Summer camp is a time-honored tradition, rich with activities, newfound friendships and a lifetime of memories. Explore a few ways to make your child’s camp experience smooth sailing from start to finish.
S’more Than Just Fun
According to the RAND Corporation, a non-pro t research organization, children who participate in summer programs, like experiential learning activ- ities o ered in an organized camp, are less likely to experience a signi cant summer learning slide.
Camp also enhances a child’s physical and emotional well-being. Activities build social skills, teamwork, and independence, which all contribute to stronger self-confidence and leadership abilities.
“I often hear from parents how amazed they are when their children return home a er spending time at camp, about how they seem older and more mature,” says Doug Berkel, senior program director of Youth Development Services with the Kansas City YMCA.
Avoid Camp Run Amok
First, together with your child, decide what skills you want your child to gain and choose a camp that ts her needs and interests, as well as your family’s values.
Check out safety guidelines in the camp’s parent handbook. Look for overnight camps accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). “ACA standards are the most universal and well-known standards adopted by most camps to ensure a quality and safe program,” Berkel says.
Day and specialty camps should carry a current state childcare license. Additionally, sta should be trained in emergency, communication and safety procedures, behavior management techniques (including handling the common bout of homesick- ness), and child abuse prevention.
Camp Sunshine
Day camps are a practical way to introduce children, ages 5 to 12, to the camp experience. Most center on a theme, such as sports, science, nature, technology and the arts.
Ann Bowley says that when her stepson, Trevor, was younger, he enjoyed planning out the day camps he wanted to attend each summer. However, as her son got older he grew more apprehensive about starting over with a new group of kids each week.
“We talked to him about it and he never changed his plans. We just looked for school mates that might be in camp with him to help him be more comfort- able,” she says.
Camp Ability
Specialty camps center around one activity such as music, art, sports or science. ese camps provide children the space to further explore and develop a skill that interests them.
“Some specialty camps run partial days and that could be a nice addition to a regular day camp,” Berkel says.
Camp Starlight
Overnight camps, typically in an outdoor setting, can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks and are generally o ered for children ages 7 and up. If you aren’t sure your child is ready, allow him to spend the night at friends’ houses occasionally. Or, as Berkel suggests, take advantage of a weekend family camping opportunity, usually o ered in the fall and spring to familiarize campers and their families with the facilities and staff.
Conquer Camp Blues
Preparation and an awareness of what to expect can ease the transition from home to camp. Before your child departs, go over a list of everything she will need. Pack a physical connection to home like a favorite sleeping bag, stu ed animal or pillow.
Also, mail a card ahead of time to ensure it arrives while camp is in session. Tell your child how you look forward to hearing her camp stories, but avoid saying how much you miss her which can trigger homesickness and worry.
Fourteen-year veteran Boy Scout leader, soccer coach and father of eight, John Whiteside, is a camping pro. Over the years, he and his children have participated in multiple camps, including sports, band and weeklong scout camps.
Initial nervousness isn’t unusual. If your child asks to come home, Whiteside says to consider the situation, but to encourage him to discuss his anxieties with the camp counselor and take it one day at a time. “Tell him ‘Yes, today was hard, but I think it will be better tomorrow’ and usually tomorrow is better,” he says.
While your child may struggle at first, chances are he’ll come home a happy camper with a heightened sense of self-con dence, memorable stories and a passel of new friends to boot.
Freelance writer Christa Melnyk Hines and her husband are the parents of two boys. Christa is the author of Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World.
The Facts
- More than 10 million American children will participate in camp this summer.
- More than 95 percent of campers experience occasional homesickness.
- Nearly 75 percent of campers try new activities that they were initially afraid to do.
Source: American Camp Association
