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0The Full-Contact Sport That Scares Parents: Signing up for Summer Camp
It's the most competitive time of the year for working parents. The end of the school year may be months away but parents are more focused than Swifties on Ticketmaster as they try to stitch together summer schedules for their children.
Because you cannot sleep on camp sign-ups once they open, parents book spots while boarding planes, hiding in the bushes at surprise parties and on the way to funerals.
Mothers in Facebook groups compare it to the "Hunger Games". Lamenting the logistical nightmare, exorbitant costs and strain on working families, they offer tips and tricks for locking in sought-after sessions: Pay attention to countdown clocks. Log in on multiple devices. Assign one adult per child in need of programming.
Despite her careful programming, Moody managed to snag a spot in just four of the seven camp sessions she'd aimed for. And she cried.
"I could not have been more organized," Moody said. "This is insane."
For many parents, planning begins in December, when camps start posting their offerings and families survey friends to align children's schedules. January is for spreadsheets—you'll need first, second, maybe third choices. By February, in many parts of the country, it's go time.
Conspiracy theories are already swirling in local parent groups about tech-savvy caregivers who have figured out how to hack municipal websites and grab spots early. Otherwise, parents ask, how do these camps fill up in minutes?
"It makes me feel like ninja," said Kannenberg, who lives in Chicago's suburbs. 'There are so few moments I've completely nailed in parenthood. This is one of them, and I cling to it."
生词好句
full contact sport 全接触运动，指像美式橄榄球（Football）、综合格斗（MMA）这种身体会有直接、剧烈冲撞的运动，也是美国观众最多、最火爆的运动
working parents 双职工家长
stitch together 拼凑
stitch v. 缝纫，缝补
We managed to stitch together a presentation using data from three different departments.我们勉强把三个不同部门的数据拼凑成了一个 PPT。
sleep on something 忽略，掉以轻心，不着急
sleep on it 考虑一晚再决定
sleep on a mattress 在床垫上睡一晚上
lament 英 [ləˈment] 美 [ləˈment] v. 哀叹
logistical nightmare 统筹噩梦
logistical adj. （物流）统筹的
exorbitant 英 [ɪɡˈzɔːbɪtənt] 美 [ɪɡˈzɔːrbɪtənt] adj. （价格、收费等）过高的，离谱的（unreasonably high）
lock in 锁定
sought-after adj. 想要寻求的，心仪的
a highly sought-after position 一个抢手的职位
programming 英 [ˈprəʊɡræmɪŋ] 美 [ˈproʊɡræmɪŋ] n. （本文）一系列课程和活动规划；计算机编程
snag 英 [snæɡ] 美 [snæɡ] v. （本文）在竞争激烈的情况下，好不容易获得（名额、位置、机会等）；钩住
I managed to snag the last pair of shoes on sale. 我抢到了最后一双减价鞋。
I snagged a meeting with the CEO during the coffee break. 我在茶歇时间，蹭到了一个跟CEO面谈的机会。
conspiracy theory 阴谋论
swirl 英 [swɜːl] 美 [swɜːrl] v. （本文）传播，流传；旋转
leaves swirl on water 叶子在水面上旋转
tech-savvy 英 [ˌtekˈsævi] 美 [ˌtekˈsævi] adj. 精通技术的（尤其专指精通编程、信息技术）
grab 英 [ɡræb] 美 [ɡræb] v. 抢，抓
Ninja 英 [ˈnɪndʒə] 美 [ˈnɪndʒə] n. 忍者
nail 英 [neɪl] 美 [neɪl] v. 完美地搞定，精准地达成，干得漂亮
I nailed it! 我做到了！
