Day Camp for Moms

August means school is back in session for the kids. Now it’s Mom’s turn to play! And while many people are probably saying “Staycation,” we think that term is overused. Sure, we all know a vacation at home is fun, but we propose something a little different. Getting our inspiration from all the kids’ summer camps we’ve seen, we think it’s time for moms to have a day camp of their own!        

A day camp for moms? It’s not such a strange idea. Gather a small group of moms that you meet when dropping your precious angels off at school or moms you know in your neighborhood. Take a week and follow our week-long day camp blueprint of activities for fun way to refresh your mind, body, and soul for the back-to-school season. Heck, you can even do it again in a month or two or make it a regular thing!                                  

DAY ONE  - INSPIRE YOUR DREAMS          

Everyone knows the first day of camp is all about getting to know your fellow campers. Even if  you know all the ladies assembled, it’s nice to have a day to form a closer bond and become better acquainted. Since you won’t be having to share a cabin, we can skip the team-building exercises, and we’re not big fans of around-the-circle introductions. Instead, get everybody together over coffee and create “vision boards” or “dream boards.” Use some foam board or cardboard and photos from magazines (or bring your tablets and log-on to Pinterest) to create a collage of images and quotes to inspire and illustrate your dreams and future goals. Whether it’s losing weight, training for a 10K, or saving up for a long desired trip, make a visual reminder of what you want to accomplish. This is a fantastic way for everyone to get to know each other and definitely beats, “Hi, I’m Jenny. I’ve lived here for 12 years. I have 6 year-old twins, Bobby and Jess, and my favorite show is America’s Got Talent.” If you share your goals, you’ll also find that your fellow moms can serve as a great support system and accountability partners.  

Take it one step further with a shopping trip. Plan the trip with each mom choosing a store where they can purchase something needed to accomplish their goal or that represents the end result. For the dream trip to France, perhaps a Paris travel guide, French language books, or that perfect travel dress. For the home upgrade project, maybe a new fixture or a gallon of paint to get you started. For the gym commitment or 10K training, a spiffy new pair of running shoes is an excellent start. Maybe for a stay-at-home mom who now has kids in school for the first time just getting out of those yoga pants and back into a stylish “work day” outfit is a step toward this new stage of life or a new job. Once you’ve picked the stores, hop in an SUV or two and head out to do your shopping. Shopping with friends is always more fun and maybe you’ll get some helpful ideas from each other. The steps you take to achieve your goal might inspire someone else’s dreams or encourage them not to give up.      

DAY TWO -  NOURISH YOUR BODY

On Day Two, focus on food. Remember that it’s important to nourish your body. Exchange your favorite recipes or get together to do some cooking, canning, or meal prep in somebody’s kitchen. If you’re feeling truly adventurous, hire a local chef to hold a cooking class in your home. If you don’t think your kitchen is suitable, check with Simmer & Soak to see if they have any upcoming cooking classes or talk to them about scheduling one in their kitchen. You can sign up for their newsletter to stay informed at simmerandsoak.com.   

Another fabulous place to try out your culinary chops or get creative with your cooking skills is Golden Isles Olive Oil Wine Bar and Gourmet Market. Donna MacPherson is an unabashed foodie and has brought in talented chefs and culinary experts to teach everything from creating the perfect cheese and charcuterie tray to crockpot cooking to making pickles and French macarons. There’s a Fall Fruit Harvest Cooking class scheduled in September and the calendar will soon fill with other offerings too. GIOO also presents “Ladies Who Lunch” gatherings at various local restaurants, so if you’d rather simply eat the handiwork of others, that’s perfectly fine too. See what culinary events might interest you at goldenislesoliveoil.com.

You could also use this day to indulge in a ladies’ lunch out at a local eatery. There’s no shortage of restaurants serving delicious food in the Golden Isles. As you can see, Sea Palms was eager to share dishes from their newly revamped menu And we were all delighted to try them! Risotto, duck, trout, salmon, and beef were all tasty! You can opt for a casual lunch out by the pool or throw on a little black dress and make it a fancier affair dining inside. The restaurant now also serves a Southern Sunday Buffet that includes mouthwatering fried chicken, catch of the day, chicken and dumplings, traditional sides like macaroni and cheese, squash casserole, collard greens, and more. See menu offerings and learn more at seapalms.com. For reservations, call 912.434.5340.

If an even more casual al fresco dining experience with the girls is more your speed, pack up some sandwiches, or grab some of the chilled spreads, salads and other treats from Southern Soul Barbeque’s cooler, crackers, cheese, fruit, and bakery-fresh bread. Then spread a blanket out under the oaks or on the beach and enjoy a picnic together. For a special treat, you can contact Golden Isles Olive Oil about creating a basket for you. They can take all of the work out of it and provide you with a tasty array of gourmet goodness. 

DAY THREE - ENGAGE YOUR MIND

On Day Three, it’s time to stimulate your brain. Learn something new. Open up your mind. There are so many ways to do this. Start your own mini book club by grabbing the best-seller list or a list of suggested summer reads, choose one of those books to read and discuss together. Darryl and Anne Peck at the new Righton Books in Redfern Village are happy to make suggestions for you and can provide the books. If you haven’t stopped in to check out St. Simons Island’s newest bookstore yet, you definitely should! Beyond books, they have tea, chocolate, pencils, writing journals, and things that most bibliophiles (and nerds) adore. Their huge cookbook selection will delight culinary explorers and chefs alike. The children’s section has more than enough to engage our littlest readers and the ones who still snuggle in our laps as we read to them.  

