Tips for Spring . . . Break Camp From Joe Ray

Most years, it never feels like winter.  Oh, maybe for a day or two, a cold front will make its way to Austin.  For the rest of the time, it is t-shirt and cut-offs weather. So, I’m ready for it to feel like spring!  It seems the Spring Break Camp forecast seems to have heard my thoughts.  We are in the 60's and 70's, if you can believe the weather forecasters.

Tip #1: My first big tip is to dress your camper in layers.  Even if they come with too many clothes, it is still better than too few. I’ll never forget our first Spring Break Camp, ever.  The first four days we had great weather, but on Friday, we had rain, which turned into sleet.

Activities at Spring Break Camp are a little different. Spring Break Camp is similar to Summer Camp except for the swimming -- we have dodge ball in the pool instead of water polo.  It’s a smaller camp than in summer.  We have approximately a third of the campers at Spring Break that we have in the summer weeks.  So this means everyone gets to try our horseback riding activity!

Tip #2 for you as a parent/guardian is to coach your camper to try horseback on Monday, especially if your camper is new.  We have a fabulous program that dates back to the beginning of camp.  Our horses are paired with the riders according to age and the horses with the younger campers are so easy that going through a tornado would not spook them.

I get excited about having campers run across the bright green grass, and trying all kinds of outdoor games.  I love to use Spring Break to teach new games and play some of the 'good ole' ones.

Tip #3 is to be sure you pack your campers with sun screen and even do an application before they leave home. I often have to remind myself during Spring Break to put on sun screen - forgetting that this skin has not seen sun in a while.  The good news is your campers will have counselors that remember to apply theirs.

Tip #4 is send your camper with a water bottle.  We have lots of great snacks and drinks they will eat through out the day, but water every 20 minutes is the policy to live by at camp. 

To be redundant, I’m ready for spring, because spring means Spring Break Camp, which is followed by Summer Camp, and spending summers at my favorite place on earth can't be topped!

- Joe Ray