Summer Camp? No Way!

Summer Camp? No Way!

by Gabrielle Reyes

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We're not going to summer camp.

My best friend Jack and I had been listening to Connor and Jai talking about their summer
camp plans on the bus ride home for weeks now. Of course, they would be excited to go to
sports camp. Connor and Jai played soccer in the fall, basketball in winter, and baseball in the
spring. Me, on the other hand? My family doesn't even really watch sports. But I always know
the Yankees are playing when Connor and Jai wear their white and blue striped jerseys to
school.

At least I wasn't the only one in my fifth-grade class who was thrilled to NOT be going to
camp. Jack didn't get the appeal either. Neither of us was interested in sports camp. Playing
baseball just meant standing in the blazing hot sun for nine thousand innings. The swimming
part was okay, but riding in an unairconditioned bus in your wet swimming trunks was the
worst. No, wait, craft camp and making pointless bracelets out of pipe cleaners was the worst!
What the heck is a pipe cleaner anyway?

Instead, Jack and I liked to dream up battles between warriors and plot out how we'd respond
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 Summer Camp? No Way!

if the horrible mythological creature Medusa with her snakes-for-hair came to visit our school.
We wouldn't let her turn us into stone, like she did to so many would-be heroes in Greek
mythology. We'd come up with clever ways to outsmart her.

To Jack and me, that's real fun, and that's the way we planned to have a great summer, filled
with epic battles in the woods behind my house.

But when I got off the school bus, walked in the front door, and grabbed a snack from the
fridge, I overheard my mom on the phone-and I started to panic.

"Yes, I signed Kaz up for the same two weeks," I heard her say. "Yes, July 3rd and July 10th.
He'll be so happy that Jack's going, too!"

I got a funny feeling in my stomach.

"Who were you talking to-and signed up for what?" I asked when she was off the phone.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, Kaz," Mom answered. Then she dropped a huge bomb on me.

"That was Jack's mom," she said. "I've signed you up for summer camp, and Jack's mom did,
too, so he'll be going for the same two weeks. Isn't that great?"

"WHAT? BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO TO SUMMER CAMP!" I screeched.

"Kaz, you know that Lola and Lolo are coming to visit from the Philippines the week right after
school ends," she continued, without a care in the world that she was ruining my life. "After
they leave, you're signed up for a new camp-with Jack!"

How could she do this? Jack's mother knew that he despised summer camp, just like I did.
But before I could explode with even more reasons why I shouldn't go, my mom held out a
hand to stop me.

"It's a new camp and it sounds really cool," she said, pouring me a glass of water. "It has
weekly themes-"

I groaned.

She ignored me: "-about Greek mythology. Instead of making simple crafts, you make things
like your own foam swords and shields. Then there's lots of physical activity with sword-
fighting lessons. And instead of field trips to the zoo, you go on Quests in the woods."

Ohhhhh. Greek mythology? I took a bite of bibingka and chewed thoughtfully. As the sweet

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 Summer Camp? No Way!

coconut cake seeped into my tongue, my mind raced back and forth. Could this summer
camp be... okay? No, no, no way - a summer camp is a summer camp.

As doubtful as I felt, I already knew it wasn't worth trying to fight back against my mom. When
it came down to it, my mother's decisions were stronger than Zeus, king of the gods. There
was nothing I could say or do to change her mind.

Between end-of-school activities and my grandparents' visit, the next few weeks went by in a
blur. Before I knew it, it was the first day of camp.

My dad parked the car and I slowly stepped out onto the dusty dirt. I thought of Connor and
Jai and imagined them running off to start their all-sports-all-the-time summer camp. My own
feet dragged as if I were Atlas carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders as we headed
over to the check-in table. I quietly looked around. Across the grassy field, I saw a group of
kids holding familiar-looking shields made with cardboard and duct tape. They must have
watched the same YouTube video as I did. A couple of kids passed me.

"I'm in Athens and my brother got put in Sparta," I heard a girl say. "Which makes sense since
I'm smarter than him and he just wants to fight me all the time."

I couldn't help but smile knowing exactly what she meant. I said goodbye to my dad and
decided to run the rest of the way to check myself in. My feet flew like they belonged to
Hermes, god of speed. Maybe I'll have an epic summer after all.

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 Name: __________________________________ Date: _______________

1. Before you start reading...

Here are the vocabulary words that will be in this reading. Let's see how well you already know them.

Check the box that shows how well you know each word. It's ok if you don't know them yet (this is not
graded)!

Have heard of it but

Know something
Don't know it not sure of its Know it well
about its meaning
meaning
mythology
theme

2. Word Changer
Words have different forms when we use them in different ways. Write the correct vocabulary word, in
its correct form, in each blank.

Niagwake is a fearful beast of Iroquois .

The of his talk was world peace.

3. After reading and exploring the words through some activities...

Do you know these words better? Check the box that shows how well you know each word. It's ok if
you don't know them yet (this is not graded)!

Have heard of it but

Know something
Don't know it not sure of its Know it well
about its meaning
meaning
mythology
theme

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Vocabulary powered by WordSmyth. © 2024 Wordsmyth. All rights reserved.
 Summer Camp? No Way! - Comprehension Questions

Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

1. How do Jack and Kaz feel about sports camp?

A. Their favorite part is riding the bus in swim trunks.

B. They are not interested in sports camp.
C. They love swimming and playing baseball.
D. They can't wait to go together.

2. How does Kaz describe his idea of a great summer?

A. playing baseball everyday outside with Connor and Jai

B. swimming in the woods behind Jack's house
C. having warrior battles with Jack in the woods behind his house
D. watching videos of how to make simple crafts, like bracelets

3. Kaz's mom's decision to send him to summer camp is unchangeable. What evidence
from the text supports this conclusion?

A. "But when I got off the school bus, walked in the front door, and grabbed a snack from
the fridge, I overheard my mom on the phone-and I started to panic."
B. "How could she do this? Jack's mother knew that he despised summer camp, just like
I did."
C. "'I've signed you up for summer camp, and Jack's mom did, too, so he'll be going for
the same two weeks. Isn't that great?'"
D. "When it came down to it, my mother's decisions were stronger than Zeus, king of the
gods. There was nothing I could say or do to change her mind."

4. How does Kaz feel once he gets to the summer camp and overhears a girl talking
about Athens and Sparta?

A. He doubts he will have any fun at this new camp.

B. He gets excited and runs to check into the camp.
C. He decides he would rather go to sports camp instead.
D. He feels tired and wants to go home with his dad.

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 Summer Camp? No Way! - Comprehension Questions

5. What is one main theme of this story?

A. Teamwork is an important part of playing sports.

B. It is good to keep an open mind about new activities.
C. Parents and children should play together during the summer.
D. Spending time outside is good for your mind and body.

6. Read the following sentences from the text.

"How could she do this? Jack's mother knew that he despised summer camp, just
like I did. But before I could explode with even more reasons why I shouldn't go, my
mom held out a hand to stop me."

As used in this excerpt, what does the word "despised" most closely mean?

A. enjoyed
B. hated
C. understood
D. preferred

7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

________, Kaz drags his feet when he gets to Greek Mythology camp. But then, he
gets excited and runs the rest of the way to check himself in.

A. At first
B. But
C. Soon
D. However

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 Summer Camp? No Way! - Comprehension Questions

8. What does Kaz realize about the shields the group of kids at summer camp are
holding?

9. What helps Kaz change his mind about summer camp? Use evidence from the text to
support your answer.

10. What could Kaz do differently the next time he thinks he isn't going to like a new
activity?

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