Silicon Valley! Let The Summer Camp Sign-Up Stress Begin!
Let's start here with a little mood setting. Think summer time. Think Meatballs (the movie). Ok, do you remember this song? "Are you ready for the summer? Are you ready for the good times? Are you ready for the birds and the bees...". Ok, let's stop here. My kids are too young. But damn, did I love that song!
Guess what time of the year it is? Well, of course the elections are right around the corner and that may seem kind of important. But wake up Silicon Valley Parents! There is something more urgent, looming around us this very moment. It is time to sign your kiddies up for the oh-so-expensive, silicon valley summer camps. And lord knows if you miss this window, you and your kids will be screwed. Royally screwed. Like, their entire summer will be ruined because you didn't take the time and energy to fill out the paperwork (or application in some cases), write that big fat check which is equivalent to my college tuition back in the 1980's and pray that they get in. You will be doomed to spend your summer staring at eachother, bored out of your mind. Little Johnny will become a video and tv addict, because you will have no choice but to place him in front of the tv screen ALL DAY LONG. His life will be damaged forever! Seriously people, in some cases, this is tougher competition than getting into your first choice private school. Let the pressure cooker begin!
Yup, it is what I call - RIDICULOUS (or as my friend CityMama says, ridikulonkus!)
Last year, my close friend was crushed that her child did not get in to Jefunira Camp. They filled up on day one. Another friend spent HOURS on an application to Castileja Summer Camp and her daughter got the reject letter. And then there is Camp Galileo who will accept your child, but probably a different week then you want. Oh, and then there is Hope Musical Theater which every budding actor wants to take, regardless of talent. (please let my daughter get in here. She LOVED it, loved it, loved it last summer...) And this my friends, is the handful of summer camps that I know about.
Yes, there are great Park and Rec Camps that most cities around here offer. In my experience, it has been hit or miss getting in to the camp (lotto system) and the quality of the instructors have been "ok". But hey, it is reasonable in cost, by silicon valley standards.
One week here, one week there ... it is like connecting the dots and an getting an "A" in the complex game of organization. To schedule consecutively, eight weeks worth of camps - better get out that BusyBodyBook and pray that you get your choices. Also, hope you aint broke when the whole summer is over!
I now know why my parents shipped me off to sleep away camp, starting in third grade. For the WHOLE TRAUMATIC SUMMER..... they didn't want to deal with the pressure of finding summer camps on a week by week basis. Or, maybe life was a lot simpler back in the 1970's when we could just hang out at home and play with the kids in the neighborhood. God forbid that happens in this day and age. I think that we would be considered neglectful parents by our peers.
Oh, and where is the bus pickups for summer camp (as you sit and chuckle that this east coast transplant has to ask such a CRAZY question. Buses in Silicon Valley?) We don't have them with school, and we certainly don't have them with camp. Oh yes, I think it has to do with Prop 13 and the lack of funding for anything and everything that has to do with our kids. You just got to love California......
So, where are you sending your kids this summer responsible, kind and loving parents? Are you ready for the summer?
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