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Experts on Overnight Camps & Trips for Kids and Teens

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Archives for 2019

Summer is made for discovery

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My daughter is the happy one on the right. She texted me this picture a few days ago from her summer program, where she is exploring the medical profession at a college campus. She and her new friend are holding the cow eyeballs they were about to dissect.  I keep looking at this picture (while trying to avoid the gross eyeballs) because I love the big smile on her face. How great that she got to travel far from home, try out living in a dorm with roommates, make new friends from all over the US, and explore being a doctor!

Has your teen mentioned anything they’d like to learn about or try? Or possible college majors or career interests? There are more options than you can imagine! Let us know how we can help you find a terrific program for your curious kid.

No One is an Only Child at Camp

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For all but four weeks a summer, I was an only child.  My house was quiet.  I had my own bathroom and bedroom.  I never had to vy for attention from my parents.  I never had to share, compete, or complain about unfairness.  Friends would tell me how lucky I was, how horrible their own siblings were, and that they would trade places with me in an instant.

 

Yet from my perspective, I often found life as an only child boring, my house too quiet, and my adult-centered world somewhat stifling.

 

I lived for camp. Camp was busy.  Camp was noisy.  Camp offered me 10 sisters as cabin mates, and we spent every minute together.  There was a full table at meals, and 300 campers and staff sang Happy Birthday to me every year.  There was always someone to play with.  We swam together, sang camp songs together, walked around arm-in-arm, and cried when the summer ended.  I loved every minute.

 

Over the last twenty years, the number of women opting to have only one child has doubled. Only-child families are the fastest growing families in the U.S.  A lot of those kids will be just like me and will thrive in the right camp setting. They will learn life skills that siblings naturally develop, gain independence and coping strategies, and will love being part of a pack.  I had wonderful parents who provided an amazing childhood, but of all the incredible opportunities they offered, I’m most grateful that they sent me to camp.

MAKING A LIST AND CHECKING IT TWICE – How to Pack for Camp

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Now is the time we have all been waiting for – SUMMER! It is time to start the packing process. Although it may seem daunting, following a few easy steps can make the job easier.

Most camps will provide you with a packing list. I suggest sticking to it. Bringing too much extra stuff may not be helpful. It may not fit in cubbies, will not be worn, and probably will not return home.

Here are some ideas for things that may not be on the list or in the camp brochure.

  • Always check the policy about electronics. Most camps have strict rules regarding devices. Some will allow music in the cabin but others will not. These are also expensive items and may not return home.
  • Check the policy regarding food. Bringing some food on the bus could be a good idea. It is a nice way to break the ice with a new friend. However, once at camp, you do not want “uninvited guests” in the cabin.
  • Do not bring anything that will make you upset if it is lost. It is bound to happen.
  • Extra labels….. sometimes a marker can work.
  • Pre-addressed and stamped envelopes (make writing to friends and family as easy as possible – everyone loves to receive mail).
  • Medication – most camps will have a med service or will take the medication from the camper and will dispense at appropriate times. Your child should expect this to occur.
  • Feel comfortable packing a photo of the family or dog. A cuddly stuffed animal is fine. Most campers find these things to be comforting.
  • Games that will engage cabin mates…. cards, jacks, MadLibs, etc
  • Extra personal supplies that may be needed (brace bands, hair elastics, etc)
  • Start early and make lists – take time to shop and label – do not stress – most camps will provide anything a camper really needs.

Your child will soon be on his or her way to the best summer ever!

HAPPY CAMPING!

Great Kids’ Camps: An Interview with goop.com

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If you’re trying to find the ideal summer program for your child we know how daunting of a task it can be. There are plenty of questions you might have like, ‘would my child fit in this camp?’ – And that’s where our advisors come in!

Jill Levin, our West Coast advisor, was recently featured on goop.com on the questions parents need to ask themselves before sending kids to camp or determining a program. Read a few of her responses below:

goop.com: Are there kids who are not good candidates or who would be too stressed? Is it appropriate to push them to go anyway?

Jill Levin: Every child is a good candidate for camp. I can’t say that every child should be pushed, though. That is something only a parent knows. What matters most is that you choose a camp that is a good match for you and for your child…(continued in article)

goop.com: Are summer camps a good way to introduce children to new interests, or is it best to stick to what they’re already into?

Jill Levin: Both…There’s no better way to expose your child to wonderful activities, build their skills in what they like, and introduce new interests. Camp is a great place to explore and just have fun…(continued in article)

goop.com: Are there kids who are not good candidates or who would be too stressed? Is it appropriate to push them to go anyway?

Jill Levin: Every child is a good candidate for camp. I can’t say that every child should be pushed, though. That is something only a parent knows. What matters most is that you choose a camp that is a good match for you and for your child…(continued in article)

Read more of Jill’s interview on goop.com here. (DISCLAIMER – all camps listed on goop.com are recommended directly by Goop. Tips on Trips and Camps does not publicly endorse individual camps to maintain impartiality.)

Connect with an advisor in your area today! Find an advisor here.

IS SOCIAL MEDIA KILLING YOUR CHILD’S SOCIAL SKILLS?

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IS SOCIAL MEDIA KILLING YOUR CHILD’S SOCIAL SKILLS?

Snapchat, Insta, Fortnite, Houseparty, FaceTime, Facebook, other on-line gaming and app’s present countless and easy ways of socializing. Connections and communities at our kids’ fingertips; literally and virtually.

Depending on which communities and with whom your child is connecting, many on-line groups provide an exciting and excellent place for our kids to develop friendships albeit, virtually. Texting, snapping, scrolling, emoji’s, screen shots, selfie’s, posting, poking, liking, streaks, your story, tweeting, memes, GIF’s, may actually be used, by middle schoolers and teens, more often in a typical day than the actual spoken word. A connection, for sure. Communities, yes. The question is; are these connections and communities, as constant as they are, offering our kids that basic human need of actual connection, true friendship and a sense of real belonging within a group?

