Discussion: Junior juniors in Colorado: training camp?

Hi - I'm not sure if there are attackpointers out there with kids aged 8-13, but if so, this is for you.

I signed my kids (aged 10 & 12 & 12) up for jr training camp in Colorado. But other parents have pointed out that it seems aimed at older kids, and in fact, Bob Turbyfill (the trainer) has told me as much himself. We can see how the younger kids do in that camp, or, I'm thinking we might want to try and do something else with the younger kids.

I really want my kids to have FUN and MEET OTHER JUNIORS. Those things are more important to me than them learning any specific skill, because ultimately I believe it's the social thing that will keep them going in this sport.

I just sent the following letter to Sherry Litasi & Bob Turbyfill - and would like to know what any of you think. Maybe this is a bad idea and Bob's camp would be just fine. I don't know.

Dear Sherry & Bob,

I had a good phone call with Bob about the junior training camp, and I've spoken further with a couple parents of other kids, on the topic of what to do with the younger kids.

It does sound as though Bob had been targeting older juniors for the training camp, and that no specific program has been planned for the younger juniors. That creates a gap that I'd like to propose we fill, not by throwing them in with the older juniors, but by tailoring a program specifically for them. The program could overlap with Bob's, and in fact I'd like to see there be some joint exercises. But the material should be presented to them in a way appropriate for their ages, and their families' primary goal of having them get to know other juniors and develop the relationships through doing fun things together.

To that end, I'd like to ask Sherry for information:
(1) Which kids aged 13 and below have signed up for junior training camp so far?
(2) Which kids aged 13 and below will be in Colorado, but haven't signed up for junior training camp?
(3) Which trainers (signed up already or not) might be good to approach to develop the companion junior junior training camp?

And I'd like to ask Bob:
Would you be willing to work with someone organizing a junior training camp for younger juniors, to coordinate some of the exercises? Or would you prefer to have the camps be independent?

Let me reiterate that I love the goals that Bob has laid out for his camp. I also think it will work well for the older kids. Clearly that is who he had in mind in developing the idea. I would very much like to see a companion program that focuses on some of the same things - but with age-appropriate activities (which means more water balloon tossing and less sitting, to sum it up). I do think that having Bob have to deal with a target audience he wasn't originally planning on could make it harder for him to focus on the great ideas he has for the older kids.

I'm happy to try and help coordinate this, but hope that other people would also step up to the plate to run the younger camp.

Thanks

Barb

Barb,

I signed up my son Adam, age 13 (O-age 14), for the Junior Training Camp, but I've had all the same concerns as you, especially because Adam's skill level is definitely yellow, not orange (and he won't be doing the zero to orange camp that precedes the junior training camp). So I would be very interested in pursuing alternatives. And I would also be very happy to assist in any coaching and training exercises. (I also think something that was half day would be better than the full days now scheduled.)

Phil

Oh, I'm so glad to hear that! Hopefully I'll hear from some more people too.

My almost-11-year-old is signed up for the Jr Camp but would probably be more interested in something like Barb's proposal. It looks like I did not sign up for the Jr Coaching Clinic myself, so perhaps I could help out as well. Of course, without the Coaching Clinic, I probably won't know what I'm doing ;-).

Great! It looks like Sherry will help us poll other families in attendance and we'll probably be able to pull together something really fun.

I will be there with two nephews who are juniors 11.75 y.o and 14 y.o.They will be doing the zero to orange and the junior camp. My plans during the junior camp are to be attending the convention. A separate program for younger orienteers sounds like a good idea.

As the Junior Team leader, I definitely want to see all juniors learning and having fun at the convention. I wish I could be there this year but my once juniors now young adults both need housing for the fall in two different cities for their continuing college educations, so that project will be taking my limited vacation time. If there is anything I can do to help you find someone or someones to organize and run the camp for the younger juniors please contact me and I will do my best to help you. Also please make sure that the younger juniors also get involved with the older juniors in the fundraising activities that will be happening out there. There will be the silent auction and the ice cream social and I know that they will both be great social events for the juniors. Barb you are definitely on the right track about the friends and fun keeping your kids involved in orienteering. Both of my kids have still very close friends from orienteering and try to see them as much as they can even though their college education has taken them away from orienteering for the time being. Thank you for stepping up and saying something to get this all started. Again let me know if I can help in any way.

Janet Porter

Janet and all,
Don't forget about the quilt raffle! Not only can juniors be selling tickets at the convention, but they can help EVEN MORE if they sell in their hometowns before getting there.

OK, here's the plan:

We WILL have a separate program for younger orienteers (roughly 8 to 13 or 14). Barb Gostenik, who is also arranging the babysitting for youngest kids, will probably work on organization. We'll get parents or others to organize and run some activities, many orienteering-related.

I'll work with Sherry Litasi to try and poll the families who will be there to see if their kids would like to participate.

So far, we have my three, at least some of the Koehler kids, maybe the Ruutopolds, Adam (13), maybe bipshop22's 11-year-old, maybe DRoss' 11 & 14 year olds. Should be a blast.

I'm not sure who is running the ice cream social and silent auction, but maybe they could somehow invite the kids directly to participate. I'll ask Sherry about that too.

Donna Fluegul along with the Juniors that are on the month long Junior trip with John Fredrickson are doing the silent auction and I'm not sure who is in charge of the Ice cream social but again the Juniors traveling with John along with the juniors in the training camp will be doing the ice cream social. I have learned that the teenage age juniors are not much for planning ahead but they always come through with helping and getting things done, so I have learned to go with the flow so to speak. Once out there look for John Fredrickson and ask him to have the older juniors invite the younger ones to join them with the events. Also like Clare said they can sell the quilt raffles too. Clare will have them, I believe with her.???

Sounds good - thanks!