adventure – Reflections

By John Trout

Lakehill Preparatory School

Director of Summer Programs

It’s that time of year again, when the school year is winding down and summer camps are getting ready to launch. I’m such a kid at heart, and poring through the camps catalog always makes me wish that I were a kid again! There are so many camps that young Johnny Trout would have loved!

When I was in lower elementary, I would have been really excited about “Royalty Rules!” and “Eek! Bugs!” I was always building forts and castles where knights (usually my friends or younger cousins) would serve the king (me of course!). I also enjoyed learning about the past and how things were back in the “olden days,” though it didn’t even occur to me that what that really meant was that I enjoy history. “Royalty Rules!” would have been perfect blend of these two interests! And, when I wasn’t building forts, I was digging in the dirt for bugs. The natural world has always fascinated me, and a camp devoted to our multi-legged skittering friends would have been right up my alley!

In late elementary, I discovered two things: I really enjoy cooking, and superheroes are awesome! So, I would have been making tracks to “Simply Snacks” camp and “Mutants, Marvels, and Superheroes.” I love the empowerment of cooking camps; I remember being quite pleased when I made a treat that someone else enjoyed as much as I did, and I still enjoy cooking today. And, though I loved reading comics and enjoying comic book characters, I always wanted to take it to the next level by creating my own characters and stories, and making my own fantastic worlds come to life. These camps would have been perfect for me!

In middle and upper school, I discovered that I love making things. The “Advanced Puppetcraft Workshop” camp would have been perfect for me. The emphasis on sewing technique and well-planned designs means creating and constructing a puppet that is fun, meaningful, and built-to-last. I also discovered my love of the English Language throughout the centuries. “Summer with the Bard” camp would have given me the chance to practice my best Elizabethan Shakespeare accent while doing something else I simply didn’t do enough when I was growing up: performing in front of a crowd! I had horrible stage-fright until I was an adult, but Shakespeare and the company of friends would have helped me shake that much sooner!

These camps and more still have seats available this summer, but time is running out to sign up! If you think your child would love any of these camps as much as I would have, sign up today. If you wait too long, you might find that I took the last seat myself!

About Lakehill Summer Camps

Lakehill Summer Camps are unique in offering quality, teacher-led camps at an affordable price, with FREE before-camp and after-camp care available every day. Half-day, week-long camps are just $240 per week, while full-day, week-long camps are priced at just $315 per week. Mix and match from a variety of camps to create your perfect summer!

Find out more about Lakehill Summer Camps.

Lakehill Summer Camps – Voted Best Summer Camp by the readers of Lakewood, Lake Highlands, and Park Cities Bubblelife!

By John Trout
Fourth Grade Teacher
Director of Summer Camps, Lakehill Preparatory School

Why do we teach?

There is no universal answer to this question. For some, it’s an unrelenting passion for their field. For others, it’s a desire to take part in the building of the next generation of great minds. Still others may have a hard time putting to words the sense of pride and connection to the world they feel when working with young minds. For me, the answer has always been fairly simple: I can’t imagine loving anything else as much as I love teaching.

There are many reasons I love what I do, but one of the biggest is, frankly, it’s a lot of fun! Few professions allow you to earn your keep while having such a good time, and the days fly by so quickly when you’re teaching that when you glance at your clock, you’re not wishing the minute hands would move faster, you’re wishing you had more time! I’ve learned over the years that this feeling is contagious, too, and that the more fun teachers have in the classroom, the more enthused and engaged the students are. Learning happens best when learning is fun!

Take summer, for example. When people learn that I’m a teacher, they often remark, “Must be nice having your summers off!” Teachers hear that all the time! But when I think of summer, I don’t think of lying back poolside watching the days slide by, escaping the tedium of the workplace. Instead, I think of summer camps, and of all the smiling faces I get to see all summer long as director of Lakehill’s Summer Camps. The secret, though, is that it’s not just the kids’ smiling faces that I’m thinking of; it’s the teachers, too!

As fun as it for the kids to do a crazy science experiment, stack Lego bridges with weights until they collapse, and perform in a play, it’s as much fun for the teachers helping them learn and grow. You see the happy kid moments captured on film on our SmugMug account week after week, but what you don’t see are the ear to ear grins, nor do you hear the laughter and cheer of the adults behind the camera. We’re definitely having as much fun as the kids!

So, while you’re escaping from the office, sunning on the beach this summer, if your thoughts happen to turn to me or the other summer camp teachers, shed no tears of pity for us. We’re having as much fun as you are! And, when your child comes home from camp at the end of the day full of stories and excitement to share, remember that we’re at home, too, sharing with our families the joys and adventures of the day.