Planning Ahead for a Memorable Summer

By Kathe Oliver

Many Young Mensans say that their favorite memories are of summer activities, especially camps and family vacations.  While there are many good camps, gifted children often especially enjoy camps that are designed specifically for them.  These camps give participants a chance to meet and make friends with more gifted kids than their neighborhood or school is likely to have. 

It is easy to find information about summer camps.  Camp advertisements appear in newspapers and in the free magazines for parents found in stores and libraries.  Sometimes schools distribute camp brochures, or host camp fairs.  Most of this information is about traditional “general interest” camps, or camps which specialize in drama, sports, or another activity. 

Gifted children can have wonderful experiences at these camps, but it is usually best if they are not the oldest campers.  TAG/G&T children gravitate toward older campers, because they are more likely to be their peers in terms of interest and ability.  A gifted second grader will get more out of a mixed ability camp session for grades 2-4 than one for grades K-2.

To find a camp designed for gifted children, start by asking your school district’s TAG/G&T coordinators for information.  They should be able to help you, even if you do not have a student in the school district.  Your Mensa local group’s Gifted Children’s Coordinator may also have information about camps.

Online, start at the Hoagies’ Gifted Resources website’s list of camps, http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/summer.htm#susa.  The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) has some information about camps in their resource list at www.nagc.org/resourcedirectory.aspx, and many of its state affiliates have links to camps on their websites.  The American Camp Association website, www.acacamps.org, may also be helpful.

Once you have narrowed your search down to a few camps, ask a lot of questions.  If a camp has a wide age range of campers, are activities grouped by interest, by skill, or by age?  At a residential camp, how is housing arranged?  What support is offered to campers?  To the campers’ families? 

Consider safety.  Do the camp’s staffers take background checks?  Not all states require them.  What vehicles are used for transportation?

Camps are often expensive.  They may or may not explain financial aid programs or discounts in their brochures or on their websites.  Ask.  Remember that at residential camps there will probably be additional costs for laundry, snacks, etc.

Of course, going to a camp is only one way of making summer memories.  Another great way to have fun is by participating in Mensa.  It is easy! Just attend an event that is listed in the calendar.  If you don’t see an interesting event near you, start something and invite Mensans to join you.

One of the best ways to make summer memorable is to spend a part of your family vacation at an Annual Gathering.  In 2010, Mensa International will remember its past and look toward its future by celebrating its 50th anniversary in North America.  Mensa Canada and American Mensa will co-host the North American anniversary party, a joint Annual Gathering in Dearborn, Michigan, from June 30-July 5, 2010. 

The AG will offer events and fun for everyone in the Mensa family, including Young Mensans.  The Teen SIG, Tween Room, and Kids Trek will be back, with new features and old favorites. For information on how to join the fun as Mensa goes “AGroovin’ in Motown”, see the updates in the Mensa Bulletin and visit the AG website, www.ag2010.us.mensa.org.

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Information about the websites mentioned in this column is current as of the date when the column was submitted for publication.  Websites and their contents are always subject to change.  Mention of a non-Mensa website in this column does not imply endorsement by AML.