Changing Summer Camp Trends

[milee]

This is the fourth year my youngest son has gone to Summer Baking Camp.  Baking Camp lasts one week, is put on by a local Italian bakery and my son just loves it.  They start the day by assembling whatever they're going to eat for lunch (lasagna, pizza, calzones, etc) and while that cooks they start making cookies, cupcakes, etc.  After lunch, they decorate whatever they baked that morning.  Each day, the kids bring home a couple of huge boxes of cookies, cakes, pies, cannoli and other crazy stuff.  

The first year YDS went, he was the only boy.  The pictures were hilarious - he was obviously having huge fun in the middle of all the girls.

The second year YDS went, it was him and another timid, sweet little guy plus all the girls.

Last year, it was YDS plus 3-4 other boys, most of whom looked like they might be brothers of some of the girls.

This morning when I dropped YDS off, the class looked like it was close to half boys.  

Maybe boys are feeling more free to try fun things that used to have gender baggage in the past...

[hoops902]

There are 2 things most boys love...food...and girls. I do think in general though stereotypes for younger kids are fading. I do still think there are stereotypes that kids of one gender who do specific things are maybe more likely to be homosexual...but I think the idea that they might be homosexual has lost a lot of the stigma in terms of homosexuality being a negative(now we just need to get to the point where we don't think that boys who like to do fashion or girls who like to play football are most likely homosexual to begin with).

[Miss Tequila]

Jun 19, 2017 11:42:42 GMT -5 milee said:

This is the fourth year my youngest son has gone to Summer Baking Camp.  Baking Camp lasts one week, is put on by a local Italian bakery and my son just loves it.  They start the day by assembling whatever they're going to eat for lunch (lasagna, pizza, calzones, etc) and while that cooks they start making cookies, cupcakes, etc.  After lunch, they decorate whatever they baked that morning.  Each day, the kids bring home a couple of huge boxes of cookies, cakes, pies, cannoli and other crazy stuff.  

The first year YDS went, he was the only boy.  The pictures were hilarious - he was obviously having huge fun in the middle of all the girls.

The second year YDS went, it was him and another timid, sweet little guy plus all the girls.

Last year, it was YDS plus 3-4 other boys, most of whom looked like they might be brothers of some of the girls.

This morning when I dropped YDS off, the class looked like it was close to half boys.  

Maybe boys are feeling more free to try fun things that used to have gender baggage in the past...

Or perhaps the other guys saw the pictures of your son and all of the girls and realized they were missing out!

[ken a.k.a OMK]

That's a cool camp. Today my gs's started sailing camp. It's a month long. They went last year and had fun. 

[Deleted]

My oldest did cooking camp a couple years in a row, but there were always quite a few boys in the camp.

The one thing I've noticed is our YMCA camp has become really lame.  When I went we scouted out a campsite in the surrounding hills or on the ridge and spent the week totally tricking the site out.  I'm talking they would have bridges over gullies and fences around the perimeter and big fire pits we dug and hauled in stones for.  Nice campsites, and we would spend 2-3 nights in them no matter what the weather.  During the overnights we had these insane games of capture the flag and campsite raids between the other campsites where we were out in the dark until late at night.

Yeah...they don't do that anymore.  They camp out for one night in a field by the barn in case bad weather pops up unexpectedly.  If it's forecast to be bad they just cancel the single overnight right off the bat. 

I'm glad my kids are in scouts and still get a real camping experience.  Those summers I spent at Y camp were so much fun, even when it was storming.  It was all part of the outdoor experience.  I almost didn't even bother signing younger up for it this year, but he gets a free week with his summer care program, so whatever...

[Miss Tequila]

Jun 19, 2017 12:00:18 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

My oldest did cooking camp a couple years in a row, but there were always quite a few boys in the camp.

The one thing I've noticed is our YMCA camp has become really lame.  When I went we scouted out a campsite in the surrounding hills or on the ridge and spent the week totally tricking the site out.  I'm talking they would have bridges over gullies and fences around the perimeter and big fire pits we dug and hauled in stones for.  Nice campsites, and we would spend 2-3 nights in them no matter what the weather.  During the overnights we had these insane games of capture the flag and campsite raids between the other campsites where we were out in the dark until late at night.

