skip to main content

Uncategorized

By: Samantha Shinewald

In the lead up to camp, we all spend so much time making lists… things we have, things we need, things the kids want (but don’t actually need). From underwear and toothbrushes to a penguin onesie for a special event, somehow it’s all on the list! The golden rule of packing that duffel is “leave nothing to chance.” So, camp says 3 bathing suits, better make it 5! All along, we are trying to convince ourselves that our kid will be OK, and if it means another run to Target the night before the bus leaves – so be it! Then, once the bus pulls away, and the bags (and kids!) are gone, how do we really know how they’re doing?  

The rational part of our brain can reason through it… 

And for many of us… 

But, what if your camp doesn’t post pictures?? It may be hard to believe, but even now, in 2023, in this crazy world of instant-gratification, where we can be notified in real time that our sushi order has been picked up by Uber-eats and watch as it takes 15 wrong turns to get to our house, that some camps choose not to post any pictures all summer – and taking it a step further, that many parents actually choose these camps. That’s right, the same people that track their sushi order, are intentionally not “tracking” their kids’ experience over the 7 weeks that they are at camp. Fun fact: I am one of these people!  

So how do I know that my kid is ok?? Controversial opinion: I don’t know… but, maybe I wouldn’t know even if I were receiving pictures! 

As many of us know, a day at camp is equivalent to a month in the real world. The best friend that you walked to breakfast with, may side with another kid about whether the original, or the remake of Parent Trap is the better version. In a mere moment of loneliness, three new kids might befriend you and by shower hour you’ll be reciting lines from Mean Girls with an entirely different crew. Over the course of the day, they will have ups and downs. But, which part of this day will be captured for parental consumption? Being in touch with so many parents, I hear things like, “I think my kid is having a tough day”, “Why is my kid wearing someone else’s sneakers?” and “I can’t believe my kid is at arts & crafts again!!!” We dissect the pictures and examine the moment, but do any of these pictures truly convey how a kid is really doing at camp?? 

As a non-photo receiving parent, I have 2 methods of determining how my kid is doing: 

  1. My good old reliable, USPS mail carrier, who thoughtfully places my camper’s letters on rainbow stationery atop my pile of catalogs, bringing me news every couple of days 
  2. Camp directors/head counselors that I trust will reach out to me if a problem arises, or that I feel comfortable reaching out to when I need a little reassurance 

And, while a letter from my child or the feedback of a camp director are not happening in real time, at least neither are my interpretation of what’s going on! 

When it comes down to it, the thing that I remind myself of throughout the summer is that my child’s camp experience actually isn’t meant for my eyes, or my interpretation. Camp is her place… and if she wants to borrow her friend’s bathing suit (ew!), then really, does she need to hear from me (200 miles away), that I don’t think she should? I am sending her to camp to make many of exactly those types of inconsequential decisions. Camp is designed to allow kids the opportunity to independently decide how they want to present themselves, and spend their free time, in a totally controlled and highly supervised environment. And by sending her to camp (and especially one that does not have pictures), I am telling her that I trust her to make these decisions on her own, and to navigate her world thoughtfully, and with the problem solving tools that she has spent the prior 10 months harvesting.

By: Samantha Shinewald

As a camper in the ‘90’s, visiting day was always a highlight of the summer! I remember my parents showing up in their knee length khaki shorts and k-way raincoats, with grocery bags filled with all my favorite foods; my beloved Montreal bagels (IYKYK), new stickers and stationery, maybe a gift for my bunkmates, some new comic books, and more. I would introduce them to my friends and counselors, show them my bed, and then walk them around camp. It was a great day.

When 2020 began, one of my top goals was to find the perfect camp for my daughter, so that she could board the bus in the summer of 2021 ready to begin her camping career.  But as the summer of 2020 rolled around, and camps were not offering tours, we were forced to make the choice, despite never having stepped foot on the grounds. But, after many director calls, and hours spent poring over websites, we made our choice, and decided that seeing the camp through our daughters’ eyes at visiting day 2021 would be better than any director tour…. I think we all know how that went!

Enter Summer 2022… we were hopeful! We made hotel reservations, talked about which favorite foods “needed” to be brought up, which activity she is most excited to show us… but we flew too close to the sun, and it was canceled.

So, now what?

