You've seen Willow Lake Day Camp mentioned all over Macaroni Kid Summit Short Hills SOMA, but I wanted to really convey how much Willow Lake Day Camp and their staff, led by Co-Owners & Directors, Charles Maltzman and Wendy Saiff has meant to my family these past few years, (since I took over the newsletter). So I asked my ten year-old son who has attended Willow Lake for two fabulous summers to write about his experiences.:
My name is Jarrett, and I go to Willow Lake Day Camp.
I was bullied a lot in school, and I didn't have many friends. I was bullied for how I acted. I was bullied for how I talked. I was bullied for who I was. I hated school. I always wanted to stay home, and I never talked about school.
I was afraid. I was afraid to stand up for myself. So I didn't.
But then. . . . .
The next summer, I went to Willow Lake. The bus ride to camp is actually where I met one of my best friends.
Things got even better when I got to camp. I was paired in a group with people that I quickly became friends with, and my counselor was super friendly.
Everyone was nice. There wasn't a single person who made fun of me for what I did, how I talked, or who I was. And there was so much to do!
Swimming, sports, and hobbies were all things we did on a daily basis. Not to mention the zip lines, climbing walls, and water park trips.
At the end of the day, I could barely sleep, I was so in anticipation of what would happen the next day.
At the end of the week, the weekends felt like years, with me waiting to be able to go to camp again.
And at the end of camp, when we all had to go, I had more.
I had more friends. Now that I knew a lot of people, there were way more people in my class that I could talk to.
I had more self confidence. No longer was I afraid to stand up for myself.
I had more good days. I never faked sick so I wouldn't have to go to school, and I was never bullied.
And I had more anticipation of when I could go back.
Willow Lake changed my life. It can for your child, to.
Make next summer the best year of their life.
Go to Willow Lake.
Watch their video and visit their website by clicking here!
200 State Route 181, Lake Hopatcong, NJ
http://www.willowlakedaycamp.com
Phone: 973-663-2732
