Camp Benefits

As a camp director, I sometimes encounter parents of younger children who insist their child is “not ready” for sleepaway camp.  But after discussing a bit more, it becomes apparent that the child is actually good to go and that it’s really just the parent(s) who is not ready to have their baby leave the nest. Now, it’s definitely our job as parents to seek the best for our children. But, it doesn’t mean that a parent needs to be the sole, direct controller of that growth.  Think back to […]

Smart parents know that summer camp can be a vital part of a child’s growth and development, giving healthy opportunities to discover, explore, grow and have fun; the camp experience helps build character and enhance life-development skills, allowing children to connect with nature, themselves and others. In these difficult times, camp also provides your child with a delightful respite from the inevitable pressures that surround our homes and communities.  Especially since children have a limited window of opportunity in their lives to benefit from camp, the decision to begin a new camp experience should not be put off.   But we don’t need to tell you how good camp is for kids, or […]

(1) Your child will probably engage in gleeful repetitive renditions of camp songs for up to 4-6 weeks after camp.  You may be tempted to sing along, stomping hands and feet, and potentially violate social norms of your work, home, or other community. (2) Your child might repeatedly admonish you on how and why to use “I statements” to resolve conflicts.   (3) Your child might publicly admonish you for leaving food waste on your plate or littering. (4) Your child might be overzealous about their newfound independence after camp. (5) […]

You may no longer be afraid of ghost stories or of sleeping on the top bunk but you, like your child, probably still have fears about camp. Rest assured, you’re not alone. While sending your child to camp for the first or eighth time can be emotional—most often, your fears are for naught. “A parent should evaluate how much his or her own personal anxieties are interfering with the child’s opportunity to engage in a positive camp experience,” suggests parenting expert Sara Dimerman, author of Am I a Normal Parent? […]

Being a bedwetter affects many children, ranging from primary aged children to older teens. (The current blogger, aka Kevin—through age 12—and his lovely wife—through age 10 or so—were also in that not-so-exclusive club.) For some children, bedwetting can be a source of embarrassment, preventing them from participating in overnight activities such as sleepovers and overnight camps. However, bedwetting should not and need not prevent your child from taking part in overnight stays, and especially shouldn’t inhibit your child from enjoying the benefits that overnight camp can bring. In fact, being […]