No, not *that* sort of camping

Okay, so I'm gonna be a bit indulgent here an put a post that is more of an answer than a question. File it under "what should I do in SL?" An while I know this is very kid specific, maybe some non kids migth get an idea or two out of it as well. Maybe too it will give an idea of what us kids do inworld, too, I dunno.

Since Saturday afternoon, I've been off at Camp HardKnock, a two week long Summer Camp help within an island region inworld. During camp, we're supposed to stay confined to the campgrounds, barring cases such as inworld jobs, etc. This is why I am able to still do my Saturday night fireworks.

You would thing that spending that much time sitting in a single sim would get boring pretty quick, but it dun. There is a lot going on. Aside form "free play" activities like hang gliding, surfing, swimming, windsurfing, horseback riding, and playground time, there's also group activities including obstacle courses, building projects, "cabin war" competition (last nights' was a 7 Seas fishing tournament), hide and seek, campfire storytelling, and other stuff. There's also plenty of opportunities for role play, from structured times like "lights out" and mealtimes, to just about any random meeting along the paths.

In the last day or so I've helped make a maze our of hollowed, path cute ring prims with two other kids, made up stories with other kids, and did just about every other activity listed above. There are a LOT of people there at any time, too, with 30 counselors on staff and 90 child avatars signed up. There is typically about 35 people in the region at any given time. Needless to say, there are always a lot of opportunities to run across others. Everyone is also super nice.

For those interested, I’ve taken a few piccies as camp now, as well as the Winter Camp and Autumn Camps. You can poke through them here:

http://www.sluniverse.com/pics/ViewAlbum.aspx?id=1240

The current camp's piccies start on page 3.

Anyway... I should ask a question, huh?

1. Has anyone considered some sort of "structured group activities" for adult avvies, say like a virtual several day "cruise" or something? Would you even want do do such a thing?

2. Do you want to know anything more about this camp an stuff?

Mari

I think the camp sounds fun and as soon as I'm done posting this I'm going to take a look at your pics. I would go to something like that for adults. Considering I don't talk to many people in world and pretty much just work on building all the time. I'm not into dance clubs or those kind of things so it would be nice to have a group structured social activity (that is not a dance club or "best in" contest) like that to have fun at and meet people.

Mari, you almost make me want to try a child alt.

i totally wish i could go do that! sounds fun!

The whole thing sounds like fun but I never know when or for how long I'm going to exist in SL. I might be able to be there for a few hours at a time or just pop in for a short period. I don't know how that kind of Second Lifestyle would accommodate doing a structured "event" like camp. I wouldn't do school anyway

~Bodhi (who has been a kid at least as much as a cucumber for the last couple of weeks)

I ran away so I totally don't have any parents or stuff to push me into going to camp. I got things though. Matches are fun. I'm totally random. Maybe one night I just might have to break in and stink bomb the place. (^_^)y

That sounds like something Reisuki and or I would really enjoy, if our various bits of work didn't have both of us so blasted busy. Sounds like a week or two 'at camp' would be quite relaxing.

dis is my second time at camp an I look forward to it each time I can go.... its great jus for having fun an getting away

I think the adult getaway thing would be a great idea.. I'm not much into the club thing as well, but a cruise - that would be an awsome idea if someone could pull it off?

Not sure how to work around the time issue? I'm not on that much either, but i normally do make it in an hour or two each day.

That kid's camp sounds great! I wish we had one for adults too.

I think a lot of it would depend on everyone trusting each other. I mean, even some of those activities you mention, like hide and seek, depend on mutual trust.

I think it'd be a great idea for an "adult holiday" setting like you describe to exist in SL but it would have to be closed enrolment for a trusted community (as the kids camp is), and therefore would probably exclude most of the people who wander around "looking for things to do" in SL, as they tend to be newbies who haven't been around long enough to integrate.

I agree, I would certainly join something like that. Bring it on. Thats sounds like fun.

I think that it would be a blast! I will have to look thru the thread and see if anyone suggests or knows of one for adult avs! That would be sooooo fun!

So, time for the big question:

Would you be prepared to pay to attend a camp for adult AVs?

(I don't know if Marianne had to pay for hers, but I suspect the money's organised by the sellers of child avs - but there are far too many adult av sellers to get together that way)

This is my fourth time at camp, and the time zone problem is there, but not too bad (yesterday there was only about an hour when there wasn't a counsellor online while I was). We have to pay for camp, to cover the cost of the sim mostly, but I feel it's worth it.

I think it's mostly enjoyable to those who can spend quite a bit of time there- at one of the camps I could only get on occasionally, and it seemed to always be when there was no-one around (I'd be the only one on the sim- it's what happens when you live in a different timezone to everyone else).

This time there are more kids and more counsellors, so I've yet to be in that situation again. There's always something to do, so I don't get bored, and the other kids are nice (though many of them I already knew from previous camps or school in SL).

I don't know if my adult alt would do something similar, though a cruise would be interesting.

