Sleepaway Camp Blog | Summer Camps For Teenagers

Riding the Coronacoaster

July 13, 2020 by Stephanie Vordick Leave a Comment

Have you seen the meme defining a “coronacoaster” – the ups and downs of living in a pandemic? I don’t know about you, but that perfectly captures me and my wildly shifting emotions. Interestingly I’m finding my kids are more even keel than I am. They’re teenagers, and like everyone’s children, they had to abandon their spring and summer plans. I’ve found them to be resilient, creative, and accepting in the faces of the losses they have sustained. As we head towards the fall, and all the uncertainty that brings, they are saying they will be OK no matter what. While a lot of their reactions have to do with their personalities, I can also see that the lessons learned at sleepaway camps and teen programs helped prepare them for this tough time. They are making the best of what the world has to offer and still having fun. They’ve found new ways to meet their goals, follow their interests, and enjoy the summer, all while staying safe. I can connect all the ways they’ve managed during the pandemic to things that a child may navigate away at camp or on a teen trip. The coronacoaster is not my cup of tea, but as it’s the only attraction open this summer, I’m going to do my best to notice the best parts of the ride.

CONSIDERING ONLINE CAMP? TOSS THE ACADEMICS AND BRING OUT CREATIVITY

June 9, 2020 by Eve Leave a Comment

Free Images : laptop, computer, girl, play, floor, boy, sitting ...

As remote school is ending, we know families are wondering what summer options will be available for their children. While the thought of more computer time may make you cringe, the range of virtual programs is worth your consideration. Some online programming even includes social time outside of the classes.

Before you rule out online camp, here are just some of the classes available, and there is something for everyone:

Sock Puppet workshop
Virtual Yoga
Vegan Cooking
Courses for budding Entrepreneurs similar to TV’s Shark Tank
Frontiers in Medicine
Psychology of the Criminal Mind
Shakespeare
Creative Writing
Digital Marketing and Social Media
Dance
Robotics
Acting

There are more options, and we’re happy to help you find a program that fits your child’s interests. Contact us for more information.

Grieving for Summer

May 18, 2020 by Stephanie Vordick Leave a Comment

The camp and summer program cancellations are coming in fast these days, and we know there are many disappointed and grieving kids and families. Whether it was to be a child’s first summer away or they are a seasoned camper, it’s hard to let go of summer plans amid so many other changes in our lives. Here’s some advice we’ve gathered:

Expect that you and your children will go through a range of emotions in the days and weeks ahead. Tell your kids (and remind yourself) that grief comes and goes, and you might all have sad days throughout the summer and beyond. You can also let them know that you’ll all also have happy days and fun moments even while feeling sad about camp.
Recognize the stress that you may feel as a result of your child’s lack of summer plans. Take as many breaths as you need until you can find a way to move forward. There are still some options for kids. We can help you explore if any of the available programs are a good fit.
Encourage your child to express their feelings and memories about camp. Talking, journaling, Zooming, singing and dancing, doing camp arts and crafts, building a campfire, or whatever feels right, are all ways for kids to access their emotions. Kids of all ages can benefit from having their feelings named, so parents can help their kids by identifying what they may be experiencing.
It may be reassuring to talk about how staying home is helping all their dear camp friends and counselors remain safe.
Start making plans for summer 2021! Camp and program directors are already hard at work on next summer, and they are counting the minutes until they are back with your children.

We are right there with your family grieving the loss of all those future memories, experiences, and friendships. We are here to support you – please let us know if we can help.

The New Normal? Hope So!

April 30, 2020 by Eve Leave a Comment

I’m a big walker, and while I usually have my early morning walk all to myself, my afternoon walk seems to have become The Activity for the families in my suburban neighborhood. It is nice to see family groups out walking and talking, and I noticed even my 10 and 12-year-old neighborhood friends riding their bikes are abiding by the 6 feet rule. Another neighbor put up a badminton net and is often with his high school age kids competing in the back yard. Yesterday I saw some middle school girls, 6 feet apart, with laptop open Face Timing with a friend working on cheer-leading moves. This is the new normal during these stay at home days.

It seems parents are increasingly valuing outdoor play in ways that are new and different. Might this newfound appreciation extend to the kinds of summer camp parents select? Will traditional camps be in greater demand than “build resume” camps? Wilderness trips with hiking and camping out be chosen over focused sports camps? Will parents find summer programs with the goals of building relationships, fostering leadership, and appreciation of the outdoors become the most sought after? Perhaps this too will become the new normal, which would be a wonderful shift for our children.

COVID 19 – WE ARE ALL FIRST TIMERS

April 9, 2020 by Eve Leave a Comment

It dawned on me today that the way we are all facing the challenges of COVID-19 is very similar to what we ask our children to do on overnight summer experiences.

We ask them to:

Go into the unknown
Listen to the people in charge
Ask for help if needed
Advocate and negotiate for themselves.
Have fun in a setting that is very different from what they are used to

Just like when we put them on the bus to summer camp or the plane to a teen trip, we can remind them now (and ourselves) of their resilience and skills to cope with tough days. We all have inner resources to call on through the coming weeks, and just like attending a summer program, it will be an opportunity for personal growth for us all. The Tips Team is hoping all your challenges are met with optimism, good humor, and health.