Obviously if this is your first “camp” session you wouldn’t have had time to read a book to discuss as a group, so use this time to talk about books you’ve read recently and would recommend. If you all participated in one of the Big Read programs, share your thoughts about that book, or discuss a well-known classic or popular title like To Kill a Mockingbird, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, or The Help. Compare the book version versus movie versions of well-known favorites. Add mimosas to the mix, if you’d like!

Of course, a book club discussion isn’t an all day thing (At least for most people!), so this is also a good day to schedule a paint-and-play class or a pottery workshop. Get creative together. Don’t be afraid to try something you’ve never done. Picking up a paintbrush and putting something on canvas with a group of friends is such a fun experience. The only rule here is that you leave your ego at the door. It’s not about the result on the canvas or the wheel, it’s about the experience you have exploring your artistic side with other women who have the courage to do the same. There are several local art studios offering paint-and-play sessions. Glynn Visual Arts and the Pottery Studio also offers group activities and studio time and may be able to host private group events with a little pre-planning.

DAY 4 - ENERGIZE YOUR SOUL

No week of rest and relaxation for moms would be complete without a trip to the spa. It’s important to remember that pampering yourself is not something selfish and decadently indulgent, it’s an important way to equip our body and mind to fight against outside stressors.  We are more resilient and better able to handle stress when we are feeling our best both physically and emotionally. A massage, foot soak, and other forms of pampering revitalize you inside and out. Triggering the body’s relaxation response can prevent chronic stress from damaging your health. Most of us would rather spend our money on time with a massage therapist than paying for doctor’s visits and blood pressure medications. Having a well-cared-for body also contributes to long-term feelings of wellbeing, by making you feel good about yourself and your life, and it also conveys to others that you value yourself. Self-care also helps you be a better caregiver. People who neglect their own needs and forget to nurture themselves are at risk for deeper levels of unhappiness, low self-esteem, and feelings of resentment. Caretakers who don’t include self-care in their regular routine can get burnt out on all the giving, making it more difficult to care for the others who depend on them. So when you treat yourself with a pampering session, you’re not only doing it for you—you’re doing it for them.

So splurge and schedule a group mani-pedi and some massage sessions. Island Day Spa offers a full range of spa treatments ranging from a variety of massage options, body treatments with sugar scrubs and body wraps to manicures and pedicures and salon services. There’s even a “Mom’s Day Out Package” that includes a 60 minute massage (or prenatal), Signature Facial, Essential Pedicure, wash and blow out. You can now book appointments online through their website at theislanddayspa.com.

Another way to pamper yourself is to simply relax by the pool or spend the day at the beach. Whether you grab a poolside cabana or set up a tent in the sand, make sure you have some shade available and a handy stash of water or cold beverages to stay hydrated. Frozen grapes and chunks of watermelon are perfect snacks. Whether you’re lounging on a pool float and catching up on island happenings or seeing if you still have the ability to build a sandcastle, this is girl-time well-spent.

DAY 5 - MAKE TIME TO PLAY

The last day of Moms Day Camp is play time! Remember that life should always include fun and games. Use this day to play a round of golf, or take a golf lesson, if you’ve always wanted to learn how to play or improve your game. Not into golf? Hit the tennis courts together or try out a yoga or spin class. Group motivation may be just what you need to add exercise to your weekly regimen. But it doesn’t have to be about exercise at all. A little friendly competition at The Strike Zone or seeing who gets the highest score at Pinball Palace can take you outside your typical routine and remind you to indulge in some fun.

Another option is to pull out the board games and cards. The way somebody plays Uno or Scrabble can tell you a lot about them. Just don’t go home plotting revenge for those Draw 4 cards! Learn to play bridge or bunco. Pictionary is always good for a laugh too! Jenga drinking games and beer pong are probably better left to weekends when alternate childcare is available, but boys aren’t the only ones allowed to have fun. Heck, you can even learn to shoot or take a quick jaunt out to do some fishing for the day. Head back to the beach again, but this time with paddle boards, or take a kayak tour through the marshes.

If it’s a rainy day and you’re tired of board games, head to the movies. Find a good comedy and kick back with some popcorn. Laughter is good for your soul.

Of course, our Moms’ Day Camp schedule is simply a suggestion for how to keep busy and adjust to having the kids back in school. We just wanted to remind moms that now they can recuperate from their extra “duty” hours in the summer with a little fun of their own. We hope everyone has a great school year, students, teachers, and parents alike.

Thank you to photographer Annaliese Kondo of Studio Pixel Pop for coming out to play on an early sticky summer morning. To Sea Palms Resort and Conference Center for your generous hospitality and providing the lovely setting for our photo shoot, and to Bob Broadus for acting as our gracious concierge. Thank you to the vendors who supplied our clothing and accessories and to our beautiful models, members of the Junior Women’s Association of the Golden Isles, Staci Bennett, Ali Blizzard, Brooke Budd, Carrie Lewis, Lindsay Mosley, and Ryan Smith, as well as our to-the-rescue last minute substitute, Elena Harrison. Thank you to Island Day Spa for letting us capture photos during a session. We appreciate you all!