Kids need structure in their lives

But seriously folks...

I never realized at the time the exhorbitant amount my parents were paying just so they didnt have to deal with me at home. When school ended for the summer I was looking forward to playing with my friends and watch cartoons and not be carted off each day by bus to eat hot dogs (which I never liked) at some park cookout with strangers. So I guess I wouldnt be attacted to such a project and see myself as having paid those dues.

I play both an adult avi & a child avi at the camp. I originally started on my adult avi which I won't name becuase most kids do not know that I do play both & while I don't keep it a secret if they were to ask, I prefer them not know becuase some people look at things or people different after realizing that tomboy of a girl they hang out with is also a counselor lol

I started as a jr. counselor when the camp first opened in july-august of 07. First camp was 4weeks. I think by the end though it was extremely memorable all the counselors agreed 4weeks is just to much! I have sense been a counselor for the autumn & winter seasons which were dropped to 1 week respectively & then summer camp again 2weeks whcih I feel for summer is just right The only hard thing for me playing both is there are times I'm on my child alt & I want to do stuff on the adult like plan an event while other people are hosting events, and visa versa, there are events I attend as my adult alt that I'd rather be there as thyna for lol but really it's pretty cool to see both sides of camp.

As my kid alt, well she's been to camp 3 times. This is possibly sadly going to be her last time as she has been going through a bit of a growth spurt. She's 10 atm and by christmas she will become a teen. She may one day become an adult but I really dunno at this point. Why age her? Well lol I think I'm getting off topic ^^: Camp = Wonderful place for kids to be kids even if it is roleplay there is something magical even in a laggy sim about kids just having fun, & being themselves even on a game

This iz mi first timez to camp. Itz only been the third day and it iz great. I hav had so much fun meeting new fwiends and doing all the eventz. I iz on a team to buildz a twee house. I learned tu buildz a merri go round. We hadz a fishing contest and I learnz to windsurf. This iz so much fun and it just started. I also ritez home to mama and daddi and sissi ever nite before I goez to sleep and tellz them all I did.

Yu dults should plan someting like this cause it iz de greatest time ever.

I iz also in de same Cabin wit Toy. Cabin 6 Cupcakes Rock. Meg

I agree wif wot Danni sayed earlier bowt da time zone fingy. I'm from da same part of da world where she is n i cant get in world til 2:30pm SLT - dats 10:30pm UK time here coz of RL fingies so it's already quite late here.

I also have an SL job too i spend an hour doin dat so it's now 11:30pm UK time (3:30pm SLT). Camp round about dis time is really quite buzy wif lots of us der playing building exploring. I try to stay awake til as late as possible.

If your not a late night owl like me den you may miss out on a lotta activities... for instance last night i went to sleepies at 4:30am UK time (8:30pm SLT) and when I woke up this morning I seen in group messages there was still activities and competions goin on der. Just wish I never had to go to sleep.

Just goin slightly off topic Time Zones is also important to take into account if you are gettin dopted or lookin to adopt. Wot I mean really is its important if you doin something in SL dat requires meetin in groups or activities make sure da times is right for you or you may miss out on a lot of SL stuff coz da times incompatible.

Anyways I havin lotsa fun at camp myself n fankies to Jill, Gattz all da councillors n all da campers for makin it a cool place to be. Hooorayyy !!!

HuGgGzz Maxi xxx

SO many posts to reply to!



Careful... it's catching!

http://community.livejournal.com/second_lifers/782709.html



I know my brother doesn't have a lot of time to do camp stuff either, and tends to pop in when he can, while doing more of it on the weekend.

An you could be a kid cucumber!



...and this is why it is group only



Ya, it really takes "planning" on it. Heck, I'm having to do some of my building on a project for UQ while at camp.



I think you're right on that. There's a purty good amount of trust, particularly with campers and counselors. Miss Jill and Mister Gattz, in particular, have built a good history of doing good, safe, fun kid stuff.

And yes, with hide and seek, for example, you do have to trust that people aren't relying on scanners or the mini map.



Actually, each of us campers paid L$800 to be there. Also, there is a donation board, and some of the kid stores (not just AVs) have helped out with some of the bills over time. It is also a bit of a "labor of love" for the camp directors. I could see someone doing it for 'dults in a more controlled, more "for profit" manner: How many lindens might an adult avvie pay for a seven-day getaway to the virtual carribean, or an exclusive spa? Jes a thought to put out there.

Hi Thyna, Danni (Cabin 5!!), Meg, and Maxi (Also Cabin 5!!) an Toy -- see ya at camp!

Sorry, but camp also needs to hire a speech therapist. A little too much ikklespeak for me!

from onea da kids........ your too should be to jus sayin ya know hehe

What?

Structured Adult activities.. confined to a single sim... told what to do.... isnt that Gor?... /me snicker's

Actually, the closed environment and organised behaviour have been suggested as a reason for the popularity of that kind of thing, yes!