CAMP GUIDE
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Camp Ramah in Canada
| Utterson, Ontario, Canada
HAWKEN! EN!
Consider length of camp when making selection
A. KEVIN CORVO
Summerprogramsfor
Summer camps are a rite of passage for generations of children.
Many adults have pleasant memories about summers spent camping, kayaking, hiking and shing.
But as adults they sometimes face the decision their parents made – perhaps unbeknown to them – concerning how long the summer camp experience should extend.
e length of a summer camp was humorously explored in the 1963 hit record by Allan Sherman, “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter from Camp)”, in which the storyteller shares dangerous, tragic and untenable conditions at the ctitious Camp Granada,
asking to please go home, but concludes after things take a turn for the better that the parents “kindly disregard this letter.”
While the record takes a humorous approach to stays at summer camp, determining the length of a stay, especially for rsttime campers away from home for the rst time, entails serious consideration.
Assessing basic jitters from genuine anxiety is an important rst step, according to ReGinae Reynolds, director of auxiliary programs for Passport Camps o ered by Hawken School in Lyndhurst.
“It is completely normal for children to experience pre-camp jitters,” Reynolds said. “Excitement and nervousness often show up together. Basic jitters typically sound like, ‘What if I don’t know anyone’ or ‘What if I don’t like the food’ (But) these concerns are
situational and tend to ease with reassurance, information and familiarity.
programs for boys and girls ages 3 -18
“True anxiety, however, is more persistent and disruptive. It may include physical symptoms such as stomach aches, headaches, di culty sleeping or tearfulness that does not subside with reassurance. When anxiety feels overwhelming or prolonged, families may want to consult a pediatrician before committing to a longer camp session.”
Hawken Summer Programs provide some of the best summer enrichment opportunities in Greater Cleveland. Campers can choose from a broad menu of programs that are specifically designed to be age-appropriate, fun, and worthwhile.
Day Camps (Girls, Boys, & Coed options)
One-week Passport Camps • Summer Studies for Grades 9–12
Athletics Camps (coming March 2026)
To register and for full camp/course descriptions visit summer.hawken.edu or contact us at 440-423-2940 or summerprograms@hawken.edu.
ere is no universal right length of time when considering whether a child should stay for a weekend or several weeks, according to Reynolds.
“ e optimal duration depends on the child’s age, temperament, prior separation experiences and resilience,” Reynolds said.
A three-day session may be ideal for younger children or rsttime campers who are building independence (while) a seven-day session often provides enough time for children to move beyond the adjustment period,” Reynolds said. “Many campers need a few days to settle in, and the real growth and connection frequently happen once they feel comfortable.”
Longer periods of time, such as two weeks, can be appropriate for children who have previously attended camp successfully, demonstrate strong coping skills and express genuine enthusiasm about staying longer, according to Reynolds said.
“Longer sessions allow for deeper friendships, stronger community bonds and more immersive experiences,” she said. Reynolds also suggested engaging in some family activities to set the stage for a summer camp experience.
“Preparation should be gradual and practical,” Reynolds said. “For younger or rst-time campers, short separation experiences can build con dence. Sleepovers with relatives, weekend trips or local day camps help children practice independence in manageable steps.”
Parents can also walk through the logistics ahead of time by reviewing the camp schedule and discussing what a typical day looks like, according to Reynolds.
“Most importantly, frame camp as an opportunity for growth,” Reynolds said. “Emphasize skill-building, friendships and new experiences rather than focusing solely on time away from home.”
Reynolds also suggested addressing homesickness in advance.
“Homesickness is developmentally appropriate and, in many cases, a healthy sign of attachment. Most children experience it at some point during camp, especially during quieter moments such as bedtime.”
Parents can help by normalizing the feeling in advance. Rather than saying, “You won’t be homesick,’” it is more helpful to say, ‘It is normal to miss home a little, and you can still have fun’,” Reynolds said.
Brandon Mitchell, manager of girl experience for Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio, said that there is no singular standard for camp stays.