WE ARE CAMP PEOPLE

April 1, 2020 by Eve Leave a Comment

I have been helping families find wonderful summer programs for over 30 years and I thought I had seen every challenge there is. I have watched camps handle lice infestations, meningitis scares, 9/11, Zika, rainy summers, recessions and more. Covid 19 is a new kind of challenge for camps and teen trips as well as for camp advisers and families like yours and mine. Tips on Trips and Camps gets daily emails from the camps we represent optimistically telling us how they are planning for summer 2020. Programs may start at a different date, the sessions may be altered, and health screens ramped up, but to paraphrase one Adirondack camp; We are all Camp People, and for two months of summer we deal with uncertainty constantly. We are resilient and determined and we are accustomed to adjusting the plan. That sentiment will be put to the test for sure. I believe the camp industry is up to the task!

LIKE COOKING WITH KIDS? HERE’S A RECIPE FOR HAND SANITIZER

March 5, 2020 by Eve Leave a Comment

The topic that seems to be on every parents’ mind these days is the coronavirus. It is front and center in our industry as well. Our summer camps and teen travel programs are monitoring the situation and working on ways to adjust and adapt if need be. We receive daily emails and are keeping current as this situation develops.

Meanwhile, if you are having trouble finding hand sanitizer, here’s a recipe you can make with the kids that might come in HANDY.

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Ingredients:

2/3 cup 99% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or ethanol
1/3 cup aloe vera gel
8-10 drops essential oil, optional (such as lavender, vanilla, peppermint, grapefruit)
bowl and spoon
funnel
recycled liquid soap or hand sanitizer bottle

To Make Hand Sanitizer

Nothing could be easier! Simply mix the ingredients together and then use the funnel to pour them into the empty bottles and you’re ready to go.

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

How Do You Know When Your Child Is Ready For Camp?

February 25, 2020 by Lois Leave a Comment

Sending a child to camp is exciting for any family, but how does a parent know that that their child is ready to take the plunge?

AGE: There is no singular age that is the “right” age. Some sleep-away programs take children as young as 7 but it is more common for a first experience to be at 8 or 9. Children are often ready to attend overnight camp well before the parent is ready to part with them. There are summer camps for first time campers at every age. There are traditional camps for younger kids, teen camps that start at 12 for middle school students, and broader experiences for high school students.

SHOWS INTEREST: If your child starts talking about camp, this is often a sign they are ready to start the process. Trepidation is normal. This is a new experience as they do not know what to expect.

HYGIENE: Any child going to camp must have some idea of how attend to basic personal needs. This includes showering (not bathing), able to wash their own hair, brushing teeth, etc. Bed wetting is not an uncommon issue and it is best to speak to a director to see how they handle the situation.

FOLLOWS INSTRUCTIONS: All camps have structure and all and all campers must abide by rules. This includes waking up at reveille, getting to activities, doing chores, etc. Kids do not have to be perfect but basic compliance and cooperation is needed.

ADAPTABILITY: An excellent indicator of being ready is If your child can adjust to new situations or speak to new people somewhat easily.

Once your child shows the signs of being ready, we can help you choose the right match for your family and your child’s interests. This new experience will help every child, every age, grow and develop.

HAPPY CAMPING!

Seeing our children for who they are

February 4, 2020 by Stephanie Vordick Leave a Comment

We all want what’s best for our children, but what is that? How’s a thoughtful parent to balance their concerns and priorities with their child’s individual needs? A recent New York Times article says what children need most is to feel seen and understood. The article says, “You just have to show up, allowing your kids to feel that you get them and that you’ll be there for them, no matter what.”

The process of selecting a sleepaway camp or an overnight summer program is a great way to show your child that you see them. Talking together about their interests, involving them in the selection, respecting their concerns, and appreciating their likes and dislikes are all ways of showing a child that you see them for who they are. Families can find exactly what they want and need when they work with a camp advisor. We are experts on the programming, facilities, and overall feeling of the summer experiences we represent, so if a child doesn’t play sports, then we will recommend camps where their interests are the main events. If they don’t want to stay in a tent, then we’ll suggest summer travel programs with indoor sleeping arrangements. If they don’t want to swim in a lake, we will recommend sleepaway camps with pools. If they want to improve their Spanish but aren’t interested in a homestay, then we’ll look at language immersion programs with other instruction methods. You can give your child the opportunity to grow through an independent summer experience, while at the same time seeing them for exactly who they are. Let us help you find just the right program.

Choosing the Best Summer Camp

January 14, 2020 by Stephanie Vordick Leave a Comment

Every season we hear from parents who want to know about the best overnight camps. And we often hear about the camps a neighbor/cousin/school friend attends. But after almost 50 years in business, Tips on Trips and Camps advisors understand that selecting a sleep away camp that will work well for a child is not just choosing from a list of the “best” camps. It’s all about finding the best camp for each child, and that’s where we are experts.

We spend a lot of time discussing the ins and outs of choosing a camp with our families. We talk about how factors that define each camp may affect whether it’s a good fit for the child. Considerations like single-sex or co-ed, size of the camp, the type of activities offered, and activities by choice or by bunk are just some of the topics we discuss with our clients. We help parents consider how a variety of factors may affect how well a camp fits a child’s needs. We ask about how children make friends, participate in activities, and whether they like to try new things to help us choose camps that play to a child’s strengths and also gives them the opportunity to build new skills. We also ask about the location, transportation, session length, and price. And then we put all of that together to create a list that fits the child and the family – that’s the best list!

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