June 2018 Summer Camp is a blast for the Kids!

Author: Christi Cline
Editor: Jessica Lister

In case you haven't heard, Pyeongtaek Youth Rock!

Earlier this year I had heard about a couple different camps being offered. As a mother of four, who is deeply invested in their children’s well-being, I was worried about what kind of experience was offered. I also worried if my kids would be safe. I talked to the parents of the kids who attended last year’s camps and found that the Pyeongtaek Youth Center group received consistently high praise. One parent said it was one of the most memorable moments of their time in Korea. In my heart, I believe kids need good opportunities and challenges to develop and grow, and this camp sounded like the right kind of opportunity. I signed them up and crossed my fingers that I was doing the right thing. After all, it does no good to live life as a worry rat. But for good measure, I volunteered to attend as a camp counselor. You know, so I could see for myself what really goes on at camp. 

Let's go to camp!

The day came to pack our bags and get on the bus. My twin daughters were excited to attend their first camp. I was anxious because I wanted to do my part to help make camp an enjoyable experience for everyone. I would soon learn I had nothing to worry about. Our first event was the rope course. I don’t know what I was thinking when I agreed to join the difficult level course. I kind of consider myself out of shape. I seriously started to rethink my choices and wonder if the kid I saw who stayed on the ground was the smart one. But then I was hooked in and it was time to start. It was too late to run away. I may or may not have screamed a time or two, but I did the course and found myself enjoying it! 

Our adventure continued with no thought of slowing down! 

Take a look at this video to see some of the fun stuff we were up to!

I have no clue how some of the kids still had the energy to stay up until midnight giggling and playing games. I consider myself a night owl and I was ready to hit the sack. When it was time to say goodbye I thought it was pretty cool that the kids could take home pictures of their camp experience!

I admit that I am a little sad that our fun has come to an end! 

It was a memorable experience but more importantly, I discovered the truth about the Pyeongtaek Youth Center. As a parent, I can say confidently that your kids are in good hands. I was able to see first hand the counselors treating the kids fairly and with kindness. As a volunteer, I was able to see the leaders and counselors in action working hard to make this a good experience for the kids. Their efforts showed they truly care about the community. The theme of this camp is "Better Life in Harmony" and I think that sums it up nicely. Because of this, I look forward to helping out at the next camp! If you have kids that are interested in this kind of experience, then you don't want your kids missing out on the next one!

Mark your calendars! The next one is in August and you can sign up HERE!

Pyeongtaek Local News reports https://blog.naver.com/seo8587/221306224836

News & News reports https://blog.naver.com/newsnnewsn/221296269601

Kilhoilbo reports http://www.kihoilbo.co.kr/?mod=news&act=articleView&idxno=757126

Outdoor Pools Open in Pyeongtaek July & August

We have already told out about the splash pads that will be opening in August (read that here) but did you know there will be outdoor pools opening up soon as well? These are fab and fun places to connect with the local community while cooling off from the oppressive heat. Remember, these are very Korean outdoor spaces so following local customs is very important and doable. No reason to be scared, but be prepared.

Culture Notes
In order to have the most fun possible, be sure to read the South of Seoul Culture Notes that are embedded in each listing. These are useful tips we have compiled based on the surprises we have experienced. If you have a tip to add to the list just let us know! The more prepared everyone is when they arrive, the more fun we can all experience when integrating into the local culture.

However, with this blog, we are going to take this to the next level and tell you a few more things you need to know in order to have the most fun and relaxed time possible your first day out. Here they are! Our 5 Extra Pro Tips:

1. When you try something new you are going to feel uncomfortable and this will be no exception. However, don't worry about it. Once you get the hang of it that feeling will go away. It's true that people might stare. Foreigners haven't known about these places until now. Not because we aren't welcome, but because information hasn't been available in English. This means all the locals are sitting there wondering, "How did they find this pool out in the countryside?" Don't worry, nobody hates you. Just go about your business of having fun in the sun.

2. It's going to be packed so politely squeeze in. For the best results show up early and stake your space with the cool picnic tents and mats from Daiso or Emart. There aren't that many pools, but there are a lot of people and they like their outdoor supplies. If you are freaked out by this then maybe outdoor pools aren't the right experience for you. That is ok. Know your limits. On the other hand, if you can deal with the experience it can be emotionally uplifting and help you feel more welcome and integrated into the community. We personally love it. We bring all our food, a tent for naps, and splash around like fools.

