So this is the year your child will take the big step and head off to summer sleepaway camp for the first time.
There’s a lot you can do to make the experience easier for him. No matter how excited he is at the prospect of endless days and nights of swimming, sailing, games, campfires and after-dark giggling, it’s still a huge step from the comforting familiarity of home to the great unknown of sleepaway camp.
Depending on your child’s personality, and whether or not anyone they know will be going to camp with them, there may be some trepidation mixed in with the excitement of living away from home for a whole summer.
Get Your Child Involved
Your child will feel a lot more invested in the summer camping experience if they are included in the decision-making process and preparations. Before you sign on the dotted line visit some camps together. Talk about the ones each of you liked and why…and the one ones you didn’t like and why. If possible, try to visit when camp is in session. This allows you to observe how the campers and staff interact. It also gives your child a chance to chat with other campers and find out if they’re enjoying their summer and if they seem happy, involved and well-supervised. It also gives your camper an opportunity to get a feel for the surroundings and to help determine whether or not there is a sense of “fitting in”.
Pack It Up
A big part of building up to the excitement of camp is getting everything ready; it’s like packing for an exciting vacation. Most camps provide a list of what to bring and what not to bring. So, using this as a guide, the two of you can sit down together, come up with a shopping list and then go on an afternoon shopping spree. If your youngster insists on one trendy item for the summer, indulge the whim; just having that cool piece of clothing can make a child feel more confident among potential new friends.
Camp Tales
If you were a summer camper yourself, tell some tales of your own adventures at camp and let your child know if you were a little nervous that very first summer. Even though they’re eager to head off into the wilderness, there still might be just a little apprehension. Knowing that you overcame your own fear of the unknown and had an awesome time can help ease pre-camp jitters. Books about camp can also be helpful. Talk over any specific worries your future camper may have and some strategies for dealing with anything from fear of the deep end of the pool to concerns about making new friends and fitting in. Read stories about camp aloud to your child or let them choose their own reading material from a list of good kiddie lit about summer camp adventures.
Staying in Touch
It’s a good idea to discuss ahead of time how you’ll stay in touch while your child’s at sleepaway camp. Depending on the rules and facilities at camp, you may be able to use email or you may need to rely on good old-fashioned snail mail. Sending your new camper off with some stationery and pre-addressed, stamped envelopes will make it easier to send home those treasured letters from camp. Also, you may want to slip a letter from home right into his trunk as a surprise during unpacking. And remember…once your child is in the swing of summer camp fun...you’ll most likely miss him or her more than they’ll be missing you.
If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting. Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime. http://www.campwalt.com.