Mitchell Reynolds Mauch
Summer camps prepared when inclement weather strikes
NOELL WOLFGRAM EVANS
When the clouds roll across camp skies one would expect to hear the plaintive refrain of the classic childhood song, “Rain, rain go away…” emanating from the color wars course. But a rainy day at camp isn’t always a bad thing. It can give campers an opportunity to reset and counselors a chance to relax.
“There are definitely times when that rain hits and you just get that moment to catch your breath,” Courtney Nicolai, executive director of Hiram House Camp in Moreland Hills, said. Nici Mahen, assistant director of Falcon Camp in Carrollton, said “The weather can provide a moment to rest and regroup in order to prepare for tomorrow’s activities. Campers and staff are given the opportunity to spend time in their cabin. Campers read, write letters, make friendship bracelets or even take a nap.”
Nicolai said days where the weather is problematic are inevitable so “we spend a lot of time before camp starts planning for them.”
“It’s really good to have a bucket of things you can pull from when the weather turns,” Nicolai said. “We want our staff to have this arsenal of activities they can pull from. Things like movement activities, team building activities and
“There is no ‘right’ length of time, only the right starting point,” Mitchell said.
That starting point includes having open conversations, according to Mitchell.
“Frame camp not as something happening to your child but something she is choosing, and importantly, even a little nervousness is normal,” he said.
Mitchell suggested asking your child questions, such as, “What excites you about camp” or “What feels a little scary?”
“When children feel heard, they step into new experiences with greater courage,” he said.
On gauging readiness, Mitchell said he tells family to look for signs of independence in their child such as enjoying a sleepover at a friend’s house, managing basic personal hygiene and handling small discomforts like bug bites or a getting caught in the rain.
“Invite your child into the decision,” Mitchell, who described a transformation he typically sees in children after a week at camp, said. “Choosing the right camp experience isn’t really about the number of days, it’s about the readiness of the child.”
“Homesickness gives way to belonging, and nervousness turns into pride,” he said.
Rabbi Dan Utley, director of Camp Wise in Claridon Township, the overnight camp of the Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland in Beachwood, said he suggests parents choose a longer session if possible as the settle-in times are the same no matter the chosen length of stay.
That usually occurs about the third day.
“The full impact of Jewish overnight camp really takes place once you are comfortable, have strong connections with counselors and cabin mates, and can try something new and different than you experience in the rest of the year,” Utley said.
The first overnight camp experience is an exciting time and often brings mixed emotions. At Camp Wise, we invite families into conversation with our staff early on from the time they enroll,” he said.
Stays can also be extended if a child is comfortable, according to Utley.
Likewise, stays can be extended at Camp Walden, a familyowned camp in Cheboygan, Mich., which offers summer camps of
arts and crafts.”
While there are traditional rainy day activities, some camps put their own spin on a day indoors.
“There is always a game of Falcon bingo printed and ready. This includes fun twists where the staff have to get up and dance if their name is called during the game and lots of Falcon swag for prizes,” Mahen said. “Some other ‘bucket’ activities are board games in the lodge, talent shows in the pavilion or a movie interlude if the rain continues for a while.”
Rainy days can also be an opportunity for campers to take control of their day by letting them choose an activity to participate, or even lead, in.
“Sometimes it’s the really simple things that we do when it rains that can help keep campers active and engaged,” Nicolai said.
While most camps today are technology-free for campers, a little tech comes in handy when
durations as short as two weeks and as long as seven weeks.
“Some kids are eager, but others are sometimes on the fence,” when choosing camps of longer durations, according to Annie Mauch, assistant director of Camp Walden Michigan.
Mauch said she offers the option of registering children for shorter lengths of time and, if a child is truly enjoying the camp and exhibits no signs of anxiety of homesickness, to possibly extend the stay.
counselors are concerned about the clouds.
“We are always using the latest technology to monitor the weather and determine the safest solutions for campers and staff,” Mahen explained.
Of course, anyone who has attended camp knows that a little rain never got in the way of a good time.
