My oldest daughter went to CNN for 5 years and aged out. She loved it then and loves it still. She made lifelong friends from all over the country and the still stay in touch. In fact they all went to each others Sixteenth birthday parties. We have had some of them for dinner at our house and at restaurants where all of the kids were great, mature well mannered young ladies, just as they are when you see them at pick up. They all have fun and the all love the camp.
Regarding the electronics policy, yes the kids can't have ipods, computers or cell phones...and why is that a bad thing? Sarah can get in touch with parents at any time. If the kids have these things why go to camp, why not just stay in the house all summer. This is hardly draconian...imagine the kids having to have fun instead of sitting in a chair staring at a screen. Also, if a kid is calling home everyday s/he will never get over any hint of homesickness that may be present. After two weeks the kids can call home on the pay phone located at the office. It is, quite frankly, a well thought out and elegant solution to an issue that many kids grapple with and it also allows the campers to become more involved in activities, meeting and interacting with other campers instead of texting and calling their friends from home.
Food in care packages is forbidden and for good reason. This is the woods, Food in cabins will bring mice, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons and skunks into the cabins. These aren't houses, they are cabins with screen doors that are open most of the time. Again, a perfectly reasonable policy.
My family is far from well-to-do and are publicly educated as are most of her friends from camp.
The camp director, Sarah Seward, has been nothing short of great to my daughter and the rest of my family. At check in on the first day of camp, Sarah and all the camp employees knew the name of each camper as they walked up to the desk to check in. That is how far they go to make the campers feel welcome. Nick said she is inflexible, I disagree. On the opening day of camp she has 400 kids, ranging in age from 9 to 16, to take care of and keep track of. These kids are her responsibility and, God Bless Her, she takes that seriously. She just can't bend the rules for one person and not the other 399. Treat them all the same, play by the same rules, make sure all the rules are followed and nobody gets hurt. Again, sensible and correct. So how does this impact her interaction with the campers? Not too badly I would say as on her final days of camp my daughter made Sarah a friendship bracelet. Also, in my five years of being at the camp three times per session (drop off, pick up and visitation) I never saw any type of morale problem at all.
So to sum up, Nashoba is as close to perfect as a summer camp can be, In fact, this is the only camp I have seen where all cabins have their own bathrooms and showers ( my second daughter attends a different camp as she wanted to go closer to home). The facilities are amazing (soccer fields, riding facilities, golf holes, tons of waterfront activities) and the staff is outstanding.
After 5 years of camping the only thing my daughter wants is to be invited back as a Junior Counselor. I'd say that shows more than anything this a pretty good place.
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