Corn Mazes on LI

Colleges and Universities A-Z Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point
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<p>We're visiting our MIDN late October, before he goes on his first sea rotation... it would be fun to go to a corn maze... I "googled" corn mazes on LI and it looks like there is one on every block! We only have one in Reno, so it's a "no brainer" ... any suggestions on a "must do/shouldn't miss it" corn maze?</p>

<p>Also, I tried to look up October activities on LI and could only get a 2007 schedule... any suggestions where I could go to get a current schedule of events on LI?</p>

<p>We are also open to any other suggestions of "things to do".... and I'm sure if he wants to go into the city we will. We will have a car, so we are open to anything that's a day trip.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>is this some sort of joke? your kid is probably 18 or 19 and you are taking him to corn mazes? i hope you realize that it might not be such a "wholesome" idea to do that considering your child is about to go binge drinking and whoring at some really shady places overseas. i know you are saying "not my little baby" but I guarantee he will end up in one. where do you think the rest of the crew goes out to? church? i don't think so</p>

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<p>Well now then USMMA09...just because you perhaps went "binge drinking and whoring at some really shady places overseas," does not mean that everyone has your value system....Grow up and realize that there are some Mids at KP who actually do have morals and can find pleasure in other activities.</p>

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<p>Actually, USMMA2009 brings up an important topic. How do Mids cope in situations overseas when the rest of the crew goes out to these type of places? I too hope that we have instilled certain values into our child. But how difficult is it for them when they are alone on these ships? I would like to hear what the Mids and alums have to say.</p>

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<p>Whoa there kpmam. Be careful what you ask for. Are we asking about those cadets that choose to stay on board or go to church, or do you want the whole gritty truth. As I've told our mid, tell me 70% of your sea stories, but only tell your mom 50%. Parents ----- you don't have to know everything.</p>

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<p>St Crispian, you misread me. I'm not asking to know what they do if they decide not to go to "Church" - I'm not naive. My question is: Are there choices or do the mids feel pressured to do what they don't want to do? How do some mids manage?</p>

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<p>Great topic for a new thread, don't you think?
After all, I'm losing the connection with the Corn Maze thing.
PS. If I'm going to the Corn Maze, I'm taking the plebe I saw in that video "opening" the locked door where the handle had fallen off the other side...
Ka-WHAMMMM.
I GUARANTEE I'll be the first one out... ok, the SECOND one out!</p>

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<p>It is my understanding that they go to sea in pairs. One deck and one engineer, you have some say with whom you go to sea with and hopefully someone that will share your beliefs.</p>

<p>It is good to see the CFC, bible studies, cookie cafe, retreat over Labor Day and attending chapel. All of these activities will help one to identify whom would be a good partner at sea.</p>

<p>You have to have confidence in your plebe/midshipman.</p>

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<p>KP Based on the stories I have heard from several of my 3c Mid friends, they handle the situations very well. It is time to let go and understand the profession your "adult child" has selected. They will grow up fast and see things we could only dream of seeing. They will drink, they will smoke cigars and yes they will get drunk. In the end, they are smart enough to handle any problem that arises. This includes things that happen in New York City, Great Neck and overseas!</p>

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<p>How a MIDN acts is up to the MIDN in question. We are exposed to a lot of situations that can be considered morally challenging. For instance I've been exposed to a lot of situations involving alcohol but i partake d in moderation and had a good time. Generally the MIDS do get introduced to "whore houses" since generally its tradition to get the Cadet laid, but again this is something that no one is going to force u to do. Its all up to ur son or daughter. As for church, on my ships i had sea partners that were generally religious like myself and we went to church when we were in various naval bases. ultimately the choices the MIDN makes is all his/her own. Just trust that u raised them right.</p>

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<p>"USMMA2009 is this some sort of joke? your kid is probably 18 or 19 and you are taking him to corn mazes? i hope you realize that it might not be such a "wholesome" idea to do that considering your child is about to go binge drinking and whoring at some really shady places overseas. i know you are saying "not my little baby" but I guarantee he will end up in one. where do you think the rest of the crew goes out to? church? i don't think so"</p>

<p>Dear USMMA2009,</p>

<p>This is not a joke. What you fail to understand is that our family has made a tradition out of enjoying the "simple" things in life, regardless of age and our familys' age ranges from 20-70+ years old. We enjoy the moment & the season but what is most important... we are together as family, no matter what we do.</p>

<p>As for you "tangent".... about those other things... we "raised our boy up right," (no different than any other parent that has a kid at an academy) & yes, he's free to choose... we have faith in our son that he will make choices that he will not regret later in life... it's his life... only he can live it.</p>

<p>Your welcome to come along with us to a corn maze... they can be very challenging & educational.... and then after the corn maze, hummmm.... maybe a walk on the beach or "goofy golf" or.... maybe we'll have ice cream for dinner that night.... </p>

