Off to Camp - PART 2

Although Charlotte has been at camp almost a week, Anson is already home. We dropped him off at UNC Tennis Camp on Sunday, and picked him up yesterday afternoon.

Needless to say, he worked hard and played hard. I tried to talk to him about his experience in the car on the way home, but his words were slurred and his eyes were glassy. This is what he looked like within 10 minutes of driving toward home.

Anson's camp was pretty small, and all of the kids were housed on the fifth floor of a high rise dorm right on Franklin Street, the heart of UNC nightlife. (For you Wahoos, that's like living right on the Corner.)

Remember Charlotte's beautiful view from her cabin of the water? Anson had a view of water, too, but his was turquoise, square, full of chlorine, and surrounded by college girls in bikinis soaking up the sun. Not bad.

Dorm living had its other advantages. They had a room to themselves, air conditioning, real beds, and lights out at 10:30 pm (around these parts Anson has to be in bed at 8:30 pm). Apparently they could also order pizza, cavort around town with the counselors, and drink soda from the dining hall at every meal.

Anson shared a room with two friends, and they shared one toilet and shower with two other boys. Let's just say that sorting through the laundry last night was an adventure. Especially since all three boys said they each took two showers total. The. Whole. Week. After playing six hours a day of tennis in the sun. Enough said.

But on to the actual camp. Anson is getting interested in tennis, and this was a great way to give him a leg up. He played with former pros and coaches at UNC all week, honing his skills and learning good sportsmanship. We parents were able to watch the kids play in a quick round robin when we came to pick them up.

The kids worked their skills and played matches every day, with a few breaks and evening entertainment, including bowling, movies, an arcade, and going out to eat.

All in all, this camp for Anson was short, but sweet. He loved the little bit of independence, and made new friends of all ages. He learned how to work hard, and felt comfortable being away from home and sharing a room with others. And he loved getting a taste of what a college campus is like. Maybe a little too much. I'm afraid I might have a tarheel fan in our midst.

Next week he does a few days of wakeboarding camp at the lake, and then basketball day camp mid-summer. Late summer he heads to Camp Seafarer's brother camp, Camp Sea Gull. For now, he's showered and in bed. I hope he sleeps until noon.