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From the Camp Bubble Back to Home

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For some campers, walking off the plane and into their home is a seamless transition. For most, the transition from camp to home has its up’s and down’s. Don’t take it personally. It is totally normal for parents to be exploding with joy while their campers may be somewhat sad upon summer’s end. After all, summer camp is your child’s home away from home!
 
HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO MAKE THIS TRANSITION EASIER ON ALL…
 
1. SPACE
Give your child some space. Initially, your child may be reserved or quiet. They just came off a summer adventure. They can be conflicted with the excitement of returning home and the sadness of leaving the camp environment and new friends behind.
 
2. DOWNTIME
Be sure there is “Downtime” to let your kids relax. They may need to just “Chill” Try not to schedule too much too early. They have been living it up 24/7 surrounded by bunkmates, counselors and scheduled activities. The first few days home are a perfect time for some much needed alone time.
 
3. TALK CAMP
Let your child continue to talk about camp at home.  Your child may be loquacious and sharing every detail, song and cheer or they may open up to you as days go by. Be a great listener! Take in all the great stories, anecdotes and camp tales your camper has to offer.
 
4. FAMILY TIME
It is important to enjoy time as a family. Reconnect with your kids. Plan a few fun outings and activities before the school schedule kicks into full gear.
 
5. SLEEP
Let them Sleep. They may need days to catch up on rest. There is nothing like your child’s own bed in his or her own room!
 
6. CAMP SMELLS
Relish the smells of camp, or not? Don’t give them too hard of time about their smelly, dirty and discolored belongings! Lost belongings and acquiring bunkmates clothing are to be expected! Try to laugh off some of those camp trunk ‘surprises’!
 
7. EMBRACE THEIR GROWTH 
Your child has grown inside and out. They may come home taller, hairier, more confident, emotionally stronger and more independent. Accept and recognize the new.
 
8. SOCIAL CONNECTIONS: 2 WAYS
First, it is very common for “camp sick” kids to become obsessed with maintaining their camp friendships, spending large chunks of time online posting photos and chatting. This technology can be a blessing. Additionally and when they are ready, you will see your children reconnecting with friends from home. Give them space to do this. Let them look at all the photos on the camp website that you combed through all summer long. Let them read the camp blog to relive theirmemories.

9. SING, SING, SING
Let them sing! Your ears will be ringing with camp songs, cheers, chants and more. These songs are catchy so be sure not to get caught singing a long!
 
10. BE PROUD OF YOUR CAMPER
Be a proud Mom or Dad. Revel in your camper’s summer successes. Allow them to feel good about everything they accomplished and enjoyed while away from home.  It is a great life lesson for a child to learn that he/she and one’s parents can love each other very much, and still have safe, happy, growth-filled experiences away from each other.
  
11. BE PROUD OF YOURSELVES
You did good! Be proud of you. You have given your child the greatest gift!
This life-changing, growth-filled, summer experience will impact them forever.

VISITING DAY IS HERE

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What does visiting day mean to you? To me it means family. I look forward to this day so much every year. I love being at the camp that has brought all my children so much joy and growth. I love watching them in an unplugged environment and being witness to all the relationships they have formed with their peers, counselors, group leaders and even the directors.

First time for you? Here are some tips:

  1. Be organized – pack your things the night before.   That includes snacks (please make sure you follow the “no nut” policy and also don’t overdo it).  You don’t  want your child to be sick after you leave or worse, living with rodents from all the food in the bunk
  2. Give yourself enough time to get there – you don’t want to stress out if there is a traffic problem.
  3. Be present – your child has been waiting for this day – sit with them, play with them and listen to them.
  4. Say “Thanks” – introduce yourself to their counselors and say thank you. A little kindness goes a long way. Don’t focus on the small complaints – this job is harder than you imagine, but it is also a personal one – so show them your appreciation by just saying “thanks”.
  5. Plan your exit – the end can become emotional. Shower your children with hugs and kisses and most importantly, positive reinforcement. Let them know how proud you are of them. If they are starting to quiver, remind them that it’s ok to miss you but have a good time simultaneously. Remember that shortly after you leave they will once again be engaged.
  6. Smile – these are good times and you should enjoy them!   While you are smiling, take some pictures and send them to us or post them and tag @tipsontripsandcamp
  7. .

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. I often suggest the “must bring home” items such as tennis racket, camera, sleeping bag, etc. This list is short and easier for a camper to remember
  • 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?

Can we do better? As parents, can we show our children a balance between virtually socializing and socializing through conversation and eye contact? All are important skills needed for the overall health of our children.

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.

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

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The Scoop On Exceptional Summer Experiences!