“We will also at times use the weather information available to us to decide if our regular activities can safely proceed as planned,” Mahen said. “We don’t mind getting a little wet.”
Nicolai said, “This past summer we were in the middle of this big camp cookout when the sky opened up. And we just decided to go with it. We were able to keep the fire going, kids were rolling in puddles and I thought, ‘This is what camp really is.’”
If there isn’t availability to do so, or there is uncertainty on how long a child wants to stay, Mauch suggested leaning toward shorter stays for inexperienced campers.
“It is better to have a child wanting more when they leave to go home than to stay too long and not want to come back,” she said.
A.Kevin Corvo is a freelance journalist.
Noell Wolfgram Evans is a freelance journalist.
Mahen Nicolai
Lifetime memories can be made at summer camp
A.KEVIN CORVO
Summer camps are designed to create memorable experiences but sometimes there are extraordinary moments that transcend the planned activities at summer camps.
e School of Rock Cleveland o ers camps each summer at each of its three locations in Highland Heights, Strongsville and Westlake.
e ve-day camp, o ered each week from late May to early August, has a theme and provides children the opportunity to explore playing di erent instruments, rehearse and perform a song at the end of the week.
Routines are followed each week, but sometimes campers will go outside the perimeters of the planned activities, Preston Murphy, assistant music director of School of Rock Cleveland, said.
Murphy recalled a set of four boys who attended a summer camp in 2023.
On that particular week, ‘90s Rock was the theme and the four boys – who had never before met – quickly bonded and began rehearsing together without prompt from any sta member at the camp.
“Typically, a director assigns a number for them to rehearse or learn, but these kids chose their own song,”
Murphy said.
e boys chose, “Hitchin’ a Ride,” by the California poppunk alternative band, Green Day.
Murphy recalled the boys getting together to play and rehearse even at times when other kids in the camp were taking a break or nishing a meal.
“ ey didn’t want to take a break, they kept at it,” he said.
“ ey played that song every day and were so excited,” said Murphy, adding that it was with an enthusiasm not typically seen.
On the nal day of camp, during the nal performance of that number, additional students picked up various percussion instruments and joined the four boys in the performance.
“It was really awesome to watch that,” Murphy said.
Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights provides a summer camp that strives to o er memorable experiences.
“Each summer, Leading for Life Camp stands as a hallmark of our programming, grounded in adventure, service, leadership and sisterhood,” Janine Yearms, a teacher at Hathaway Brown School, said. “What makes this experience so meaningful are the individual stories that unfold with moments when girls stretch beyond their comfort zones, lean on one another, and discover strength and courage they didn’t yet realize they had within.”
“One camper described hiking through the dark, cold caves at Nelson Ledges State Park,” Yearms said. “She admitted she was nervous, unsure of what lay ahead in the
shadows, especially all of the critters and bats. Yet step by step, surrounded by encouraging friends, she kept moving forward. Later that day, standing at the edge of the quarry, she faced another test: taking a leap of faith into the deep, dark waters below. With her sister campers cheering her on, she jumped. When she surfaced, exhilarated and proud, she realized that courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s choosing to move through it.
“Another camper re ected on our service experience in downtown Cleveland,” Yearms said. “At rst hesitant, she stepped forward to hand a sandwich to someone experiencing homelessness. She later shared how the warm smile and heartfelt ‘thank you’ she received in return changed her perspective. In that simple exchange, she saw the power of compassion and the importance of leading with empathy.”
She said campers make memories in di erent ways.
“Others found their voices in di erent ways through theater performances that required bravery or in the kitchen where teamwork turned uncertainty into accomplishment,” Yearms said. With each new challenge, their con dence grew. By summer’s end, our campers leave with stronger voices, deeper empathy, and bonds forged through shared growth. ese stories remind us that when girls trust their inner voice and align heart and mind, there is no limit to what they can achieve.”
A.Kevin Corvo is a freelance journalist.