Yeah...they don't do that anymore.  They camp out for one night in a field by the barn in case bad weather pops up unexpectedly.  If it's forecast to be bad they just cancel the single overnight right off the bat. 

I'm glad my kids are in scouts and still get a real camping experience.  Those summers I spent at Y camp were so much fun, even when it was storming.  It was all part of the outdoor experience.  I almost didn't even bother signing younger up for it this year, but he gets a free week with his summer care program, so whatever...

And that's the difference between a country and city girl...sleeping in tents in God awful weather sounds...well, God awful

When people talk about camping I tell them I grew up poor so the thought of leaving my comfy house to go act all homeless is just beyond comprehension to me

Now, put me in a really nice cabin and I will totally be into the rest of it!

[milee]

Jun 19, 2017 11:56:20 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

Jun 19, 2017 11:42:42 GMT -5 milee said:

This is the fourth year my youngest son has gone to Summer Baking Camp.  Baking Camp lasts one week, is put on by a local Italian bakery and my son just loves it.  They start the day by assembling whatever they're going to eat for lunch (lasagna, pizza, calzones, etc) and while that cooks they start making cookies, cupcakes, etc.  After lunch, they decorate whatever they baked that morning.  Each day, the kids bring home a couple of huge boxes of cookies, cakes, pies, cannoli and other crazy stuff.  

The first year YDS went, he was the only boy.  The pictures were hilarious - he was obviously having huge fun in the middle of all the girls.

The second year YDS went, it was him and another timid, sweet little guy plus all the girls.

Last year, it was YDS plus 3-4 other boys, most of whom looked like they might be brothers of some of the girls.

This morning when I dropped YDS off, the class looked like it was close to half boys.  

Maybe boys are feeling more free to try fun things that used to have gender baggage in the past...

Or perhaps the other guys saw the pictures of your son and all of the girls and realized they were missing out!

That was exactly my older son's theory.  After year 2, the bakery's website starting featuring a lot of pictures of my son at baking camp... 

[Miss Tequila]

Jun 19, 2017 12:04:18 GMT -5 milee said:

Jun 19, 2017 11:56:20 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

Or perhaps the other guys saw the pictures of your son and all of the girls and realized they were missing out!

That was exactly my older son's theory.  After year 2, the bakery's website starting featuring a lot of pictures of my son at baking camp... 

I apparently watch too much of the food network because I don't necessarily equate cooking/baking with females.  And I am not a baker/chef but my BF is an excellent cook.  I have no problems with my kids asking him to cook when I mention I'm going to start dinner...I should probably be offended

[Deleted]

Jun 19, 2017 12:03:59 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

Jun 19, 2017 12:00:18 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

My oldest did cooking camp a couple years in a row, but there were always quite a few boys in the camp.

The one thing I've noticed is our YMCA camp has become really lame.  When I went we scouted out a campsite in the surrounding hills or on the ridge and spent the week totally tricking the site out.  I'm talking they would have bridges over gullies and fences around the perimeter and big fire pits we dug and hauled in stones for.  Nice campsites, and we would spend 2-3 nights in them no matter what the weather.  During the overnights we had these insane games of capture the flag and campsite raids between the other campsites where we were out in the dark until late at night.

Yeah...they don't do that anymore.  They camp out for one night in a field by the barn in case bad weather pops up unexpectedly.  If it's forecast to be bad they just cancel the single overnight right off the bat. 

I'm glad my kids are in scouts and still get a real camping experience.  Those summers I spent at Y camp were so much fun, even when it was storming.  It was all part of the outdoor experience.  I almost didn't even bother signing younger up for it this year, but he gets a free week with his summer care program, so whatever...

And that's the difference between a country and city girl...sleeping in tents in God awful weather sounds...well, God awful

When people talk about camping I tell them I grew up poor so the thought of leaving my comfy house to go act all homeless is just beyond comprehension to me

Now, put me in a really nice cabin and I will totally be into the rest of it!

