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Experts on Overnight Camps & Trips for Kids and Teens

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Time to make a summer plan!

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January is the moment to make a plan. The holidays are behind us, routines are back, and while summer still feels far away, the days are already getting longer. Having overnight camps, trips, and teen programs on the calendar gives kids something concrete to look forward to and gives parents the relief of knowing it’s handled. A plan doesn’t make winter shorter, but it does make it easier.

This is also the most strategic time to commit. Many of the strongest overnight camps, trips, and teen programs are actively filling now, and session availability is widest in January. Waiting often means fewer choices, less flexibility with dates, and sometimes missing out altogether. Locking plans in early allows families to be intentional rather than reactive—and helps parents plan the rest of the summer, including vacations and special time together.

If summer planning is still on your to-do list, now is the time to move it to “done.” Choose a program that fits your child and your family calendar, commit, and move on. Reach out to Tips on Trips & Camps advisors for help directing you to the best overnight summer program for your child.  We are all extremely busy right now working with families to help find the ideal camp, trip, service program or academic experience (sometime a few of the above to fit into the long summer!) – We look forward to working with you!


School’s Out: Shifting Gears and Getting Ready for Camp!

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Another school year has wrapped — backpacks and pencil cases are cleaned out and stored for the summer, lost water bottles and massive duffle bags have mysteriously reappeared, and parents everywhere are wondering how the year flew by so fast. It’s that bittersweet time when we celebrate how much our kids have grown — academically, socially, emotionally — while getting ready for the joyful chaos of summer. Camp season is almost here, and we’re making the switch — from carpools to cabins, from busy schedules to sun-drenched days, from classrooms to campfires.

Getting kids involved in packing builds excitement and helps avoid last-minute forgotten items. It’s normal for even experienced campers to feel nervous, so we talk through what to expect and remind them that feeling excited and nervous at the same time is okay. Writing the first letter from home — a note to tuck into their bag that reminds them how proud you are and how excited you’ll be to hear about their adventures — can make all the difference.

Going to camp is more than a break — it’s a sign of independence and a way for kids to build self-confidence. It’s their chance to make new friendships and discover what they’re capable of – from learning to water ski to sleeping in a tent. It is also a time to put away cell phones and detox from the technology which holds them hostage during their ‘normal lives’.

After a year of helping families find the right camp fit, we’re wishing everyone a summer that’s joyful and peaceful and we hope that your child has the camp experience you were hoping for ! Happy summer to our Tips on Trips and Camps families. 😀

It’s Almost Time for CAMP!

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June is finally here and that means that the kids are leaving for camp soon! College kids and older teens are already there sweeping bunks and putting fresh coats of paint on buildings. They are about to face a tough summer but one filled with lots of joy, activity and pride. They typically go up a few weeks in advance to help the camp get into shape after the long winter and receive training in CPR, swim certifications, conflict resolution and how to help kids through homesickness. They also get to enjoy being together as many have been coming since they were young campers. Parents are busy at home following the packing list sent by the program their child is attending. Items are labeled and special items from home are lovingly packed. Soon the bags will be picked up and take their long journey to camp.
Tips on Trips and Camps advisors are busy scheduling camp visits. Collectively we will see about 75 camps. We stare at the maps, trying to figure out how many camps to see in one day, the best route and how we can squeeze in one more stop! It’s like a huge puzzle. It is one of the highlights of our job to see the camps in action and learn about what makes each camp special.
Every camp and director have their own personality which informs the culture of each camp. Once we understand this, we can suggest programs that are the right fit for a family. What are the kids like? How does the director interact with campers? How does the facility look? Are they well maintained? What does the dining room energy feel like? Is it palpable? Does the waterfront feel safe and organized? These are the questions that we need answered to get a feel for the overall experience at each camp.
These visits (plus the end of summer feedback from our families) are what helps us when working with a family. The summer prior to when you want your child to attend is a great time to visit! We can help you plan that visit, just ask. Matching the camp to the children in your family is a team effort, but the result will be finding a camp which aligns with your child’s personality, your family values and what you both hope to get out of the camp experience.

Summer is almost here!

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Once again camp packing is underway.  Last night, we hauled our massive bags downstairs for a middle of the night pickup where our bags joined other bags from around New York City to be mingled and sorted and sent to parts North and West.

