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Embracing Growth: The Journey of Sending Your Child to Overnight Camp
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It’s been decades (gulp!) since I have been at overnight camp. Decades since my younger self walked the paths, sang all the songs, jumped in the lake while morning mist was still rising from it, heard the bugle play reveille to wake us, and heard the loons at night singing us to sleep. And yet, camp is never too far from my mind. It could be on a hike in a forest somewhere in the world, where the smell of pine needles warmed by the sun brings me right back to New Hampshire. Or I hear a crazy song lyric that reminds me of some silly song that we used to sing – and I still remember every word. Or I’m in a lodge that happens to use the exact style of cups and plates we used at camp, and they make the same sound when being stacked and passed. I can’t hear a whistle at a pool without instinctively raising my hand for buddy check. And there is the particular sound of a screen door that slams when the spring attached to the frame stretches and releases that takes me right back to the cabin. But those loons! They have a sound I have only ever heard at sleep away camp, whether as a camper so long ago, or as an adult at family camp. Now I’m a mom to three camp kids, and those sights and sounds belong to them too. They will someday have their own memories that bring them back to camp, just as I do, no matter how far they roam.
Give your child or teen a lifetime of memories to treasure, and let us help you find the perfect match – our advice is free, and the experiences last forever.
It is with open arms that I welcome 2021. I feel as if this last year has been a decade long and I embrace 2021 with outstretched arms. I am filled with excitement at the possibility of a normal summer for kids.
I have spoken to many parents over the last few weeks and they are surprised to learn that some camps ran last summer and that they were hugely successful. I can hear the excitement in their voice as we begin to discuss the kinds of programs that they want for next summer. They know the importance of being unplugged, being outside, and spending time with friends. Everyone needs a sense of normal now. Directors have spent hours and hours learning about best practices as related to Covid-19 and they are enthusiastic and well- prepared to welcome campers.
The door to normal is slowly opening and many families want to go through. They are ready to “step outside the box” that has been home. Hindsight is said to be 2020……. It is the past – I look forward to a bright future.
Happy camping in 2021!
While we eagerly await the end of 2020 and cross our fingers for the return to normalcy in 2021, the holiday season is upon us, pandemic or not. We’ve got gift ideas for your camper, traveler and student, and even a treat just for you! These gifts are guaranteed to keep your family screen-free and enjoying time together until summer adventures return.
Camp swag is always a big hit at the holidays – check out this fuzzy fleece camp blanket by LoveKess Clothing that can be personalized for your child’s camp. Trick out your cabin or dorm with LED lights that stick to bunks or walls or these fairy lights that could be used in a camp talent show or dress up lunch. And nothing says camp like tie dye! How about these great tie dye socks and customizable sweatshirts
Travelers will love these colorful passport cases and essential packing cubes, and check out this duffle bag from Out of the Box NY – a great idea for the hard-to-shop-for men and boys in your house! For adventure seekers heading out on a wilderness trip in 2021, this ENO hammock is a must-have, as is this backpack rain cover for rainy days on the trail.
Get everyone off the couch with some fun indoor and outdoor games: pickle ball, spike ball, knee hockey, mini basketball, lacrosse mini sticks – and many of these can be packed to go to camp next summer! Sports enthusiasts will love these one-of-a-kind customized cleats and other sports items from Kicks by Carly.
If being stuck at home has your kids dreaming about camp, check out these s’mores kits that are great for getting the perfect golden roast. Crafters can hone their friendship bracelet skills and send gifts to camp friends around the world. Do your kids wish they could play gaga ball year-round? We found a fantastic source for building your own gaga pit at home.
Don we now our plague apparel…we are still in a pandemic, so check out these great finds: fabulous Chainz Boca mask chains and a deliciously scented, moisturizing hand sanitizer by LimeLife!
And finally, how about a gift for YOU? Raise a glass to the end of 2020 and gift yourself a bottle or two of our favorite clean wine, Avaline. Transparently produced, vegan-friendly and made with organic grapes.
We wish you a healthy, happy holiday season, in whatever form it takes! Bring on 2021!
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!
As camp advisors, we are so lucky to visit camps each summer. In addition to meeting loads of happy campers and connecting with directors, we also meet many four-legged friends. At so many of our favorite summer places, the camp dog is an integral part of camp life!
The happiest dogs are camp dogs! Who wouldn’t love endless scratches and belly rubs, plenty of room to roam, and so many kids to meet? Many camp directors understand the positive impact a dog can have on the camp community.
Though some children are understandably afraid, many kids love animals, and dogs in particular. It’s a different matter that some kids might be afraid because of allergies. A friendly, tail-wagging dog can be the perfect remedy for homesickness, providing a spirit boost to a child who may need it. The dog can be the glue that helps bond friendships and can assist a shy kid in making a new friend. And, a dog can make camp feel like home.
Dogs embody the values that are front and center in the camp community. They love unconditionally, they don’t care what you look like or what you are wearing, they are inclusive and accepting, and they don’t judge. Tails up for the camp dog!
The subject of childhood mental health is everywhere, and the sleepaway camps and teen programs. While stress levels may go down away from school, anxiety and depression don’t magically disappear for the summer, so camp and program directors spend a lot of time and resources making sure their staffs are prepared to take the best possible care of your children. At our recent Tips on Trips and Camps annual meeting, we asked all of the visiting program directors to talk to us about how they prepare for and manage mental issues and crises. Here are the top takeaways from our meeting:
Children with mental health challenges can have fun and rewarding summer adventures, but choosing the right program and the right director will make all the difference in a child’s chances for success. Tips on Trips and Camps is a great place to start the search.
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.
Often times, parents come to our advisory service too late in the season to find the perfect summer experience for their child. In many cases, the only session in which their child can participate – nestled between baseball season, the family vacation and school starting – is already filled up.
The best way to avoid this situation is to plan summer early. Done right, the process of finding the right camp can take an entire year’s worth of research, but the reward is great. When your neighbors are stressing out about what their child will be doing next summer, you will be sitting pretty with your child already enrolled!
One very helpful thing to do is plan a visit to see camps in action. All camps gladly receive guests, if you schedule an appointment. Most camps are located in beautiful areas near state parks or resort areas, so these visits can be fun for the whole family. You could even plan your family’s vacation at a camp and take advantage of a family weekend. These visits can help your child acclimate to the environment of the camp and make the decision to leave home a lot less scary. And, your first-hand observations of the facilities, the activities or the dining hall routine can help you know if this would be the right place for your child!
If you plan early and you have determined which camp suits your child, you can take advantage of early bird discounts. These discounts usually hold the cost of camp down to the previous year’s tuition or take several hundred dollars off the tuition price.
Some parents might not have the time to research camps on their own. With over 11,000 camps in the United States, it is important to come up with a list of questions to guide you. By doing so, you can narrow the possibilities to a manageable few. Then it is helpful to meet with directors, attend a camp fair, and/or enlist the advice of a summer program advisor.
Tips on Trips and Camps, Inc. is a FREE service specializing in overnight summer experiences for children ages 7-19. Call 866.222.TIPS or visit our website at www.TipsonTripsandCamps.com . Once you register, a local advisor will follow up with you immediately. You know your child and we know the camps. Together, we can find the RIGHT match.
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.