When I sat my daughter down to tell her that visiting day had been canceled (Don’t worry. I wiped away my tears first!), she took a moment to think and then said “I don’t even really know what visiting day is, so… can you take me to my dance class now?”

As many of us have likely realized, visiting day is not about the kids… it’s about us! The expression “Out of sight. Out of mind,” must have been created in reference to kids at overnight camp. Mom and Dad who? Don’t get me wrong, of course they “miss” us – no one rubs their back like we do, or brushes and braids their hair as well… but they are so immersed in their camp world and routine that they barely know what day it is (unless it’s lazy Sunday… because, donuts). It’s always easier to leave than it is to be left. At home we walk by their bedroom, or reach for their favorite food at the grocery store, but for them, it’s a totally new world – and one that we have never been a part of, and maybe don’t really belong in?

So how did my own “perfect”  90’s visiting day end when I was a camper? There was usually at least 1 girl crying, someone else had a tummy ache from too much candy, another girl swore that she was being picked up to go home the very next day… the fallout was real. And for all of you who have experienced a visiting day in this century, can you admit that it hasn’t really changed? Visiting day is tough…but is a world without visiting day tougher? Maybe? I know that each camp has its own “remedy” for the lack of visiting day… some are doing packages, some do facetime, some do phone calls etc. For me, having never experienced visiting day as a parent, and with a child who has never experienced visiting day, our approach is to just let the summer roll on. I won’t write to her and say “Wow, I can’t believe it’s supposed to be visiting day this weekend and I’m not there” – I’ll just treat it like any other normal day. But, just like I would if I were there, I will likely reach out to the camp for a mid-summer check in (aka sanity check!). I will also do my best to (try to) relax, and trust that she is having the time of her life, and that really, she is exactly where she should be.

By: Wendy Siegel

Some helpful hints for parents planning to visit camps this summer:

1. Don’t go by what “everyone” says about Camp X – make your own decisions and go with your heart.  

Everyone else isn’t you.  So if you’re listening to the chatter or rumor mill or plug your ears and put on blinders.  Find the camp that feels right for YOU.  People love to talk even when they don’t actually KNOW that what they’re saying is true. They’ve “heard” that the camp you’re looking for is for spoiled rotten kids or they’ve “heard” that there are too many counselors from abroad or they’ve “heard” that the camp directors don’t return calls or that there are too many kids from one town…Do the research yourself.  This is for YOUR child and your family and not for anyone else.

2. Prepare your child for what’s in store…ask the camp director how the tour will go. 

Will you be with your child on the tour?  Will your child go with a counselor and separate from you? Will there be activities?  Many kids need a preview to help calm their nerves.

3. And speaking of nerves…it’s totally normal for your child to be nervous or anxious about going on a tour or participating in a camp rookie day. 

This is a really big deal – for some kids because they’re really scared about the idea of sleepaway camp, for some because it’s the unknown. Don’t roll your eyes or tell your child there’s nothing to be nervous about…lean in and talk it through. Let your child know that you understand and it’s okay to be nervous. Maybe even tell your child that you’re nervous, too. Talk through what s/he is nervous about…and if your child can’t vocalize exactly what it is that’s causing nerves, that’s okay too. 

4. Allergies

If you have a child with food allergies or any other allergies, inform the camp when you arrive or ahead of time. Lots of camps give snacks/treats while on tour so it’s helpful for them to plan for your visit.

5. Operation same page

Make sure you and your spouse are on the same page and that you’ve prepared your partner for what to expect from your tour or tours. If you’ve researched all of the camps you’re seeing and you’ve planned all of the tours, make sure s/he knows what is ahead.  And…do your best to keep your strong opposing opinions from popping up along the tour.  Save your arguments and disagreements for the car or for when you get home. Keep the peace in front of the tour giver!

6. Avoid this awkward moment!

And while we’re on the topic of awkward tour mishaps…if you say to your child prior to a tour, “You’re not actually going to GO to this camp – you’re going to another camp.  But we’re going to tour this camp because our neighbor/cousin/friend goes here”…I assure you your child is going to share that information with his or her tour giver.  And THAT is SUPER awkward. Set the right tone and have your child go into everything with an open mind and heart!

