My daughter, Anna, has been very fortunate to partake in some fabulous summer camps during these last years.  At camp she was able to pursue her interests in the arts, starting with an art focused camp in Maine, progressing to a summer art program at a boarding school in Vermont, and ending up with a pre-college program at an art school outside of Boston.   She loved being with other like-minded students who were also incredibly creative.  She gained a better understanding of the art world, and this has helped to guide her in finding a college with a strong arts and communication department. Thanks to her summer program experiences, what began as a hobby has become a passion.  A number of the figure drawings she did during the summer helped to strengthen the portfolio that she submitted to college art departments and admissions offices.  Last summer’s graphic design and illustration courses gave Anna insight to a field that she would like to continue in college and beyond.

Not only has my daughter been able to pursue her art interests during summer camps, but she has also become a more independent and free thinking young lady.  Being away from home, making her own decisions, and owning those decisions, has helped Anna to mature and become a more confidant person.  The benefits of living with peers from different backgrounds, whether in a tent, a cabin, or a dorm are evident.  I have no doubt that Anna’s transition to dorm living in college will be much easier than if she had never been away from home and not had the experiences of dealing with roommates and house mates on a day-to-day basis.  These last five summers, Anna has had the opportunity to live with peers from the states of Maine, Vermont, Missouri, Illinois, California as well as countries as far away as Turkey, Italy, Thailand and Saudi Arabia to name a few.  With facebook and skype it’s easy for her to keep in touch with the diverse group of friends she has made during summer camp.

Wherever your child’s interests lie, whether it be cooking, computers, medicine, law, foreign languages, dance, or graphic design, they can be explored in enrichment programs designed especially for teenagers.  And who knows?  Maybe your child’s interests will become a passion that will help them to gain a clearer understanding of what they might want to pursue in college and beyond

Even among the traditional camps, there are subtle differences that make them unique and a better fit for one child over another. That is why, as an advisor, speaking with a parent is critical in helping me to determine good fits for my clients. You know your child better than anyone and if you can communicate to me their strengths and interests, I can give you several options that will work. With so many summer choices, I can save you time and protect your summer camp investment by narrowing down your choices. Anyone with distracted or lethargic teenagers knows that too many choices will not help them make a decision. Often they need to be pushed to step outside their comfort zones (leave their cell phones and friends behind) and explore places and interests that will allow them to grow as individuals. Whether it’s learning more about an interest they might want to pursue in college by taking an academic/enrichment class or seeing how people live in different parts of the world and the challenges other cultures face, they will come away with a greater sense of self. My goal for your family is that you will be pleased with the happy child you greet at the end of their summer experience.

As a camp advisor, I have access to, and relations with hundreds of incredible summer overnight programs. The programs that I represent are carefully screened, I know the directors, and I am familiar with the culture of each and every one.   You’d think with all the amazing summer camps and trips out there, my daughter would be chomping at the bit to take part this summer, right?  No, not really…  She is completely immersed in her schoolwork, sports and extra curricular activities, not to mention the college decision-making process that is happening right now.  My daughter, a senior in high school, isn’t ready to think about summer plans yet.  I think she just wants to get through the semester, graduate, and then take a deep breath.

But I however, am doing behind the scenes research for her on the most meaningful and fun summer program that I think she would love.   The summer trip is going to be a graduation gift to her, a reward for her work well done, and a celebration of all her achievements in high school.   She mentioned traveling to Fiji or Australia at one of our dinner conversations.  She also likes the idea of doing meaningful community service with families struggling after the hurricane.    Or she could join a leadership expedition specifically for graduating seniors, and earn her Wilderness First Responder certification in Colorado.  Whether we decide on a two or four week trip, I know once she goes she will love it, meet interesting kids, see amazing sights, and have incredible experiences that she will remember for a lifetime.

Overnight programming in the summer is so valuable.   Whether your child is 8 years old, and is a first time camper; or he is 18 years old and is a graduating senior, the lessons learned and the experiences gained can be life changing.  Independence, self-esteem, and confidence all come to my mind when thinking about the value of sleep away summer camp.  I know that my children have benefited from the fact their mom is a summer camp advisor.  They are lucky to have taken part in amazing overnight camps and programs these last six years, and I am grateful for the personal growth they have made as a result of their overnight camp experiences.

As parents start thinking about sending their children off to summer camp in the next few months, concerns of camp safety may be looming in the background.  Parents may be thinking:  what can I do to make sure my child is safe?

No matter what age your child is or what kind of camp you send them to (overnight camp; or if they are older, an outdoor adventure program, community service or language immersion program, teen tour or to a college campus program) I’ve always believed it’s a good idea to send them off with a little safety talk.  Whether they are 8 or 18, it never hurts to remind them to make smart decisions and to always keep their personal safety in mind.

Listed below are a few camp questions that parents can ask ahead of time to alleviate some of their concerns:

What is the staff/camper ratio?

Who are the counselors?  How are they screened and chosen?  What is their training?

Who administers first aid and where are they located?  Is there medical staff on site to take care of cuts, bruises and any sickness that may arise?

Who drives the campers if they go off the camp premises?

What kind of vehicle is used?  How many campers in each vehicle?

Knowing you have done all you can to assure a safe and productive summer experience for your child will allow you to enjoy this time away from them more fully.

