This is not so much a post as it is a question for whoever is reading. What do you all think about the idea of co-ed camps? I grew up going to a co-ed summer camp and never really thought that much about it until recently. I understand about there being a healthy co-ed environment for kids and I also understand all the concerns that go along with something that is co-ed. Of course, every camp is different and there are different levels of co-ed that go on, but in general, I really want to know how people feel about this issue and why (the why is very important). For those that are against co-ed camps entirely, is there such a thing as a Modern Orthodox not co-ed camp? Because the impression kids have is that the single-sex camps tend to be more to the right. There was once an article in the Jewish Star about this (I would link it but I don't think it's online anymore) - about a girl who wanted to go to an all girls' camp but all the camps like that had a very strict dress code requiring her to wear tights in the summer. She wasn't comfortable with that but she had no choice if she didn't want to go somewhere co-ed. So what would one do about a situation like that?
Feel free to either comment or email me. Thanks!
8 comments:
I don't know - the idea of co-ed w/o parents around...
Many of the NCSY camps are single-sex. I spent two summers at NCSY's Camp Sports.
Didn't you write about this once?
I'm not a fan. I see almost no upside with plenty of downside. (I assume we're talking about pre-teens/teens in sleepaway camps.)
I was also going to suggest NCSY's camps. I think when I went to SEG we were supposed to wear skirts to sessions and I think also on trips away from the camp, but on our free time/activity time girls could even wear pants. There was definitely NOT a rule requiring the girls to wear stockings!
I'm not entirely sure I'd call the NCSY camps "Modern Orthodox" - some of the staff definitely aren't - but they're as close to MO same-sex camps as you're going to find.
I went to regular frum all girls camp and nobody had to wear tights at any time.
I would be nervous to have teens co-ed in a sleepaway camp.
At Sternberg we had to wear socks (short socks were fine), but not tights. I would rather have been able to wear sandals with no socks but that was the best option in all-girls camps. I don't know what it's like now though. This was 20 years ago, I have no idea what Sternberg is like now.
I have no idea what camp that girl thought she was applying to. I went to a camp that was heavily chassidish and we didn't have to wear tights -- AND we could wear denim! Gasp! :)
Not a fan of coed camps either. I don't see the benefit and I see lots of pitfalls.
Went to Sternberg. All we needed was socks. Dunno what camp this girl applied to.
had a friend there who went to a co-ed camp, and she liked the single-sex camping much better. She was scarred by the need to be seen walking around with a guy and pretending to have a crush, and all that. I imagine not everyone has that kind of experience, but obviously it happens.
Post a Comment