Find that balance in Summer Camp!

Overnight camps are a place where kids are totally Tech Free. No phones, computers, app’s, IPAD’s, IPOD’s, video games, screens, keyboards, chargers. No heads tilted downward. Instead of on-line connections and communities, camp gives kids the perfect environment to connect and find unity within the camp community. Without tech, kids talk to one another, they use words, expressions, voice intonations, they touch, and they are in the moment. Friendships are made and bonds are built in reality. There is nothing virtual about camp.

The best thing is, there is still space in many of the over 600+ vetted camps and programs we work with. We would love to connect with you. We are here to listen, discuss and research summer opportunities that are especially geared to YOUR child. Not virtually, but in reality, many can be life changing!

To be part of our ‘camp community’, please follow us on Insta, like us on Facebook and check out other blogs like this one on our website; www.Tipsontripsandcamps.com.

 

 

Just like ice cream, there are many “flavors” of camps

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I went to three different sleep away camps starting in elementary up through high school, and none of them were right. I’d never before or since had trouble making friends, but I didn’t feel like I fit in at any of those camps.  And they were terrific high-quality camps that today as a camp advisor I have have no hesitation recommending. I went for eight weeks each summer, and that was a long time to feel out of sorts. All of my friends from home also attended sleep-away camps, and they all had great stories of fun and friendship which I wanted so very much for myself. I loved the idea of sleepaway camp, just not my sleepaway camps. Now as a camp advisor I know that there are camps for every type of child. I would have flourished at a laid-back, not too spirited, non-competitive place with lots of non-team sport options, and where the activities were mixed ages and selected by the campers. And isn’t it great that there camps like that? No matter your child’s personality or needs, there’s a camp for them.

LGBTQ? Summer is for everyone!

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As summer advisers we pride ourselves in the recommendations we make so that every child can have a wonderful summer experience.

Increasingly, we are hearing from parents of LGBTQ kids. This may include transgender and gender non-conforming children of any age. They call us searching for an overnight camp or summer teen experience where their child will feel at home. As advisers on summer programs, we are witnessing a shift in the mindset and the narrative in our industry as these numbers are rising. Camps are faced with decisions about where to bunk kids and teen trips grapple with which tent does a camper get assigned. The wonderful aspect of these challenges, the summer programs tell us, is that campers are universally accepting and don’t struggle the way their parents or summer program directors do. We watch as summer camps and teen experiences find creative ways to work this through. There are camps for LGBTQ kids. At some the issues are addressed specifically, others are simply a caring and embracing community where all campers are welcome. The latter might be a good camp for trans kids or non-binary kids as well. An arts camp this summer will have a non-gender specific cabin that will embrace all gender expressions.

At Tips on Trips and Camps we have ongoing discussions about these topics so we can help lead as the industry navigates this ever-changing landscape. Interesting times!

Desperately Seeking Summer

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The anticipation of summer not only brings the joy of seeing our kids off to camp but also reminds many of us of our own camp experiences. This never-ending winter has made me long for all the sights, sounds, and smells of summer. Do you feel the same? Take my short quiz to see how badly you need a summer day. Winner gets the hammock first.

  • You seriously consider ordering cute label stickers for your clothing
  • You spritz yourself in a bit of bug spray just for the smell
  • Wet towels out of the washing machine make you feel nostalgic
  • You asked the waiter for a bug juice cocktail at dinner last night
  • You intentionally smudge a little sunblock on your clothes before you leave the house

However you prepare for summer, Tips on Trips and Camps advisors are here to help you find just the right sleepaway camp or overnight program. It’s not too late to find great options for this summer, and it’s not too early to look for summer 2020.

The Benefits of Camp Just Keep Giving

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I knew there would be benefits to sending my kids to overnight camp…try new things, make lifetime friends, grow to be independent to name a few. What I did not expect was that four years after my daughter attended her final year as a camper she would come back to become a counselor, and gain even more life skills.

What she learned that summer was nothing she could have learned as a college freshman in a classroom. The experience was invaluable – so much so that she accepted the position for a second summer. What about the great internship that she would need in in her chosen profession? What about summer school to get ahead in her major? Those things crossed her mind for about ten seconds when she realized the training she was getting as a counselor for whatever job she might have later on was just as, if not more than, valuable.

Please read this article that talks about why employers should hire camp counselors!

Good Advice

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My 17 year old inspires me every day. His mantra is one I have now adopted. So much that for my last birthday he bought me a vase that has “You Got This” imprinted on it. 

When I reflect back on 7th grade, it reminds me just how far we’ve come. At that time he was riddled with anxiety and depression. We pulled in as many resources as we could to make his world right again. We spoke with therapists and took the advice of experts to find classes, communities and even a new school to help guide him on the right path.

I’m so proud of my son and the work he has done to find his happy place. I’m so grateful we found people that we relied on and trusted to navigate troubled waters.

It makes me realize even more how important my own role is in the life of clients that I help. Finding the right overnight camp or teen program is so valuable in the trajectory of a child or teen’s formative years. Whether it be a social struggle in their environment or the desire to find a specific niche outside their community, I do my best to really listen. And I find it so rewarding to get it right!

Experts On Overnight Camps & Trips For Ages 7-18+

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Tips on Trips and Camps has always been and continues to be committed to equality for all. The advice we give endorses inclusion, awareness, sensitivity to others, equality and support to families and their children including but not limited to individuals of varying abilities, cultures, genders, races and religions.