7. Channel your inner camper…and unplug!

We KNOW that we all live in a connected world and texts and emails are super important to read on a timely basis.  Do your best to “disconnect” for the hour or hours of your camp visits.  Do it for you – so you can really get a sense of the camp you’re visiting and see and feel and understand what the camp is all about.  And do it for the tourgiver that is taking the time to spend with you.  Tour givers care about the relationship they build with you, and when you’re on the phone it’s hard to stay on track and connect.  And, it’s…borderline…rude.

8. Take it all in!

When you are preparing to leave the camp you’ve been visiting, make sure you have AND your child has taken it all in.  If your child doesn’t remember seeing the gymnastics center or the ceramics station or something that is important to you, ask to go back. This is your chance to see everything before you make the all-important camp decision.

9. Take your future camper’s lead

When you get back into the car as you leave each camp, you’re either going to be super energetic and excited…or exhausted from the heat or the sun or the long day.  So is your child.  Follow your child’s lead…if s/he wants to talk and answer questions, ask away.  But if s/he is quiet and not super chatty, give your child time.  Some kids need to absorb what they’ve seen and heard and experienced before they’re ready to talk and share with you their thoughts.

10. Post tour follow up

After it’s all over…and after you get home…and after you and your family make your decision…PLEASE…respond to follow-up emails or calls from camp directors. Ask your questions…let them know you’re still deliberating and need more time…deferring the decision or waiting another year…or a quick email telling the camps you visited and did NOT choose that you’ve made a different decision and chosen another camp. You cannot imagine how appreciated this gesture is after the energy, effort and time camp directors put into your visit – whatever the outcome. 

ENJOY your tours…have FUN!  Relive your own camp memories while seeking out the perfect summer home where your child will build his or her own!

We hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy! Speaking of HEALTH, which is constantly on all our minds these days, we have an exciting announcement to share as we launch into 2022. Summer 365 is continuing our partnership with PM Pediatrics, the nation’s largest provider of pediatric urgent care. They have over 50 child urgent care locations in 13 states and have been around for 15+ years.

As a trusted resource and advisor to families and clients, summer camp and program partners, and the industry we serve, we love to share other experts and valuable resources we know our community would benefit from. As we all know, in this new normal and COVID world we are living in, there is an abundance of information being shared. It can be overwhelming on how best to make informed decisions specific to your child and family. We want parents and camps to feel as empowered as possible to tackle this next year and summer ahead. We are so thrilled to have PM Pediatrics and Dr. Christina John as our specialized pediatric expert and a 365 day a year resource to collaborate with and talk about health, wellness, and best practices for keeping our children healthy and safe. This knowledge and understanding will help build confidence to take us into summer and to camp. Stay tuned for upcoming events and information we have in store exclusively for our partners, clients, and community!

About:

PM Pediatrics was founded on the belief that there is a better way to deliver urgent care to kids and young adults. Their  mission is to ensure our patients receive superior quality after-hours care when they need it, without having to wait long for it. Unlike traditional urgent care practices, PM Pediatrics specializes in treating patients from the cradle to college. They are staffed by pediatric emergency specialists, including pediatric emergency physicians and board-certified pediatricians, who are specially trained in treating children in urgent care situations while minimizing pain and unnecessary tests.

PM Pediatric’s brand spokesperson and Senior Medical Advisor is Dr. Christina Johns, a pediatric emergency medicine physician with over 20 years of experience and a Masters in education, who leads their community education initiatives

 

Written by Laurie Rinke, Owner/Director of Echo Lake

As an adult, sometimes it is hard to remember the feelings that you had leaving home to go to camp, or even college for that matter.  Do you remember what it felt like to once again sleep in your own bed or get something from the refrigerator whenever you wanted?  Campers returning home after the summer enjoy the comforts of home and, of course, the individual attention of family showering them with love and affection.  The idea of leaving the happy cocoon of home can be almost unfathomable to any child, especially those who recently finished their first summer at camp, or are planning on going to camp for the first time next summer.  They are flooded with a mix of emotions about home and camp that are not only hard to identify, but also hard to resolve.

It is not at all uncommon for even the happiest camper to hesitate when being asked to commit to another summer away from home, especially when they have only been back at home for a short period of time. Occasionally, there are conversations with parents who are dealing with camper uncertainty about next summer.  These conversations, which happen every year around early enrollment deadlines, are always very similar…

“My son/daughter got off the bus from camp saying that they had the best summer ever! They told us about their friends, counselors, and all of the fun they had. In fact, they reached out to their camp friends because they were “camp sick.” When we asked them if they wanted to go back to camp next summer, they said they didn’t want to go. I don’t understand what happened, or where this change in heart came from.  We know they loved camp, but now they are saying they don’t want to go back.”