These days, sleeping on the ground is not appealing to me anymore in any kind of weather, but damn it was fun as a kid. 

[milee]

He just got home with a huge box of goodies, so excited he is actually wiggling and hopping around.  His description of today:

Baker/Son:  Look at these cookies!  Here, let me show you each one and how I made it!!!
Me:  Yep, these look great.  Did you have fun?
Baker/Son:  It was awesome!
Me:  Were there nice kids?
Baker/Son: Oh, yeah!  We had so much fun!
Me:  Good.
Baker/Son: (jumping a little while he talks) I win!!!
Me:  Uh, at what?  Was there a contest?
Baker/Son: No, I just win!!!  AT LIFE!!!


OMG, this kid may have eaten a little too much sugar today.  If it weren't raining, I'd send him out to do laps around the house.  

[Anne_in_VA]

[Tiny]

Could it be the interest in 'cooking competitions" on TV? Are those competitions or reality TV I think there's one that has kids doing the cooking/competing.

Maybe the fact that it's cool for kids to 'cook' on these shows makes the kids who watch the shows want to do it too?

I'll admit I'm kind of pessimistic about boys just magically deciding that it's OK to go to "Baking Camp"... without some sort of overriding "cultural" thing happening or widespread appeal happening --  the gender thing is pretty strong and difficult to overcome just on the benefit of "it's fun".

[Phoenix84]

It stands to reason that if you want to date you have to go where the women are. I've considered taking some cooking classes or doing yoga even though I'm not that interested in those things because there are mostly women there.

[milee]

Jun 21, 2017 14:52:32 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

It stands to reason that if you want to date you have to go where the women are. I've considered taking some cooking classes or doing yoga even though I'm not that interested in those things because there are mostly women there.

That can work if you will enjoy it, participate and have fun.  Otherwise, you'll just be a creepy guy leering in the corner.  Those sometimes show up at yoga class and women avoid them.

[Phoenix84]

Jun 21, 2017 14:55:00 GMT -5 milee said:

Jun 21, 2017 14:52:32 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

It stands to reason that if you want to date you have to go where the women are. I've considered taking some cooking classes or doing yoga even though I'm not that interested in those things because there are mostly women there.

That can work if you will enjoy it, participate and have fun.  Otherwise, you'll just be a creepy guy leering in the corner.  Those sometimes show up at yoga class and women avoid them.

I actually did do one yoga class.  But I didn't go back because I didn't really feel like I was learning yoga at that place.  I was never "instructed" by the instructor, just watched everyone else and tried to do what they do, so I have no idea if I was doing it right or not.

I get it that yoga isn't a competitive sport or anything, but for a beginner it'd be nice to have a little more formal instruction.  Anyway, I'll revisit the subject once I take part II of my professional exam in July.  I'm way too busy now for that sort of thing.

[dee27]

Jun 21, 2017 15:01:21 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Jun 21, 2017 14:55:00 GMT -5 milee said:

That can work if you will enjoy it, participate and have fun.  Otherwise, you'll just be a creepy guy leering in the corner.  Those sometimes show up at yoga class and women avoid them.

I actually did do one yoga class.  But I didn't go back because I didn't really feel like I was learning yoga at that place.  I was never "instructed" by the instructor, just watched everyone else and tried to do what they do, so I have no idea if I was doing it right or not.

I get it that yoga isn't a competitive sport or anything, but for a beginner it'd be nice to have a little more formal instruction.  Anyway, I'll revisit the subject once I take part II of my professional exam in July.  I'm way too busy now for that sort of thing.

You can sign up for one on one yoga classes for beginners. As far as meeting women, have you joined any Meet-Up groups? What are your interests?

[Bob Ross]

Summer Baking Camp?  

In my day, it was Rusty-Nail-Through-The-Foot-Camp, or Try-Not-To-Drown-In-The-Cesspool-Excuse-For-A-Lake-Camp, or Your-First-BJ-From-A-Dude-Camp.

