camp advice - Tips on Trips and Camps

You’ve Got This!

September 10, 2020 by Stephanie Vordick Leave a Comment

Everyone at Tips on Trips and Camps thinks you’re doing a great job parenting through these crazy times. We thought you needed to hear that today. We’re all parents too, and we know how not having any control over how the future looks or feels for our children (or ourselves) is a challenging place to live. As summer program advisors, we are feeling hopeful about sending kids off on their adventures next summer. Every day we hear from our directors about their plans for a safe and fun summer 2021. While next summer may still look different than pre-COVID days, every sleepaway camp and teen program is working hard to create pandemic-proof plans for your children. Please let us know if you want to indulge in some escapist summer planning – we’re ready to chat whenever you feel ready.

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.

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!

It’s Camp Fair Season!

January 6, 2020 by Jill Leave a Comment

It’s time to think about Summer 2020. What will your kids be doing this summer? Do you prefer that they stay at home or explore new interests, make new friends and perhaps unplug for a period of time? An easy way to start the process of finding an overnight camp or summer program is to attend a camp fair.

Here are some reasons to attend a camp fair near you:

EXPLORE CAMPS AND PROGRAMS: Come with an open mind …. There are so many wonderful overnight camps and programs to learn about!

TALK TO DIRECTORS & ASK QUESTIONS: Most often it’s the camp director or assistant director who is at the camp fair. Talk to them and ask questions. Get a feel for the programs and what they are all about.

BRING YOUR KIDS: Let your kids explore, too. Let your child have a say in where they go. Don’t be surprised, though, if they find a camp or summer program different from what you think would be best for them.

Camp fairs provide an opportunity to collect information. Pick up brochures of camps and programs you are most interested in and then go home to review them.

If you’re lucky to be attending a Tips on Trips and Camps Fair, look for an advisor to help you. Ask them questions about the programs you’re most interested in. Didn’t see what you were hoping to find? Let an advisor guide you to the right camp or program.

And after you’ve reviewed the brochures you’ve picked up, call a TIPS Advisor for more information and, if needed, to help you distinguish between the programs you’ve found most interesting.

Check our website for the list of camp fairs in your city: https://www.tipsontripsandcamps.com/summer-advice/local-camp-fairs/

If you can’t find a Tips on Trips fair near you, give an advisor nearest you a call: https://www.tipsontripsandcamps.com/summer-advice/find-an-advisor/

Come to the fair with the confidence of knowing that WE are there to help guide you in finding the ideal program for your child!

Our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide!

December 3, 2019 by Jen Cippoletti Leave a Comment

Tips on Trips and Camps advisors compiled our list of great must-haves for every

camper, traveler, and summer student! Here are a few of our favorite things…

We found some great games for the bunk, tent, or dorm room! Try your luck at Five Crowns or Left Center Right. Laugh with your friends as they act out dance moves with Truth or Dance. And test your mental quickness with Scattergories Categories or Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza.

Deck the bunk with lots of fun items such as a pillow with arms! Capture the moments with a Fuji Instax Mini Camera. And amuse your friends with the Coke vs. Pepsi or Would You Rather series of books.

Every traveler needs these fantastic accessories. Packing cubes will keep the messiest kid organized. An Eno hammock is a must-have for relaxing on the trail. And don’t underestimate the value of a good, battery-operated fan!

If you are looking for more places to find bunk or dorm décor, color war accessories, and other fun stuff, check out these great websites: Confetti and Friends, Dormify, and Camprageous.

Happy shopping!

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

April 6, 2019 by Stephanie Vordick Leave a Comment

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.

Desperately Seeking Summer

March 8, 2019 by Stephanie Vordick Leave a Comment

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.

What Did I Forget?

December 9, 2018 by Stephanie Vordick Leave a Comment

How can the calendar already say December?

My mile-long to do list is stuck in September!

The darkness each afternoon makes me long for the sun,

And also reminds me of one to-do I must get done:

It’s not the holiday planning, shopping, or celebrating,

It’s not the decorating, cooking, or ice skating –

It’s choosing a summer camp for each of my kids!

Sitting on their phones all summer heaven forbids.

But how will I get this giant job done?

Without any worries about whether I’ve found the “one?”

I know what I will do without delay –

I will call Tips on Trips and Camps! Yay!

My Tips advisor asks all the right questions,

And sends me an email with excellent suggestions.

Without much fuss, the decision is made!

I’m the best mom; I deserve a parade!

For all you parents who are worrying what to do,

Tips on Trips and Camps will pull you through!

Why Summer Camp Is More Important Than Ever

July 26, 2018 by Michele 1 Comment

As I am sure many parents can relate, social media and cell phones are making me crazy. Have you noticed how all the kids (and adults) are constantly scrolling, texting and watching things on their devices? Not only is this bad for their mental development, we are raising the next group of hunchback adults.

As I was strolling thru camps earlier this summer, I started to notice how happy all the campers looked. They were so happy talking to their friends, playing games and just being outside. Imagine that – all of these smiles and no Snapchat or Instagram to capture it. How amazing!! You know what else was amazing? They all made eye contact because their heads weren’t hunched down starting at a screen. Call me old-fashioned, but I truly believe that kids are happier at camp because it is now the only place where they can disconnect from the world, but more importantly, they are making real life connections. Laughing with their friends, making memories and feeling good about themselves.

My love for camp is stronger than ever. Can anything really replace face to face fun? How about a time for your child to feel good about themselves and doing things they can truly enjoy, not because they want to post it. Let’s take this a step further. Now I know I may get a lot of backlash from my nearest and dearest but maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if camp directors eased up on the camp pictures. I can hear the loud protests. Hear me out – I recently visited a camp that did not post pictures. When I asked the director why not, he said, “kids act differently when they don’t have to be on”. Hmm – that’s true. He then continued, “This is their journey, not their parents”. Even I had to sheepishly admit he was right.

This camp also had the highest percentage of former campers coming back multiple years as counselors. A coincidence? Maybe, but it is something to think about.

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