This reaction, especially from first-year campers, is incredibly normal and more common than most people realize.  However, it does confuse parents tremendously, and can create conflicted emotions about camp for the entire family. Asking a child, who may have had a tough adjustment to camp, and/or experienced homesickness during the summer, if they want to leave home again after being home for a relatively short time, can be difficult.  When you factor in that they have also had to adjust to everything that comes with starting a new school year, while reconnecting friends from home, the question becomes even more daunting to the child.  It is hard enough for them to predict how they will feel a week from now, much less ten months from now.

For many children, there can also be a psychological or subconscious impact if they expressed “homesickness” over the summer, and they are afraid of losing face.  There can also be a feeling that if they say that they want to go back to camp, it is somehow a rejection of their parents because they’re choosing camp over home.  Even as adults, trying to sort out and accept multiple emotions at the same time is a difficult task, but for a child, it is like climbing Mount Everest.

So what is a parent to do? If you know that your child had a great summer at camp, and you can see the positive growth your child experienced at camp, have confidence in your personal assessment.  Remind yourself that your child’s reaction is totally normal, and that there are understandable reasons why they have inexplicably changed their tune about camp.  Keep in mind that the start of camp is still nine months away.  In addition to your child going through nearly a year of growth and maturity, home will not feel as “shiny and new” as it does right now.  If you feel confident that your child should, and ultimately will want to, return to camp, then you should re-enroll them.  After all, you have the ability to see the bigger picture far more clearly than your child can.

Make sure that you express your confidence about them going to camp, loving it and being successful.  It also helps to remind them that they will be a veteran at camp, and everything will feel much easier because they already had a successful summer (or two).

At this point, children can go in one of two ways.  Some will want you to help talk them through their positive camp memories and will want to be reminded of the fun that they had there. Others will want to put off talking about camp for a while, and allow themselves to live in the moment of school and home life. Both of these approaches are totally fine and very healthy. Follow your child’s lead on camp discussions, but remember, if they are giving you concerns about camp, it is best to both validate those concerns and help remind them of the positives they may not be thinking about at this point in time.

Here are some helpful hints to navigating camper uncertainty:

· Schedule play dates, sleepovers, and get-togethers with their camp friends. Make them fun!

· If there are off season events – bring them!

· Look through the summer website photos with them and ask them to describe what they are having so much fun doing in the photos.

· Ask them to sing you their camp songs and cheers, or teach them to younger siblings.

· Show them the happy letters they sent you from camp.

· Create positive associations with camp.  For some children this can be done immediately, and for others it may be best to wait until after the new year or the spring.

· Remind them that nothing exciting – certainly not as exciting as camp – is going on at home, so they would be bored if they stayed home for the summer.

· Reach out to your camp! Your children will need to – once again – borrow your confidence that camp is awesome and the right place for them! Your camp directors are also always here to help remind you of that if you need to borrow our confidence as well! They are always happy to connect with you, and / or your camper, to remind you and them that they are here to support you always! 

By the time June rolls around, and the weather is warming up, and you need to start packing your child’s camp duffels, they will be so ready and excited for camp, they will ask you to send them immediately!  And, yes, you will (sometime in the future), laugh with your child about the conflicted yo-yo feelings that they had about camp – probably when they get off the bus at the end of next summer, crying, because they are “campsick” again!

Contributor: Wendy Siegel, Owner/Director of Tyler Hill Camp

PRE CAMP JITTERS? A LOT OF THEM… NONE OF THEM…WHAT’S NORMAL? it’s totally normal for your first time camper to feel heightened nerves! It’s not uncommon for kids to start expressing that they’re nervous especially after a year of unprecedented togetherness. You might see this displayed with their words or with “new” behaviors (waking up in the middle of the night, wanting to sleep in bed with you, a little separation anxiety). On the other hand there are some kids act totally cool as a cucumber and don’t seem phased. You’re wondering, hmmm is this normal and are you even going to miss me? In these instances keeping the conversation light, positive, yet normalizing feelings that might come up for them (plant the seed to normalize if the emotion or feeling does come up). So talking about drop off, the possibility of homesickness through a different perspective like by sharing a personal story that might frame a time when you were so happy but missed home and dealt with it – i.e if you went to sleepaway camp, going to college, etc. and how that was for you.