This is why the Chinese are beating us at everything!   (except baking). 

[NastyWoman]

Jun 19, 2017 11:51:18 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

There are 2 things most boys love...food...and girls. I do think in general though stereotypes for younger kids are fading. I do still think there are stereotypes that kids of one gender who do specific things are maybe more likely to be homosexual...but I think the idea that they might be homosexual has lost a lot of the stigma in terms of homosexuality being a negative(now we just need to get to the point where we don't think that boys who like to do fashion or girls who like to play football are most likely homosexual to begin with).

 and that is how DS1 and his BF ended up in Home Ec in 6th grade. They were the only boys there and they did have fun. He actually still has the little pillow he sewed while in that class more than a quarter century later

[Green Eyed Lady]

omg thanks

[Green Eyed Lady]

I watch the Kids Baking Championships and Kids Grilling Championships all the time on either The Cooking Channel or Food Network - not sure which as I just flip back and forth.  At least half of the competitors are male and they are kick-ass cooks. Good for him.

[suesinfl]

I'm glad my kids are in scouts and still get a real camping experience.  Those summers I spent at Y camp were so much fun, even when it was storming.  It was all part of the outdoor experience. 

My son really did enjoy scouts in middle school, but the leaders change and the boys he liked being around left, so now it's a no go. He had some great camping trips and has great memories of sleeping in a tent, learning how to purify water to drink, keep the bears away, etc.

[Apple]

I was the only girl in woodshop.  It was awesome!

My son would have had a great time at a camp like this.  He enjoys cooking and baking, especially trying "ethnic" foods.  He has made kvas (Russian/Polish), kimchi, sushi, etc.  He made a Swiss roll around midnight one night, just because he wanted to try baking one.

My brother is a a good cook/baker.  He started as a kid in 4-H, so it was never really odd for me to have a "manly man" type guy who really knew how to make a good dessert.  I wanted my son to learn to cook at least the basics, so it's been a bonus that he's a pretty good cook (and will experiment frequently).

[Deleted]

Actually, the culinary skills classes are VERY popular with guys at our high school.  The teachers of these courses don't actually like it because it has become a dumping ground of sorts.   I won't go into why.

However, the kids know that if they are going to come in late and claim that culinary skills is the reason, their pass is a sample of their food.

The kids actually enjoy sharing their foods with me.  And I enjoy it just as much.  

[Phoenix84]

Jun 21, 2017 15:04:03 GMT -5 dee27 said:

Jun 21, 2017 15:01:21 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

I actually did do one yoga class.  But I didn't go back because I didn't really feel like I was learning yoga at that place.  I was never "instructed" by the instructor, just watched everyone else and tried to do what they do, so I have no idea if I was doing it right or not.

I get it that yoga isn't a competitive sport or anything, but for a beginner it'd be nice to have a little more formal instruction.  Anyway, I'll revisit the subject once I take part II of my professional exam in July.  I'm way too busy now for that sort of thing.

You can sign up for one on one yoga classes for beginners. As far as meeting women, have you joined any Meet-Up groups? What are your interests?

I signed up for some meetups last year and went to a few singles meetups in the area.  Then in met someone online who I dated for a few months but it didn't work out.  By then it was getting into the holidays and then I had to start studying for the CHP exam, which is like a part time job on top of my full time job.  Plus I travel a lot for work.  Short answer is I haven't gone to any in the last several months but I'll start again after my test is over in a couple of weeks. 

[dee27]

I think if you do not put yourself out there, you will not meet someone. Realizing that studying for the CHP exam is a major drain on your time, I am happy you will try the Meet-Up groups again. I hope you will relax and enjoy the new people you might meet. Good luck on your exam!

[Lizard Queen]

When I was in Jr high, lots of boys took home EC and lots of girls took wood shop. I wish I had taken both, but my schedule was full.

