By AUDREY YAEL SMITH | Junior Reporter
I went to sleepaway camp for the first time at seven-years-old. This would have been my fifth summer but, because of COVID-19, my camp—Skylake Yosemite—could not operate. However, I have been trying my best to stay positive and safely enjoy the summer of coronavirus.
I recently went stand-up paddleboarding in Marina Del Rey for the first time. The marina was beautiful, and I was lucky enough to spot some sea lions. I also recently went on a trail ride with my brother at the Westside Riding School in Pacific Palisades. I rode on a chestnut brown horse named Sunset to Inspiration Point. Horseback riding and SUP were two of my favorite sleepaway camp activities that I was able to do safely in LA.
Another activity I loved at Skylake was performing in their plays. This summer, I am looking forward to performing in the Theatre Palisades Youth play—Aladdin—the same play I performed in at my sleepaway camp last summer.
In addition, I have been taking private tennis lessons in the Highlands a couple times a week, meeting friends at the beach, swimming, bike riding, baking cookies and cakes, and reading great books like “Dune,” “Everything, Everything,” “Acceptance: A Novel” and “1984.” I have also been taking Zoom ukulele lessons with Patrick at Amazing Music, Zoom Hebrew tutoring to prepare for my bat mitzvah at Kehillat Israel in the fall, and I joined a Zoom summer book club with a couple of my friends. Next week, I am trying a surfing lesson.
This summer is not at all what I had planned and hoped for, but I am making the best of a tough time while trying to stay safe and healthy.
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