was asked during a talk, "Of all the educational institutions you went to when you were younger, which one had the greatest influence on the work you do now?" "Across my mind flashed the names of a public-school system," he later recalled, as did "a New England private school and two universities. And in a split second I blurted out: `the children's camp I went to when I was 6-years old.'" The remark was met with titters from the audience, though Eisner is clear that his answer, nevertheless, was entirely sincere. He's done a lot, and he credits camp with providing an initial inspiration for much of it. "The non-camp world is a competitive world, and you are judged on scores and intellectual ability," says Eisner. "At camp ... if you can't swim well, you can play tennis; if you don't play tennis well, you can be involved in nature activities; if you are not good with looking at butterflies, then you can hike. At camp you are accepted for who you are. Not only accepted but honoured." When we think of camp, we naturally think of activities: canoeing, drama, arts and crafts, sailing, with day camps broadening the activity spectrum to things like art appreciation, robotics and beyond. Yet, despite a broad range of activities, all camps have a knack of offering the same thing they offered Eisner: time. Time to be who you are, and to become the person you want to be; time to think about new things, to be immersed in old interests, or to consider new ideas. It's time spent together, with people--peers and mentors and friends--and a chance to think constructively about their place among them. Camp can seem distant, perhaps--something out there, or over there, or up there. "Yet, in Canada we've been camping for over 100 years and one of the things the experience has shown is that, despite being a relatively small part of a child's year, camp nevertheless can become a strikingly central element of a child's life," said Agnes Stawicki, managing editor with Our Kids Guide to Summer Camps & Programs (www.ourkids.net) which allows families to search more than 1,000 camp sessions quickly and easily. Deciding to send a child to camp, let alone which camp, can indeed be a bit of work. And, yes, there can be stress, and uncertainty, and that's because it's a big decision. One that can last a lifetime. Glen Herbert is a long-time camper, writer, and father of three children who all go to camp. He's also editor and writer with Our Kids ­ The Trusted source to camps and private schools. www.ourkids.net. Advertorial C A N A D A ' S L A R G E S T R E G I O N A L M O N T H LY PA R E N T I N G P U B L I C AT I O N IN THIS ISSUE Gardens green kids Babies gain from Ontario's breast milk bank GROW Boosting confidence one t-shirt at a time Planning a party? Check out City Parent's new online party planner at cityparent.com Gender neutral child rearing + MORE