<p>It's all about living life & that's what we do...</p>

<p>Thanks again for your input...</p>

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<p>the parents and the kids who haven't been out to sea are so ignorant it is hilarious. many, if not all, have zero idea about the type of people and "activities" you encounter at sea its funny. yeah, do you think your son is gonna mention how the chief mate took him to a whorehouse, got blackout drunk, then slept with a hooker? i have personally witnessed a devout churchgoer and CFC allstar have his way with a girl at the 4 floors of whores in singapore, so don't pretend it can't be your son. merchant mariners are some of the most vile and foul creatures i have ever met, and what the majority of them enjoy doing is drinking and whoring. this is part of the package that comes with being a merchant mariner; you will be exposed to it whether you like it or not. sorry, but there is no bible study or CFC or someone to bake you cookies thursday night when you are feeling sad or had a hard day.</p>

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<p>USMMA09... I find it so funny that at the tender age of what...24 maybe...you profess to know what we parent's know and don't know about life. I hate to break it to you but ports of call are not the only places vile things happen. It's true no matter where you go in the world you may be exposed to horribly vile things, but at the end of the day it is how you handle yourself through these trials that make you a man or woman of good character. Maybe you needed a little more walking in the maze and eating cookies at the end of the day.</p>

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<p>I'm going to have to agree with USMMA2009 on this one, unless the parents are or were sea going merchant mariners they do not know what sea is really like they just know from stories that are selected to be told to them. In the end its up to your son or daughter to do certain activities while in port. If they only leave the ship to go to church or if they go in every whorehouse in a port it shouldn't matter because at the end of the day they are still your child and what they did overseas doesn't change that.</p>

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<p>"...you profess to know what we parent's know and don't know about life"</p>

<p>thats not at all what I said. i was referring to the maritime industry, something that I probably know more about than you. stick to what you know; just because you are the parent of a 3/c who hasn't been out to sea yet, it hardly makes you knowledgeable in the subject</p>

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<p>I am never going to have a username that ends in a '9'... seems to have an effect on tone. :D</p>

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<p>yeah zonk...however, I refuse to use the referral to this one that was made to the other one...even if it's the truth.</p>

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<p>Just a little video about moral choices which was on national news. Interesting</a> from American Idol Winner -- FOXNews.com</p>

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<p>Morals and ethics are wonderful, and it would be assumed that if you raised your child to the best of your ability, they would indeed have those instilled well and appropriately. That said, we have all, since we are human, fallen off the proverbial road from time to time. We get back up and dust ourselves off and promise to be better in the future.</p>

<p>As the mom of a 3/c A-splitter and one who knows nothing of life at sea, I sat mine down this past summer and had what I felt was an even more important conversation. HEALTH AND SAFETY!!!! If they are not safe, i.e., binge drinking and whoring around, they will not get to the part where they can pick themselves and dust themselves off and promise to be better in the future. Wake up parents!!! These are young, robust, men and women in the prime of their lives!!!!! You need to talk to them!!! Disease in many of these countries is rampant and they need to learn how to protect themselves so they can make it to the next port. (Just for the record I'm not talking about just wearing appropriate protection!) How about blood borne exposure, malaria, dehngi fever!!!! HELLO???????</p>

<p>Is anybody getting this?</p>

<p>One last thing, what does this have to do with corn mazes?</p>

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<p>What an interesting switch from a loving Mom looking for something interesting to do in NY with her family. Then it went to a senior (09) who is the "expert" on what happens at sea. It appears that he thinks everyone is drinking and going to whore houses, or they are going to church in port. Those appear to be the options. I wonder how we have so many wonderful pictures, from all over the world, of the places my husband and son saw sightseeing while sailing?</p>

<p>My husband is a professional mariner, sailed for a number of years, is still in the maritime world, and had one year of sea time during his KP student years just like USMMA2009. My son also is a mariner and a graduate of KP. Yes, things can be tough out there, and yes there is the challenge to get the students drunk and "laid", but that does not have to happen. The midshipman chooses his direction and makes his choices. It's easier if they have been loved and well trained at home, but a spiritual base and support gives them added strength and will power.</p>

<p>I was interested in the comment about the chapel program and Cookie Cafe, let me paste it here:</p>

<p>"merchant mariners are some of the most vile and foul creatures i have ever met, and what the majority of them enjoy doing is drinking and whoring. this is part of the package that comes with being a merchant mariner; you will be exposed to it whether you like it or not. sorry, but there is no bible study or CFC or someone to bake you cookies thursday night when you are feeling sad or had a hard day."</p>

<p>USMMA2009 I am in charge of Cookie Cafe and bake cookies for 300 students a week (along with help from parents). I also lead the Band of Sisters Study, and my husband leads the Bible Class. As volunteers, in the month of August, we donated 260+ hours to the midshipmen. We are doing this to help the students. We can't be out at sea with them, but we know the world out there, we know the pitfalls, and we also know that it's possible to have a wonderful experience out at sea with no regrets. For each new group that goes to sea we hold a seminar, so the upperclassmen can share their experiences and give advice. My husband shares some pointers, as a mariner who had midshipmen on his ships. It has worked out really well, in giving the midshipmen guidance and guidelines on how to avoid the pitfalls. The students come back with good reports. </p>

<p>So, USMMA2009, I will bake a dozen choc chip cookies just for you, and I invite you to continue this conversation on Thursday at Cookie Cafe. I would love to meet you.</p>