Murphy
Children can flip over attending gymnastics camp
CASEY COUCH ccouch@cjn.org
Don’t flip out this summer, instead, take advantage of local gyms that are offering gymnastics camps to keep children away from screens while providing them with a fun and safe environment to take advantage of their energy.
Irene Graber, owner and operator of Lakeshore Dance and Gymnastics in Mayfield, said that gymnastics can help children improve their body strength, flexibility, balance and body control. They will learn more than just the skills themselves, she said.
“All of these skills can cross over into other sports and life itself,” Graber said. “Children feel more capable in everyday activities, it helps them to develop healthy habits early and it can improve performance in other sports.”
According to Maureen Eppich of Jump Start Gymnastics in Beachwood, gymnastics is one of the most comprehensive forms of physical activity for children. Its physical benefits also include gaining strength, endurance, agility and body awareness, and encouraging healthy habits.
“Because gymnastics uses the entire body, children develop a strong physical foundation that supports success in all other sports and activities,” Eppich added.
Gymnastics can also help younger children learn other additional life skills such as how to wait for their turn, listening and following directions.
“Part of the process is also learning how to work independently as well as in a group,” Graber said.
These benefits can help children in school performances, social situations and help them with their willingness to try new or hard things, she added.
“They also develop self-confidence,” Graber said. “They learn focus, perseverance and how to be resilient.”
According to Eppich, gymnastics is known as the “foundation sport” because
“Because gymnastics uses the entire body, children develop a strong physical foundation that supports success in all other sports and activities.”
Maureen Eppich Jump Start Gymnastics
it enhances coordination across other activities by improving hand-eye and foot-eye coordination, developing rhythm and control, learning movement patterns that can be applied to other sports and enhancing reaction time.
“These coordination skills give children an advantage no matter what sport or activity they pursue,” Eppich shared.
Safety is at the core of gymnastics training, Eppich added, as children can
learn proper technique and safe movement progressions. Certified coaches can assist with skill development in a structured environment, and can even teach gymnasts how to fall safely.
“Developing control over their bodies helps children feel safer and more capable in everyday life,” Eppich said.
Graber
SPIRE Academy, Vensure Employer Solutions sign $6M deal
JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org
SPIRE Academy in Geneva for student-athletes in grades nine through 12 looking to perfect their skills in whatever sport they choose, announced a $6 million, ve-year partnership with Vensure Employer Solutions on Feb. 19 that will see the Phoenix-based HR technology and workforce solutions company become a leading sponsor of SPIRE’s facilities, programming and events.
SPIRE’s boys’ basketball team has started to wear a commercial patch featuring VensureHR’s logo on its jerseys, a move that debuted at the academy’s Nike Elite Youth Basketball League tournament over the Feb. 21 weekend, and the partner will be the leading sponsor of the SPIRE Performance Research Institute, an innovation lab that takes a technology-based approach to youth sports in training, both mental and physical, injury recovery and prevention.
“Youth sports sponsorship is no longer niche marketing,” Amy Liles, head of corporate partnerships at SPIRE, said in a news release. “It’s one of the most e ective ways to reach families in an authentic, trusted environment. What makes this partnership special is the alignment between our missions. VensureHR and our other partners like ird Federal Savings and Loan, Wa e House and Chick- l-A are not just putting their name on our facilities, they’re investing in what matters: future talent, performance development, and community impact.”
VensureHR’s logo will be on hand at most SPIRE events,
including their soccer, track and eld, swimming and wrestling tournaments and matches, and it will also play a role in building community programming.
VensureHR has over 161,000 clients across the globe and generates more than $150 billion in payroll processed annually, according to the release. It recently acquired Distro, an AI-powered recruiting platform to improve the workforce’s hiring process.
According to the release, it is one of the largest corporate sponsorships in youth sports history.
“SPIRE is developing the next generation of leaders, and their impact in youth sports and education is growing fast,” Phil Urso, chief sales o cer at VensureHR, said in the release. “What impressed us most about SPIRE is their commitment to the whole athlete. ey’re not just training competitors, they’re preparing young people for success beyond sports. at mission aligns perfectly with
our work helping organizations build stronger teams and develop talent. We’re proud to support their growth and excited about the opportunities this partnership creates to reach families who value performance, development and preparation for the future.”
e move comes amid a rise in popularity in corporate deals and sponsorships in the sporting world outside of the collegiate and professional space.
