I write this review with mixed emotions. My daughter has attended summer camp here the last two…read moreyears and loved it. The space is amazing, there is a beautiful park across the street, and the teachers were energetic and had plans for each day. Kids used a different medium each day and did sculpting, 3D printing, etc. They went to the park almost every day and made creative projects where they learned a lot, my daughter loved it.
This summer has been completely different. From the moment I brought my daughter in on Monday and asked where she should put her stuff and was told, "I don't know, I guess we can try over there?" I could tell there was no coherent plan. I was also told right away it was going to be tough because there are "a lot more students this year" when it seems like the camp is the same size or even smaller than I have observed in years past. Most of the day is spent in "free time" where there are legos and arts and crafts in a room, there is a yellow piece of tape the students are supposed to stay behind and they are kind of left to their own devices. They have gone to the park once. I asked today if they would be going, and I was told by the teacher they didn't want to get left out if it starts pouring, even though it's an unseasonably beautiful day with a high in the low to mid 70s. There is an 8% chance of rain, in the afternoon, and when I said I don't think it's supposed to rain the teacher told me that her phone said "blaring thunderstorms." The only medium the kids have used is plaster and hot glue, and there is no exploring of the space and activities in other parts of the beautiful space like there used to be.
The kids are safe, and it's not like anything is horribly wrong, but there is no creativity or coherent plan, and my daughter, who never complains, said it's boring this year and she doesn't want to go back. I brought this up with the teacher and she informed me it's her first time there, and she's "still trying to figure out the camp and what is and isn't allowed." I'm not sure completely what that means, but for the students who signed up for this week, that doesn't do them much good. She also mentioned "Well, we'll be doing a lot more stuff today," which I guess is great, but also an admission they haven't done much, and it's already the last day of the camp for this session. It is a CLEAR case of making things easier for the teachers over prioritizing the experience of the students. Kids need to be safe, but teachers also need to be proactive and creative, and if there are too many kids for this to happen, there needs to be more staff added.