[teen persuasion]

Jun 19, 2017 11:51:18 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

There are 2 things most boys love...food...and girls. I do think in general though stereotypes for younger kids are fading. I do still think there are stereotypes that kids of one gender who do specific things are maybe more likely to be homosexual...but I think the idea that they might be homosexual has lost a lot of the stigma in terms of homosexuality being a negative(now we just need to get to the point where we don't think that boys who like to do fashion or girls who like to play football are most likely homosexual to begin with).

I think this has been happening for quite a while.  When my older kids were in HS, and when I was running the Drama Club, I realized just how different attitudes were among the teens (vs when I was in HS) on homosexuality and gender stereotypes.  I was constantly surprised at how openly accepting the kids were of peers' sexuality.  There was no need for secrecy, they truly didn't care if someone was homosexual or heterosexual or whatever, they just accepted it as part of them.  Same for "borrowing" clothes from other genders - doesn't phase them.

Gender stereotypes seem long gone.  All the kids took "home ec" when it was still in existence, so they all learned to cook, and sew, in MS.  Later it was reduced to "consumer ed", and was all about how to be a good little consumer   .  That course has disappeared, thankfully.  So my boys and their friends are just as likely to bake cookies for a class party as the girls.*

Community sports teams are 50/50 girls and boys, not forced, just enrollment.  My district is big on music, so the kids openly respect their fellow musicians' skills - kids don't get gender stereotyped into certain instruments at all.  DS2 plays bass, and was BFF with a female bass player.  They took up trombone, too, as part of a group doing an arc of viola to bass to 'bone (all about positions).  He got into quidditch in college - teams have to have minimum numbers of players of both genders on the field.  It's lead to some interesting discussions of how gender fluid individuals are a prime commodity as players.  They don't care what gender you are born, only what gender you identify as currently.

*DS4 frequently baked cookies, etc, to contribute to school birthday celebrations, and some of his buddies cook at home often.  DS4 has gone on a few camping trips with his buddies, and his Scout friends were planning Dutch oven dinners.  Actually, it was pretty funny - DS4 (not a Scout) had to help out his Eagle Scout friends with the fire making, and cooking (and the practical gear to bring, like dishes, utensils,  matches, dish detergent, etc).  They had the theory, but the experience not so much, I guess.  We camp a few times a year, and have a woodstove, so starting a fire is second nature.  He'd often start/cook dinner for me when he wasn't practicing a sport and I was working days.  One day I came home to "I was bored, so I googled how to make donuts.  Want some?"

I think the internet has shown kids today that there's a lot more variety out there, and it's good.  There ARE people who like whatever it is you like, so don't feel weird about exploring it.

[MarleyKeezy78]

Jun 21, 2017 21:11:25 GMT -5 Apple said:

I was the only girl in woodshop.  It was awesome!

My son would have had a great time at a camp like this.  He enjoys cooking and baking, especially trying "ethnic" foods.  He has made kvas (Russian/Polish), kimchi, sushi, etc.  He made a Swiss roll around midnight one night, just because he wanted to try baking one.

My brother is a a good cook/baker.  He started as a kid in 4-H, so it was never really odd for me to have a "manly man" type guy who really knew how to make a good dessert.  I wanted my son to learn to cook at least the basics, so it's been a bonus that he's a pretty good cook (and will experiment frequently).

I had shop class in middle school, I can't do math to save my life but when we had to do drafting I could run circles around everyone, got an A! Wasn't to shabby on the shop tools either 

[beergut]

 I grew up with my father being the one who cooked the big Italian meals, and he was the one who manned the grill for dinner, so men cooking was not a role reversal for me. 

I do think that with the internet and YouTube, you can pretty much learn how to cook anything these days. With a generation of kids who know they can access whatever they need off the internet, it isn't a surprise that they would be more into tasks like cooking. 

[yogiii]

DS has a week of cooking camp this summer.  I'm interested to see what they end up making.

As for gfs, he did ask me for a laptop last week so he can keep in touch with his girlfriends over the summer .  I thought all the girl stuff was over since through the course of the school year I was only hearing stories about the boys in the class.  I guess I was wrong.  I did say no to the laptop and asked who the girlfriends are.  He replied "I'm not telling you!!!" ... pause ... "Ok, they are x,y and z".