CAMP IS A ROLLERCOASTER…JUST LIKE LIFE!! Each summer at camp is a journey – a marathon – not a sprint. There will be ups and there will be downs. Just like at home, camp is real life. And if you happen to have your weekly phone call with your child and it’s a “down” day, DO NOT FREAK OUT!! Calmly assess what is actually happening for your child…and decide whether it’s worth a call to your camp director (or group leader – whoever is your contact). All campers have rough days here and there – a fight with a friend, a swollen mosquito bite, a counselor that took away flashlight time two nights ago. Expect a down day…it’s NOT the end of the world or time to switch camps!! Number one piece of advice here: STAY CALM.

DON’T BE SHY – PICK UP THE PHONE!! We camp directors actually ENJOY talking to you parents!! Don’t start every phone call to your camp director by saying, “I hate to bother you – I know you’re so busy!” We’re never too busy for you…our customers, our clients, our “family”. Don’t be afraid to contact us with any concerns or questions – no matter how big or how small. You’re about to join our camp family for years to come and we enjoy opportunities to build closer relationships with you!

YOUR CHILD IS THE ONE GOING TO CAMP AND S/HE HAS A VOICE…Remind your sons and daughters that this summer is THEIR summer! AND, if they need ANYTHING, they just need to speak up! There are LOTS of adults in camp to talk to if they need something, if they have a problem, if they don’t like the food or if they can’t find where their counselors put their underwear when they unpacked. For the first time, your kids are not going to have you to speak up for them and they will get to find and use their own voices! How lucky are they!! Practice this at home before they leave so that they’re READY and ABLE to speak up when they get to camp.

WHO HAS TIME FOR MORE FRIENDS?!! The answer: YOU! Some of the other camp moms and dads whose names you’re just learning are going to become your closest friends. It may be hard to believe, but fast forward and you’re going to talk to them daily (yes, group chats are a thing), travel with them on vacations, hug them with authenticity on Visiting Day and depend on them for advice and friendship and carpools over the next year….and over the next ten years. Embrace it!!

SERIOUSLY…NO TV OR YOUTUBE BEFORE BED? MY KID WILL NOT SURVIVE! Ummmm…yes. Your kid will survive and it will be the GREATEST thing that ever happened to him or her!! Being unplugged is one of the best “gifts” that camp will give your child (next to friendships and confidence, of course). Giggling, flashlight tag, “apples and onions” and counselor bedtime stories will take the place of TV and video games and we PROMISE your son or daughter will love it and won’t ever look back!!

SHAMPOO vs. CONDITIONER…APPLYING SUNSCREEN…SKIM vs. 2% vs. WHOLE MILK vs. SOY…We know that these are just a few of the hundreds of questions that are keeping YOU awake at night. How will your kids navigate new responsibilities that you have always managed for them? How will they tell the difference between shampoo and conditioner? What if they choose skim milk instead of the soy that you serve at home? Don’t you worry….that’s what COUNSELORS are for!! We promise that the counselors we hire are capable and amazing, and they will be the ones to help your sons and daughters figure it all out all day every day at camp.

ADHD…OCD…BED WETTING…RITALIN and MORE…We’ve seen it all and nothing scares us. We all have campers in our camps who take medication, who wet the bed, who struggle socially…and we BEG you to be up front with us before the buses roll into camp…because the more we know about your child ahead of time, the better we can take care of him or her during the summer and the more amazing we can make his or her summer at camp!! You don’t need to be embarrassed or afraid to tell us the truth about your child because we’re the ones caring for him/her for 50 days and nights and we all have the same goal – an AWESOME and HAPPY and AMAZING summer!!

 

Is this actually happening? 22 months after leaving their beloved summer home, my kids are finally heading back there.

This Saturday. It sorta doesn’t feel real after this last year +. We’ve gone through (and not done yet!) a (hopefully) once in a lifetime global pandemic, over a year of different version of learning and school, social distancing, masking, missing out on seeing & celebrating with loved ones, minimal activities, and an entire summer of no camp. Child experts always talk about the resilience of kids, and while that’s never felt more true, these kids have truly been total rockstars. They’ve had no choice in any of this and have had to go along with the constantly ever changing “rules”.

