Throwback Thursday is always fun. This is a day when one can look back on how things were years ago. When it comes to summer camp, activities and entertainment were quite different than today’s summer camp. Check out these 25 differences from camp back in 1969 as compared to today.
1. Outdoor Activities—kids still participate in outdoor activities today but in a much different way. Gone are the days when kids learned weaponry or built bonfires like in 1969.
2. Clothing—in 1969, clothing was far different than kid’s Summer Camp today. Children wore uniforms, with matching shirts and shorts back in the day.
3. Food—food is quite different today. In the 60s, campers were used to simple foods like hot dogs and hamburgers while today’s camps serve healthier meals.
4. Music—the music was far different in the 1960s than today, which campers enjoyed during activities.
5. Counselors—in the past, counselors would be older while today’s camps employ younger, and sometimes former campers.
6. Sleeping quarters—where you sleep today is much more comfy than single bunks with worn out mattresses from the 60s or even just sleeping bags!
7. Time frame—camp used to last at least one to two weeks. Now day camps for kids last just one day.
8. Activities—children today can enjoy more options for activities including drama and the arts.
Contact with parents—kids today can stay in contact with parents much easier by using email or texting.
9. Making friends—children have the ability to make friends today better than in the golden years as more campers are now attending kid’s summer camp.
10. Staying in contact with campers—parents have the option to stay in touch with campers more than in the 60s. Back then only a telephone could have been used while today’s campers can use mobile phones, laptops and more.
11. Style of camp—camps today are more luxurious offering indoor plumbing and comfy beds.
12. Items from home—the types of items children bring from home are far different than what was brought in the 60s, including electronics.
13. Care packages—parents do not send care packages to camp like they did in the 60s with additional food or comfort items.
14. Getting into trouble—kids played more harmless pranks at camp back in the 60s, having more fun with each other.
15. Parent day—parent day was a big deal in the 60s, when children would dress up and perform shows as parents came to see what camp has been like.
16. Segregation—camps today are not segregated by male and female as they once were.
17. Cost—the cost of camp can be much higher today than in the 1960s depending on the type.
18. Achievements—children have more opportunity to earn achievements than years ago.
19. Returning Campers—returning campers are not that big of a deal today as they once were. Campers just enjoy their time at camp today when in the past they were welcomed with much fanfare.
20. Dances—camps in the 1960s would host dances between boy and girl camping areas.
21. Technology—technology has advanced amazingly since the 1960s for campers.
22. Camp Location—campers attend camp further distances from home than in the 1960s.
23. Facilities—the facilities are much more updated and modern than in years gone by.
Overall experience—the overall camp experience is much different than what was enjoyed in the 1960s.
Some things may have been different over 45 years ago but much remains the same at Summer Day Camps. Enjoying the outdoors with new friends, learning new skills, improving old skills the list goes on and on. Why not experience camp life for your children and make memories that will last a lifetime.