This is a bittersweet summer for me as my last child starts her final year of sleepaway camp (at least as a camper!).  My three children have been fortunate enough to have had several different camp experiences and have had opportunities to learn about themselves at the different camps they attended.  Our boys learned that rustic outdoor experiences were nice but that they really wanted sports as well.  My daughter realized that she wanted a co-ed camp since she attends an all-girl school.  These realizations seem obvious at first, but they are not things that I would have thought about when selecting a camp.  Having first hand experience at five different sleepaway camps (all of which were terrific!) helped me understand the different nuances of each camp. These subtleties are hard to understand if you don’t physically visit a camp and these insights are what helps me in my recommendations.

The Tips advisors are getting excited for our annual camp visits – We plan to see over 75 camps in action this summer.  By meeting with directors, counselors and – best of all –  the campers – we get to see a camp come to life. We get a snapshot of the kinds of kids go there, how engaged they are in their activities and what kind of spirit and vibe there is. With each camp visit we are more equipped to help families find a good fit for their children.  That is one of the most rewarding aspects of this job!

So, as we move towards the opening days of camp, we wish everyone a wonderful experience full of new friends, activities and fun.  The sense of independence that kids gain is just one of the many benefits of camp. To me, being away from technology and having a full busy and active day is what I am so excited for my daughter to experience.  Just imagine – 7 weeks without Tik Tok!

Summer is almost here!

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We are finally catching a real hint of summer!   The sun is strong and everything is green and blooming.

With summer camps opening in only a few weeks, parents are starting to think about packing the trunks and getting everything organized.  I can’t wait to see how all the camps and programs blossom as well in 2022.  Directors are already heading up to their camps to start bringing their camps back to life after the long winter.  Buildings will get fresh coats of paint, arts and crafts supplies will be ordered and counselors will undergo heavy training while assisting with all the above!

With Covid at least in a manageable state, and two summers experience of working with the pandemic behind them, camps are ready to conquer the new playing field.  Camp directors have been working tirelessly this year with record breaking enrollments, and interest has exceeded expectations.  Families are truly ready to send their kids to camp and there is even a swell in slightly older first time campers who weren’t able to start two years ago due to the pandemic.

Personally, I am very excited to hit the road and visit many of these camps in various geographic regions.  I will be touring about 20 New England, Catskill and Poconos camps and I can’t wait to meet many of the people I have spoken to countless times.  Speaking with directors on the phone and watching videos and slideshows are one thing, but to see a camp actually in session with real children participating in their actual activities will be extremely rewarding and will bring the camps to life!   Most importantly, I will gain true insight as to the individual cultures and personalities of the different camps so that I am even better equipped  to make really thoughtful matches with the hundreds of families that I work with each year.  

Happy to be part of the Tips Team!

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Last week, long, big trucks drove up and down towns everywhere picking up massive sleepaway camp duffle bags filled with a summer’s necessities – from towels to bedding to sports equipment to bug spray – all with different camp destinations.  Watching these pick-ups always fills me with emotion as I envision the happy summers the children have in store for them: long hot days filled with exciting new activities and adventures, new friendships and old ones rekindled after a long school year. There are so many opportunities for new discoveries and experiences that will happen in an arts and crafts room, on a beautiful lake or around a campfire.

I am thrilled to join the Tips on Trips and Camps Team for the New York City market as an advisor – a dream job and the perfect fit for me.   Having been an avid camper myself, and mother of three campers, I have vast experiences (both good and bad!) and believe my insight will be tremendously helpful as I share summer options with families.

This winter and spring I have done a deep dive on sleepaway camps and summer programs for older children.  There are so many incredible opportunities out there waiting to be explored – from academics to sailing to eco-adventures and language immersion.  I have seen from personal experience with my own children, how enriching these experiences can be.   Companies work all year planning itineraries and experiences and our children are the lucky ones who get to be the beneficiary of all this work!

As we move on to the summer of 2021, the Tips on Trips and Camps Team wish everyone an incredible summer. Savor all the new experiences and friendships, they’ll have a life-long impact and it’s what makes our job as summer program advisors incredibly rewarding.

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

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