stephenwinbaum
Communications Coordinator
/ Moderator
Nov 14, 2008, 11:23 AM
Post #1 of 1
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The President of Summer Camp
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November 2008 will go down in American history as "Leadership Month". The campaigning and media build-up was the most intense ever seen.
Both Democrats and Republicans showed leadership; Obama in his meteoric rise to the Presidency and McCain in his sensitive and thoughtful concession speech.
But politics bear little resemblance to the ideals of camping today, where high-stakes competition is frowned upon in favor of non-competitive activities. Summer camp is about 'getting along' - bonding. It's nothing like the negative campaigning, take-no-prisoners approach of partisan politics.
Politics is the toughest battle of all. Smear campaigns, phony photo ops, equivocations, false promises, etc. It is the ultimate Machiavellian activity in outdoing one’s opponent.
What does the steely competitiveness of American politics say about summer camp? That summer camp is still somehow a microcosm of society, a reflection of a greater whole, but also a breeding ground for youth.
Summer camp is often seen as an escape, when, in fact, it's an introduction to society at large. It provides planned adversity that will augur well for the trying temper of adulthood. Physical and social challenges of camp are inescapable and built into programs by knowledgeable directors and owners.
Summer camp may not be a high risk venture, but it’s no opportunity to lounge around and bask in leisure. Cabin personality conflicts and physical/psychological trials, like aerial ropes or wall climbing, are character-building exercises. They may not be as arduous as surviving the polls or dealing with acerbic commentators, but summer adversity is a road, if gentle, to perhaps, the Presidency.
Stephen Winbaum is the Communications Coordinator of MySummerCamps.com
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(This post was edited by stephenwinbaum on Nov 14, 2008, 11:42 AM)
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