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Would you send your kid to combat camp?
Filed under: Development/Milestones: Babies, That's Entertainment
A week or so ago, we happened to be at a local mall where a summer camp fair was taking place -- there were tables all through the mall promoting science camps and horseback riding camps and nature camps and soccer camps and so on. One such table caught my eye, mostly because of the weapon lying on top of it. It was the booth of a local paintball facility.
Now, paintball is something I could totally get into (if it weren't for the whole getting-paint-all-over-you part). When I was younger, my brother and I and our roommate would run around the house we shared for hours playing lazer tag. Before that, the neighborhood kids and I used to run around the neighborhood shooting each other with bb guns. My overdeveloped sense of violence and competition is totally in line with the whole paintball idea.
But I'm trying to keep that hidden from my kids. I have enough trouble with Jared taking taekwondo lessons as it is; there's no way I'd let him be involved in mock combat. Still, I was curious as to why the facility was there that day -- I asked if they offered a summer camp. Yes, in fact, they were going to. With lessons in strategy and tactics, plenty of practice, and, of course, a tournament at the end.
That got me wondering, would people send their kids to what is effectively a combat training summer camp? Maybe not everyone has the over-developed sense of anti-violence that I do, but still, is this appropriate? What positive values or lessons could they learn? Surely, there must be some readers who participate in this sport; can you clue me in?
Now, paintball is something I could totally get into (if it weren't for the whole getting-paint-all-over-you part). When I was younger, my brother and I and our roommate would run around the house we shared for hours playing lazer tag. Before that, the neighborhood kids and I used to run around the neighborhood shooting each other with bb guns. My overdeveloped sense of violence and competition is totally in line with the whole paintball idea.
But I'm trying to keep that hidden from my kids. I have enough trouble with Jared taking taekwondo lessons as it is; there's no way I'd let him be involved in mock combat. Still, I was curious as to why the facility was there that day -- I asked if they offered a summer camp. Yes, in fact, they were going to. With lessons in strategy and tactics, plenty of practice, and, of course, a tournament at the end.
That got me wondering, would people send their kids to what is effectively a combat training summer camp? Maybe not everyone has the over-developed sense of anti-violence that I do, but still, is this appropriate? What positive values or lessons could they learn? Surely, there must be some readers who participate in this sport; can you clue me in?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
3-20-2007 @ 4:43PM
Jason said...Dude, why couldn't they have had this camp when I was a kid? I'd totally send my son if he wanted to go.
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3-20-2007 @ 5:39PM
Sarah said...I would send my kids to this camp if they asked. Not all summer camps are about learning something sometimes they are just to have fun. I remember when I was a kid and every summer activity had to be about learning I never got that chance to actually rest until I was about 16 and I was chosen for a summer at a college you got to choose a major and I chose ceramics because I enjoyed ceramics my mom had a fit that I had not chosen Calculus. I stood my ground and stuck with ceramics it's one of the few restful and enjoyable summers that I can remember. I love paintball and I think that kids do benefit from it. It's all day physical activity and learning how to work as a team my office is even considering going as a team building exercise.
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3-27-2007 @ 11:40PM
Sandyone said...Leadership skills.
Basic infantry is an extremely effective and cheap way to train and develop leadership ability.
And it's a helluva lot of fun, too. I've never done paintball, but I've trained with blanks, simulated grenades and a few live fire exercises. There's something about real bullets flying over your head that really tests your mettle.
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