Malia Obama's latest adventure: Summer camp
Malia Obama's latest adventure: Summer camp
She's had a front row seat to history for a year and a half, meeting heads of state, touring the Kremlin, flying around the world on Air Force One, being serenaded by Paul McCartney and enjoying command performances from the Jonas Brothers.
But there's one thing Malia Obama hasn't done, until now, her dad says, and it's a rite of passage countless kids have experienced: a summer at camp, bunking with a bunch of other girls in a wooden cabin or tent, sharing chores, swatting away mosquitoes and giggling the night away.
It's a wonderful time — lumpy cots and all — say advocates of the camp experience, who are thrilled with the presidential decision to let Malia partake in a classic American tradition.
But often it's harder for the parents to adjust. So if the Obamas do succumb to what Smith calls "parent-kid sickness" — the parental form of homesickness — they should know that many camps have employees on call to reassure them.
"Camps are used to fielding calls from parents," says Smith. "There's been a huge increase in those calls over the last decade. Parents today are so involved in their kids' lives. Their expectations have grown, especially in the digital age."
And what if the camper's homesick? That's extremely common, though only 7 percent of cases are serious enough to require intervention like calling the parents, according to the camp association.
"Counselors and staff are trained to deal with it," says Smith. "They play icebreaker games, and keep the kids busy and involved. The kids come home feeling more resilient, more independent, more self-confident."
If famous people often send their kids to camp, many have also attended themselves. A list maintained by the ACA of celebrities who've attended camp in their lifetimes (sleepaway or daytime) includes Hollywood stars like Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, Chevy Chase, Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman; Olympic skater Dorothy Hamill; author J.D. Salinger and musicians like Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond and Gwen Stefani.
The only presidential child on the list is Chelsea Clinton, who attended U.S. Space Camp in Hunstville, Ala., when her dad was in office.
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- Posted on July 30, 2010
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Hi Malia I like your hair it long like mine do you have a dog . I do her name is Lana she is a yoke-poo she love to play. bye I got to go .
I think that summer camps are awesome because you can do many activities and hang with friends. I think that this going to be a great experience for her that will become a very special memory for her.
The White House kids finally get to do something normal for once. I would hate to be them. Well, not all the way but I would not like sitting in that big old house all day doing nothing. Its seems more like a prison then a home to me.
Camping is a great thing to do because you have lots of fun,like canoe wall climbing and more.this was my first time to go to Camp Kern it is lots of fun .I saw real snack which was a baby and it my first time to see a real snack first it was scary.
I think it's great that Malia is trying new things that she had never done, though, personally, I know that she's the child of the president, though I don't think they need this much attention. She is still just a regular kid who also needs her privacy.
i think the same exact way because if she went to a summer camp then she just has to act as if she was a regular kid in summer camp. That it is also GREAT that she tried something she has never done before.
Hey guess what, I don't care if she's at summer camp. There is more things to worry about in this world besides the president's kids. Why don't you think of some ways to make this country better.
Start talking about other things so this little girl doesn't get so much attention.
I think it is kind of cool that she gets to do things that a normal person would do instead of just staying home because she is the presidents daughter. It could kind of get boring staying at home all the time.
What is with Obama's kids getting articles for perfectly normal things? "Sasha Obama gets a hole in one!" "Malia Obama goes to camp!" Don't Americans have anything better to write about? The last time I checked, we had a war going on, we had an economic crisis, we had an oil spill. No. Instead we are talking about Obama's everyday life. I'm sure most people have gotten a hole in one in mini-golf, I'm pretty sure most people have gone to camp. Why should we idolize President- I mean KING Obama.
I think that anyone who hasn't been to a camp hasn't lived. It is so much fun! I went one year and I only knew one girl and by the time I left, I knew everyone! Some of us still talk today. It's a really cool experience that I feel everybody should enjoy.