In November 2025, Ohio became the 45th state to allow name, image and likeness at the high-school level following the passing of an emergency bylaw referendum. Studentathletes playing for Ohio High School Athletic Association schools can enter into agreements and be compensated for their name, image and likeness through appearances, licensing, social media, endorsements and/or the use of branding that is based on their public recognition or notoriety.
e NCAA Division I cabinet also voted to approve jersey patch sponsorships in college sports, which will go into e ect on Aug. 1.
And according to a 2026 study by YouGov Sport and Priority Partnerships, 84% of parents hold positive views toward youth sports sponsorships, while 68% say they’re more likely to buy from a brand that sponsors their child’s team than a professional team they’re fans of.
“(Our sponsors) understand that the young people training at SPIRE today are the workforce leaders of tomorrow, and that connection between athlete development and career readiness is what makes this collaboration so powerful,” Liles said.
Both organizations are putting a focus on long-term development and innovation, and they plan to explore collaborative initiatives that connect athlete development pathways with workforce readiness, according to the release.
“ is partnership re ects where youth sports and workforce development are headed,” Steve Sanders, CEO of SPIRE Academy, said in the release. “VensureHR helps businesses solve complex people challenges through innovative HR solutions and technology. At SPIRE, we help young people become high performers in sports, school, and life. e alignment between what we do and what Vensure does is natural. We’re both focused on developing talent, building systems that work, and creating opportunities for long-term success. is partnership is rooted in real impact and shared values.”
“Youth sports sponsorship is no longer niche marketing. It’s one of the most e ective ways to reach families in an authentic, trusted environment. What makes this partnership special is the alignment between our missions.”
Amy Liles SPIRE
Liles Sanders Urso
Camp parents seek stronger camp regulations in other states following tragedy
KIM CHANDLER | ASSOCIATED PRESS
When Patrick Marsh returned to the Bubble Inn cabin at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, he sat in the corner where his 8-year-old daughter Sarah’s bunk had been. The view out the window landed like a gut punch.
Safety from the rising floodwaters that took her life would have been just a short walk away, he said. It cemented his belief that the tragedy was “100% preventable.”
“From where Sarah slept to high ground where she would have been safe – 50 yards. All they had to do was walk up a hill,” Patrick Marsh said in an interview.
Sarah Marsh of Birmingham, Alab., was one of 27 Camp Mystic campers and counselors swept to their deaths when floodwaters engulfed cabins at the Texas camp on July 4, 2025. Grieving parents pushed Texas lawmakers to approve new safety requirements for camps, including mandating detailed emergency plans and emergency warning systems. Sarah’s parents are now urging lawmakers in Alabama and elsewhere to tighten regulations. Similar bills have also been filed in Missouri.
“As we learned more and more about what happened at Mystic, the more we realized there were a lot of things that went wrong,” Patrick Marsh said.
The Alabama bill, named the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, would require camps to meet safety standards, including obtaining an emergency preparedness license from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and establishing emergency and evacuation plans. It also would prohibit cabins from being located in flood plains. Camps would be required to have weather radios and a notification system that does not rely on cellular or internet service, which could fail in a natural disaster.
“The flood itself was an act of God, and there’s nothing you can do to stop the flood. But how you prepare for the possibility of flooding, how you handle it in the moment, those things were handled so poorly,” Patrick Marsh said.
Had they been done properly, he said he believes, “Sarah would be sitting in school right now.”
As they examined camp regulations, the Marshes said they were shocked by how little oversight exists compared to schools and other institutions responsible for children’s safety.
“It was a big surprise, both in Texas and here, to see how little is required and is just self-regulated,” Sarah’s mother, Dr. Jill Marsh, said.
Camp safety laws must reflect regional risks – from floods and tornadoes to wildfires and hurricanes – rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, the couple said.