CHORES: At a summer sleep away camp or teen program your child made beds, swept floors, bussed tables, and, yes, even cleaned the toilets!  This is a golden opportunity! Parents should evaluate whether these kinds of responsibilities should be continued at home.  At an overnight summer program, these chores are actually fun!

UNPLUG: Summer camp has also forced many students to “unplug” – to talk to people directly rather than in 140 character segments. They also have had the opportunity to do without certain creature comforts – little access to TV or video games. Perhaps this is a good time to encourage face-to-face communication and discourage reliance on electronic devices.

DIET: Many campers have done with less sugary snacks and unlimited access to food.  Most summer camps or teen summer programs promote healthy choices (still with treats and snacks). This is something that parents may want to consider continuing during the school year.

OUTDOORS: By definition, campers spend a great amount of time outdoors learning new sports to play, hiking, swimming, playing basketball or even doing art and other summer activities. Research has shown that when kids spend a great deal of time indoors they tend to exercise less and become disconnected from nature and the environment.  Being outdoors sets the stage for increased physical activity, which can result in reducing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, asthma, osteoporosis and other physical maladies.

It is easy to fall back to old habits. However, it may be worth trying to continue some of what a child learns at summer camp or other kind of summer program to his or her home routine. It will become obvious that a summer program provides so much more than just a vacation.

For over a decade I have helped countless families find the right teen program or overnight summer camp. For over 40 years Tips on Trips and Camps has helped families through the process (without a blog) by asking specific questions and giving parents the information they need to make an informed decision. I have always told parents that summer programming allows children to try new things and have new and challenging experiences. It provides the foundation for growth.

That is exactly what this blog is doing to me. It is forcing me to step outside my comfort zone and try something new. It feels good. This is the same benefit one gets from a summer experience.  It does not matter if it is hiking, canoeing, doing theater, service, or an internship……..it feels good to try. It feels good to stretch one’s limits. It feels good to know you can do things for yourself. It feels good to try to write a blog.

One of the best compliments an advisor can receive is when they find a camp or program for a student that makes an impact on his or her life.  Sometimes it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience; other times the student returns year after year.

David, one of my clients from a few years ago, wrote the following to describe just such an experience: 

After attending a traditional boys sports camp for a few years, I wanted something broader. My mom turned to Jill with Tips on Trips and Camps and she understood exactly what I was looking for and guided me in making summer choices that greatly enriched my life.  

I went from full summers at a sports camp, to divided summers between sports and sailing in the Caribbean and finally to a rather extraordinary farm in Pennsylvania.  

At the end of 9th grade Jill made an unusual recommendation for a kid on the Westside of LA: a working farm in rural Pennsylvania that by focusing on leadership skills and communication creates a community of teenagers thought to think and be responsible for themselves — in addition to having a fun summer experience of living and working a farm.  It was a life changing experience for me! 

My experiences from each summer determined my college major, my junior year abroad and my interest in Agriculture.  The staff of this summer program, of which I’m now a member as Summer Program Director, is a close second family to me.  I consider myself very lucky that each program that Jill recommended to me, in its own way, contributed to my growth as a person.

Outcomes like this are extremely satisfying!  I look forward to many more years of helping families find what I always hope to be the right summer camp or program for their child!

There are quite a few options to explore: academic studies on a college campus, teen tours, wilderness adventures, sailing, language immersion, internships and more. Although different in purpose and content, all the experiences share some common characteristics exploring different levels of independence and challenging a child’s decision-making skills.

Your child now becomes part of the decision-making process when taking part in group decisions – it may not go their way.

They have an opportunity to make personal choices – do I go here or there, do this or that, or do I go with my friends.

Keeping track of personal belongings, especially if they are traveling, is a challenge. No one is picking up after them.

Learning the tricks of doing laundry is eye opening. For many, this is the first time they may realize that clothes don’t come out of the machine folded!

Keeping a budget for the duration of the trip often initiates the question, “ Do I really need that? Will I have money left for……”

Confronting social dilemmas if they arise, and deciding on behavioral choices that may or may not be popular is a huge challenge.  The social decision making component is often a life changer. Sometimes mistakes are made and consequences follow. In other situations, teens learn about themselves and their convictions carving out their personality and molding their values.

Whatever the experience, whether glitz and glam or rugged to the bone, all situations offer the opportunity for your child to take on responsibility and challenge their decision making skills….. all while having a great time!

Since February is the month of “Love”.  I decided to tell you all the things we love about being your summer advisor.

We love meeting you and your children and hearing about what you “love” and want to do this summer.

We love hearing your feedback, even before you choose a sleep away camp.  What was your initial impression of the dvd/brochure?  What type of conversation did you have with the director?  How was  your site visit?

We love introducing you to other families that already have children at the camps you are considering.  Who knows –maybe a lifelong friendship could be in the works.

We love being able to provide you with a free camp fair in order to meet directors and see all the choices of traditional summer camps as well as specialty camps.

We love seeing you temporarily transformed to being a kid again as you get excited to go on that first sleep away camp shopping trip.

We love giving you great tips for visiting day.

We love seeing that smile on your child’s face after the summer, when they recall the memories of the friends they made and the exciting things they did.

We love maintaining the relationship with your family, so we can help you when your camper is ready to move onto a teen program.  You won’t believe the choices – travel, adventure, community service,  language immersion, academic and so much more.

Most of all, we love that we can give our advice for FREE!

What do you “love” about your camp advisor or the process – Please let us know