Comments on Squidalicious: Camp Irony

Jeebus, what century is this? There is NO REASON f...

2009-09-25T11:35:42.730-07:00

Jeebus, what century is this? There is NO REASON for them to force people to spend the night outdoors or anywhere for a chance at participation in this program. There are myriad ways to make this a fair and accessible (hmmm...where have I seen those words before?) process for all interested families, some of them easily implemented. What insensitive, short-sighted, bureaucratic a-holes.

Oh, I agree completely that escalating shouldn't b...

2009-09-23T10:39:54.648-07:00

Oh, I agree completely that escalating shouldn't be the first step. Glad to hear that a personal solution might be found for you, and that you'll keep fighting the fight.

Standing in line at odd times in order to get camp entrance is one of my bugaboos. I've pretty much given up on camps that require it. But, I have that luxury with my typically developing kids.

This would be crazy for ANY camp, but as you've no...

2009-09-23T07:07:12.661-07:00

This would be crazy for ANY camp, but as you've noted, particularly so for families that are already juggling quite a lot.

It occurred to me perhaps the idea that the campers have full-time aides is what made this solution "acceptable" to the administrative higher-ups who don't have practical experience -- they might believe "Oh, the kid is taken care of, so Mom is 'free'." Perhaps they seem camp not as an opportunity for respite, but as more of a luxury? Sad.

(But I'm thrilled JennyAlice is going to endure the wait for you both - Good luck!)

Make things easier for parents? What's the point o...

2009-09-22T21:29:03.188-07:00

Make things easier for parents? What's the point of that..... grrrrrrr.

Why don't they expand the program if it's that pop...

2009-09-22T19:29:41.201-07:00

Why don't they expand the program if it's that popular!! And, I bet you can find a friend to stay in line all night for you. I can't but maybe someone around me could...

I was thinking of how i had signed up my boy for s...

2009-09-22T16:56:07.052-07:00

I was thinking of how i had signed up my boy for summer camp (he was a a youth camp for the national guard families) It was first come first serve but you could mail in your applications with a check and they had let you know in several weeks. In a way it is better than sitting outside over night to try and get a spot in camp for ones kid, but I truely agree the lottery system is a very good idea (maybe with a potential down payment fee refundable if you do not get selected?).

Liz, I lurve you and so appreciate the offer. Jenn...

2009-09-22T16:15:40.997-07:00

Liz, I lurve you and so appreciate the offer. Jennyalice has volunteered to register our boy (And I will owe her big time).

Anonymous et al, I don't think we will need to call on external agencies -- we should try an intermediate and more formal step first, as in asking for a meeting with the administration (suggested by my friend Ep). And then Jennyalice's Jake can keep going.

The camp staff really are awesome, as I noted, so perhaps the decision was made by someone higher up, with less day-to-day camp experience.

I can't even get my brain around how lame this sig...

2009-09-22T15:40:52.857-07:00

I can't even get my brain around how lame this sign up deal it. I mean, hello!

Can you boycott? Maybe it isn't such a good camp if this is how they do it.

Sucks big time. Not sure what else to say but Squeaky wheels get the grease. So, I would commence squeaking for next year.

My current disgust with system says we are done go...

2009-09-22T09:31:37.228-07:00

My current disgust with system says we are done going to the camp for weekend respite, which will suck for Jake, but they also made it so they are only scheduling fall respite, so we will need to do it again in January and I simply cannot deal with that much emotion three times a year. I think we will still do summer camp sign ups.
Now having said that, I think I can work out being there in a few weeks, so if you want/need Leo to go, I will wait for you...and DT, and MamaBeth. Doesn't say anywhere that only parents can sign up, nor does it say anything about only signing up one kid. We could do shifts starting next week :)
I will be looking into other forms of respite for both weekend and summer camp...this is just wrong.

They should really try to be a little more profess...

2009-09-22T08:59:44.287-07:00

They should really try to be a little more professional and considerate with families. It's a camp, not Best Buy the day after Thanksgiving.

Forcing people to wait overnight is simply wrong. ...

2009-09-22T06:51:12.671-07:00

Forcing people to wait overnight is simply wrong. Is there any possibility you can bring in public safety folks? Are they allowed to let people virtually camp out for this purpose? You've even said that people have virtually come to blows standing in line.

I generally hate suggestions like mine. The camp folk are good folk who are trying hard to do the right thing, one presumes, and might have encountered families who feel strongly that the method that can guarantee them some degree of success (camping out) is worth it over a lottery. But, I do think it's wrong.

We have 3 methods of allocating scarce resources: money (and the camp's decided not to use this one), time (overnight lines), or lottery. Time seems fairer to most people than money, but it often boils down to the same thing.

Does it have to be the parents who stand in line? ...

2009-09-22T06:10:43.061-07:00

Does it have to be the parents who stand in line?

I know how much the camp means to you & to Leelo

I have camping & cold weather gear, a flashlight, books to read....

It may be a fundraising gimmick as your friend sai...

2009-09-22T03:47:39.695-07:00

It may be a fundraising gimmick as your friend said, or simply a power trip for the camp administration. Unfortunately it is the children who are once again caught in the middle. I know you will assauge Leo and find a good camp for him for next summer.