The younger of two siblings, Sarah was exuberant, with an infectious mix of sass and sweetness, her parents said.
“She was just excited about everything,” Jill Marsh said. “She was always wrangling kids to play, to do gymnastics, to try something new. She was good at seeing people that were maybe left out or sad and would try to encourage them.”
She loved sushi – particularly California rolls – candy and, most of all, people, they said. She made everyone feel special.
Sarah was excited to go to camp that summer, Patrick Marsh said.
The photos from camp that summer show Sarah having the time of her life, often happily showing off her splits, no
matter the activity.
Jill Marsh spoke to the House State Government Committee on earlier this month. She said she wants Sarah to be remembered for her “incredible, beautiful life,” not just her death. But Sarah’s legacy can be that children are kept safe as they experience one of the joys of childhood, she said.
The committee advanced the bill, which is backed by Gov. Kay Ivey, to the full House of Representatives.
Rep. David Faulkner, the bill’s sponsor, said the Camp Mystic tragedy exposed gaps in the safety system. “These gaps exist not only in Texas, but in Alabama and across the country,” Faulkner said.
Six-Week Sessions
The Marshes say the goal of the legislation is not to shut down camps or burden those already operating responsibly.
“We are not anti-camp,” Patrick Marsh said. “We want kids to go to camp and have these experiences. We just want them to be safe.”
They said many camps already meet the standards proposed in the bill, including comprehensive emergency plans and staff training. “It’s about making sure that last 10% gets on board.”
Nothing can bring their daughter back, they said. But they believe stronger oversight could save other families from the same loss.
You choose the day & time that your gymnast will attend their weekly lesson.
•45-min class = $ 130
•1-hour class, 1x per week = $145 per session
•1.25-hour class, 1x per week = $165 per session Spring Sessions 1 & 2
Spring 1: Mon, Mar 9 – Sat, Apr 25, 2026.
•Closed for Spring Break: Wed, Apr 1 – Tue, Apr 7, 2026.
Spring 2: Mon, Apr 27 – Sat, May 23, 2026. Now
SUMMER CAMP
June 8 – Aug 14, 2026
9:15 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• For ages 4–14, boys and girls, and all levels of gymnastics experience, from recreational to competitive gymnastics.
• Gymnastic camp at Jump Start is a great way to explore and experience gymnastics for the first time, learn new skills, or build a solid competitive base for the next season.
• Our philosophy at JSG is that gymnastics is for everyone, an excellent basis for physical fitness, and benefits coordination for every sport and children's health.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING
WEEKLY or DAILY ENROLLMENT
$300 per 5-day week or $60 per day
AFTERCARE OR YOUTH OPEN GYM
•For all ages
• Daily from 3–5 p.m.
•$10 per day
•Preregistration required
Anisfield Day Camp | Beachwood, Ohio
| Photo / Ken Blaze
Hiram House Camp
Hills, Ohio
Lawrence School | Broadview Heights, Ohio Odyssey Film Camps
Unforgettable Adventures for Every Age
| Cleveland, Ohio
Looking for summer experiences that give your camper a world to explore? Cleveland Museum of Natural History Summer Camps blend science, creativity, and curiosity into weeks of discovery for campers entering grades 1–8. From designing their own exhibits to investigating specimens, from going behind-the-scenes to building real science skills, every week features hands-on adventures and endless fun.
Mandel JCC
Lions Leap
Performing Arts Camp | Beachwood, Ohio
(No school on June 19 or July 3)
June 15 – July 10, 2026 / 7:45 – 11:45 a.m.
For students entering grades 1-6 $1300 Space is limited - register today! Questions? Call 440.526.0717 lawrenceschool.org/summer Lawrence School
You won’t believe how far your child will leap ahead in just four weeks when immersed in evidence-based classroom strategies. Our certified teachers use a multisensory approach, based on Orton-Gillingham methodology, to boost reading, writing, math, and organization skills.
June 7–12 Create
ODYSSEY
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