Mayfair Clubs: Parent Interview with Michelle Kim

Watch our Parent interview with Michelle Kim to hear firsthand what children experience and how they grow at Mayfair Clubs.

Transcript of the interview

What’s unique about the program at Mayfair Clubs camp that made you want to enroll your children there?

The instructors are the number one unique point of joining Mayfair Lakeshore Tennis Camp or Splash and Laugh Camp. Very professional yet super friendly. So it makes my children want to go there and participate in the program. All three of them have been participating in the program for the last couple of years. My oldest one is nine, and she's been doing it since she was four.

They have different camps. The two camps that we usually join are tennis camp and Splash and Laugh Camp. But even if you join the tennis camp, you will have one hour of swimming. So they play tennis in the morning, and then they do swimming in the afternoon, and then they're usually very tired when they come home.

How was your children's first experience with camp?

The last time for the March break, I wanted to register for Mayfair Tennis Camp for my kids, but I was too late. So instead of going to Lakeshore, we decided to go to Mayfair West. So they did their tennis camp at Mayfair West. I was actually worried because my kids are very familiar with the instructors at Lakeshore, not at West. But I think I was just worrying too much because they enjoyed it more.

By the second and third day, they were talking about the instructors all the time: how nice they were, how friendly they were, and how they helped them. Because my youngest one just turned five, he needs some help getting changed to do swimming, and then I never really have to worry. I just drop them off in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon.

Going through COVID, they had a very good system with the drop-off and then pickup, so it made it less contact with other people, which kind of assured me and then made me feel more comfortable with how careful they are with COVID protocols.

How did you know that Mayfair Clubs camp was the right fit?

My kids felt comfortable with the people, not just the instructors, but the other staff at Mayfair Clubs camps. So I just knew right away that it would be the right fit for my kids.

I did send them to different programs, like sailing camps and different programs. They did take a little longer time to cope with a new environment. But at Mayfair Lakeshore, they feel pretty comfortable. It's like their second home.

I knew from when they were around four, they were going to be okay. I know the program and I know the instructors, and then I trust the instructors.

Was there any change or noticeable personal growth you saw in your children after time at Mayfair Clubs camp?

There were a few changes in each of my children. My oldest one was trying to help other kids get changed and then waiting for them. And she does have two siblings that she had to look after, so she became more responsible, which I was very proud of.

My second one is always the kid who has to watch behind everybody and is kind of shy to approach anybody. But after a couple of those camps, she couldn't wait to go and make new friends. There was a big change in her. So whenever she comes home from the camp, "Mommy, I met this friend, and then can we have a playdate?" Which she never really did before.

How can a parent support their child to get the most out of Mayfair Clubs camp?

Mentally prepare your kids. Before, explain to your kids what to expect. So from this time to this time, you guys are going to have tennis lessons. And then from this time to this time, you're going to have lunch. And then you can choose the lunch you want, from mac and cheese to chicken fingers and fries, which my son loves.

I think basically making your kids prepared and letting your kids know what to expect. Make sure that they know they will be picked up all the time. And then if they need help, give kids the instructor's name, like, ask this instructor for help and he or she will always help you, and then make them feel secure.

What do your children say about Mayfair Clubs camp?

Two main things. Number one is about the program, how they get to learn how to play tennis. My second one, she wasn't interested in playing tennis, but now she's getting there because she gets encouraged by the instructor. So I constantly hear her saying, "Through this camp, I learned how to do backhand, I learned how to do volley."

Also, other social skills. "I made this friend, Mommy. We played this, we played this game. And then I made this friend, and she was from this country, and then she was able to speak Spanish." So just those small little tiny conversations that my children have with their peers in the camp and with the instructors, of course, make them think.

Also, they can order chocolate milk too. That's a big thing too. "I get to order chocolate milk with my lunch," right? So that's something that they always talk about.

Any final thoughts on Mayfair Clubs camp?

Once you go to Mayfair Camp, you will never go back to any other camp. You can trust the people there, not just the instructors but the staff. Everybody's very friendly, so it's very worth trying.

So far with my children, they've done so many different things, they've learned a lot, they've had a great time with their friends and instructors. On top of that, they're slowly learning some tennis skills and swimming skills, so I am very happy with it.