3. These pools aren't like the ones at home. They are usually waist deep, there aren't diving board or any other type of fanciness. These are old-fashioned, sometimes also just old, outdoor play areas for families to escape the heat. You aren't going to be swimming laps or diving for pennies. They are built for splashing and being silly together. Truly excellent places for kids. Think giant puddles and embrace it.

4. Go check out opening times as a test run. Before you pack up the kids for a pool day do a test run. Go find out for sure the days and times it's open (these can change from year to year). There is also a chance you could get lost going to these pools for the first time, so do a trial run before there are 3 kids in the car screaming they want to be in the pool. We ALWAYS recommend doing a trial run for any adventure.

5. Bring your own snacks and mat/tent to eat them on/in. In Korea food is almost always available but maybe it doesn't match with your dietary requirements or preferences. In order to avoid being hot and hangry, bring snacks. Also bring a mat/tent to lay claim to your dining and napping area.

That's it! Those are all the helpful ideas we can think of right now. Hopefully, these extra tips combined with the tips in the app will empower you to show up prepared for a wet and fun adventure with friends or family. We know we always feel better the more information we have before we try something for the first time. Good luck and happy splashing. With no further ado, here are the outdoor pools we've found for you:

Easiest for Osan Air For Base Access...

Jinwee Countryside

(Kid and Family Focused)

Jinwee Countryside

(Good for adults and kids)

3 Easiest for Camp Humphreys Access...

Anjung Countryside

(Great for adults and kids)

Dunpo, Asan

(Great for adults and families. Very limited space. Maybe need a reservation?)

Asan North Countryside

(The pools is for kids, but the park is for everyone.)

As always, the exact details of each listing is in the South of Seoul app which can be downloaded from Google Play and the Apple App Store.

Pyeongtaek Splash Pads Open July & August

Once summer hits we are all looking for ways to beat the heat. One of the most enjoyable ways to fend off the intrusive rising temps is to visit one of the various splash pads installed around the area. We have tracked down five of our favorites and added them to the app. These aren't the only ones in town. There is also one at Pyeongtek lake, another in Seosabol, and a third near Pyeongtaek University. Someday we will get those entered. For now, these are the 5 we have focused on. To find them just put Splash Pads into the Pyeongtaek "search" like this:

These lovely havens from heat only operate in July and August and have a set schedule throughout the day. For a few of the ones listed in the app, we have even figured out what these times and dates are and posted them. We don't have the schedules for all of them because they weren't available at the time. The schedules look like this:

Also, and this is a big one, we have included Cultural Notes in each splash pad listing so you can better understand the social rules associated with splash pads and don't get caught off guard. Knowing what's expected ahead of time will help you feel more comfortable and have a stress free playtime:

Now that we have you oriented to how the place pad listings work, let's take a quick look at our five picks and what neighborhoods they are in:

Anjung

Pyeongtaek City

(Great for adults and kids)

Countryside West

Ichung

(Great for adults and kids)

An area in east Pyeongtaek

You can find the addresses and waze pins for each of these listings in the South of Seoul app which can be downloaded from Google Play or Apple App Store. We aren't trying to be jerks, we just can't keep up on information in two areas. Keeping all the information in the app helps us stay more accurate. We hope you have an awesome time out exploring the neighborhoods and play in the summer sun. 

5 Water Parks to Cut the Heat this Summer

Summer is just around the corner and things are going to be seriously heating up. If you are like me you are going to be looking for some fun ways to cool off. This year my plan is to mix it up a bit. 

For the last five years I've had the habit of going to the beach, but I think it's time I tried new things so I've made a list of Korea's water park/spa hotels and I'm going to try to see them all. So grab your pool noodles, pack up the kids, and let's go get wet.

Here are my five top-tier choices for a summer of water slides and lazy rivers. Just click on the links for their MollaKorea listings. Sorry it's click through. Once I get to them I'll write all kinds of info about them:

1. Tendin Waterpark & Spa Cheonan

   

2. Spa Valley Daegu

3. Waterpia Water Park Sokcho

4. Vivaldi Ocean World Water Park

5. Gimhae Lotte Water Park Busan