Summer Camp

James Shell (Baltimore Aikikai)
jshell@Harford.edu

It has been my pleasure, for several years now, to not only attend but to write about the annual New England Aikikai Summer Camp. Normally I spend my article time covering some of the outstanding people, places, teachings, and "things" that go into making "summer camp" so outstanding.

However, I have been asked by at least a few persons: "what exactly is summer camp?" It is a testament to how much I enjoy camp that I just assumed everyone knew.

Please understand that things can change from one year to the next, places, cost, schedules, and so on. I still feel this years camp can give you a good idea of what I keep talking about.

There were fifty different cost choices. On campus, off campus, child, parent, full week, per day prices, it goes on and on so you can get what you want. I paid for the entire week, on campus. My cost was $660.00 which covered seven night's room, twenty meals, one of which was an out door barbeque (supper the first night, breakfast the last day and three meals a day all the other days). Also included in the price were all the practice hours.

The rooms are regular college dorms, not fancy but clean and good for a week's stay. The meals (except the barbeque night) are offered through the college dinning facility. As good as any cafeteria food you are likely to find.

There were thirty two hours of practice plus two hours of "free practice" when the mat area was available for use without an instructor for people who want to practice on their own. The first class, on "check-in" Saturday, is in the evening and usually given by Yamada Sensei, as is the last class in the morning on Saturday "check-out" day. Included in the thirty two hours of practice was an hour of weapons training on four different days (you do need to bring your own boken and jo sticks as there are seldom any extras to be had).

There were tests given on Friday.

Two nights were marked as "Social Night" when everyone could get together at the on-campus Pub, a baseball game, and a party at the on-campus Pub on Friday night.

A question I get is "do you have to go to all the classes?" The answer is no. You go to as many or as few classes as you want. There is no score kept, only you decide what you want to do or not do.

What I cannot give you is what camp feels like. One thing I can pass along about how it feels to be at camp is there is no other place you need to be, should be, or want to be except exactly where you are at camp and that does not often happen. You are just going to have to find out for your self.

Please make sure your friends know about this web site and this newsletter. Apparently a lot of people are unaware of it.

Thank you for your time. I wish you good health and good practice.