But they are going back. These camps have worked incredibly hard to make this happen and the moment is finally here. It doesn’t even feel real. Like, I know they’re leaving but I cannot imagine not having them at an arms distance – where they’ve pretty much been since March 2020. And while it sounds totally amazing to get a much deserved and needed break – it feels totally bizarre we are not going to be together.

We’ve gone from baking banana bread, chalking our walk, and completing way too many puzzles to dropping them at camp – in a school drop off line fashion – for 7 weeks with no visiting day. I went from baking way too many banana bread loaves to feeling like it’s kinda bananas.

Don’t get me wrong – I couldn’t be more excited for them. When I think about it for them – there’s nothing better. They get to be kids. Without a care in the world. As their summers should be. At sleepaway camp, they can play, and run, and hug and just be. A big smile forms on my face just thinking about that. What more could I want for them?

They also gain some independence back. They get to make some of their own decisions – some smart, some maybe not so smart – but all part of the growing up process. They get to make new friendships and strengthen ones they’ve already established. What more could I want for them?

But what about me? I’m used to having them home. I’m used to hearing every minute detail of their day. I’m used to way more hugs than I’ve ever gotten. I promise I won’t miss the constant X-box screaming and non stop Tik Tokking, but I will miss their “noise”. It’s going to be really quiet. After a long time of no quiet.

But as you’ve probably already thought this (if you’re still reading it!) – this isn’t about me. It’s really not. It’s about them and the gift they are getting this summer at overnight camp. There’s just so many feels. But on Saturday – rest be sure – I’ll put on a brave face and share in their excitement and watch them literally RUN out of my car into the waiting cheers and arms of their friends & counselors. I do plan on sitting in between them the entire car ride up and keeping dark sunnies on – but part of me is a teeny bit excited to come home and walk into my too quiet house and have a cold glass of wine – while I wait for the refreshing to start….

 

By: Katherine Stiroh

After spending many summers at an all girls overnight camp in Pennsylvania, a veteran sleepaway camper turned counselor writes a letter to her younger self sharing genuine lessons and advice with all first time and future campers.

My first summer at camp was when I was going into 4th grade, and I was so excited to start camp after three years of drops-offs and visiting days for my older sister. I heard countless stories of her funny moments in the bunk with her friends and the cool things she got to try every day like biking, making s’mores, and arts and crafts. I couldn’t wait to start my own camp journey. Although I wouldn’t change a thing about my camp experience, if I could go back and tell my nine year old self a little about what’s to come – this is what I would say. 

Dear nine year old me,    

Right now, you’re sitting in the backseat of your parent’s minivan which is packed to the brim with your trunks full of color war tutus, stationary, and enough socks to last you a lifetime (but they won’t even last the summer). Your stomach is turning with the most emotions you have ever felt at once: excited to meet your new bunkmates and counselors, nervous to be leaving your parents and house for the first time, and anticipation to see the place that will become your home for the next seven weeks. These emotions are completely normal, and although you may feel overwhelmed, you will soon feel right at home. 

After initially meeting your counselors, unpacking your trunks, and having your first camp meal it’s time to get to know your bunkmates. These are the girls who will soon be your best friends in the entire world. You will share everything and talk about growing old together and visiting camp summer after summer. Nothing can compare to the bond you have with the girls you spend your summers with and they will be there for you through absolutely everything.   

With your new camp friends by your side, you will then begin a schedule full of activities and sports. TRY. EVERYTHING. Sign up for trips, join the intercamp sports leagues, and dance and sing your heart out at every chance you get. In the next two months, you will do things you never imagined yourself doing. You’ll try water skiing for the first time, you’ll be in the play, and you’ll dance and sing in front of the entire camp more times than you can count. Every unknown step and every chance you take will lead you to discover something new about yourself and the people around you.    

Right now, it all might seem so new and scary and I know it’s hard to imagine yourself away from your parents for so long, but this is about to be the beginning of the most important and meaningful chapter of your life. Enjoy every minute and hold on to your friends as tight as possible. These summers will fly by and before you know it you’ll be wishing for just five more minutes in your summer home.  

Sincerely, 

Seventeen year old you