Post by Ash on Aug 13, 2009 11:16:56 GMT -5
Cabins, Canoes, and Campfires:
Is it time your child discovered the joys of overnight camp?
By: Martha Wegner
article found at:http://www.parentssource.com/canoes.cabins.campfires.asp
Imagine my surprise when my little 7-year-old girl announced, “I’m going to camp this summer!” When I assured her that I had already registered her for her favorite day camp, she was quick to correct me, “No, Mom, I’m going to overnight camp. I’m ready.” Today this sweet little girl with the blonde ringlets and 2 missing front teeth has blossomed into an independent 12 year old, ready to start her 5th year of overnight camp. When I ask her what she likes about camp, she says, “Everything!”
Overnight summer camp has indeed been the highlight of my daughter’s years, and looking at the numbers, she is not alone. According to Christopher Thurber and Jon Malinowski, authors of The Summer Camp Handbook (Perspective Publishing, 2000), over 7 million children go to overnight camp each summer. Is it time for your child to join the ranks of these happy campers?
Let’s start by taking a look at the reasons for attending overnight camp. According to Paul Cope, Executive Director at “Camp Champions”, based in Marble Falls, Texas, “An overnight camp experience can prove one of the most significant growth experiences for a child… it gives kids a chance to learn things like respect for others, teamwork, self-confidence and independence.” Add Thurber and Malinowski, “First of all, camp is not school. As if that’s not reason enough for kids to love it, overnight camps offer outdoor activities that most kids don’t have at home or school.” My daughter’s favorite camp stories include an “elegant” night during which the counselors “dressed up” in beach towels and sandals and ate their meals with big, clunky kitchen utensils. She laughs at stories of overturned canoes (in shallow water!), and stories told around the campfire at night. At camp she is a part of unique and tight-knit community, enjoying the outdoors and having fun without the watchful eye of mom or dad. Even the not-so-pleasant experiences present opportunities for growth. For her first year at camp, my daughter’s counselor spoke almost no English (she was from Russia). My daughter and her cabin mates figured out on their own that they would need to go to the cabin next door for information. They ended up having a great time. What could have been a disastrous experience turned into a life lesson for my daughter: not everything in life will go smoothly, but I can figure out how to make things right on my own!
How do we know if our kids are ready for overnight camp? If they hear friends talking about it and eagerly ask a parent if they can go, too, they are probably ready (otherwise, they probably won’t bring it up). Some children might need a little extra nudge if no one in their circle is attending overnight camp. You can “plant the seed” by showing them some websites or brochures of overnight camps, or telling stories of your own or Cousin Johnny’s positive experience with camp. The point is not necessarily to pressure the child to go to camp; it is to make them aware of the possibilities of overnight camp.
As a parent you will need to honestly assess your own comfort level with sending your child “away” for a week or two. Do a little research. Talk to other parents and children who have had success with camp. Check out camp web sites. Talk to camp directors. Their stories will convince you that you are giving your child an invaluable experience, the benefits of which will last a lifetime.
What camp is right for us? According to Thurber and Malinowski, “A good camp is kid heaven.” To find that piece of heaven, consider the following:
Cost: camps vary widely in cost. Typically, nonprofit camps such as Girl Scout, Boy Scout, and YMCA camps cost less than privately run camps.
Activities: Do you want a camp that specializes in certain skills? Or do you want a more general outdoor camp experience?
Location: How far away from home are you willing to send your child?
Length of stay: A few days? 1 week? 2 weeks? For young first-timers, try a 2 night stay. Experienced campers can go longer.
Other factors: accommodations (cabins or tents), coed or single-sex camp, type of organization with which the camp is affiliated, size, and ratio of camper to counselor.
After you’ve made the decision, prepare your child. Plan positive overnight experiences at friends’ houses. Visit the camp’s website and look through the brochure often, talking about the things he/she will do. If you have the opportunity, visit the camp ahead of time with your child.
When my 7-year-old daughter emerged from the camp bus after her first overnight camp, I burst into great sobs of relief. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed her. My puzzled daughter said, “Mom, why are you crying? I had a great time!” and hopped into our station wagon. As she rattled off her delightful stories of camp, I dried my eyes, kept my mouth shut, and smiled. I knew I had just given my child the gift of a lifetime.
Summer Camp Resources:
The American Camps Association website: www.acacamps.org
The National Camp Association website: www.summercamp.org
The Summer Camp Handbook - Everything you need to find, choose, and get ready for overnight camp – and skip the homesickness. By Christopher A. Thurber and Jon C. Malinowski. Perspective Publishing, 2000.
Summer camps and programs for kids and teenagers: www.petersons.com/summerop/
The Secret Ingredients of Summer Camp Success – How to have the Most Fun with the Least Homesickness (DVD/CD). By Christopher Thurber, Ph.D., 2006
Is it time your child discovered the joys of overnight camp?
By: Martha Wegner
article found at:http://www.parentssource.com/canoes.cabins.campfires.asp
Imagine my surprise when my little 7-year-old girl announced, “I’m going to camp this summer!” When I assured her that I had already registered her for her favorite day camp, she was quick to correct me, “No, Mom, I’m going to overnight camp. I’m ready.” Today this sweet little girl with the blonde ringlets and 2 missing front teeth has blossomed into an independent 12 year old, ready to start her 5th year of overnight camp. When I ask her what she likes about camp, she says, “Everything!”
Overnight summer camp has indeed been the highlight of my daughter’s years, and looking at the numbers, she is not alone. According to Christopher Thurber and Jon Malinowski, authors of The Summer Camp Handbook (Perspective Publishing, 2000), over 7 million children go to overnight camp each summer. Is it time for your child to join the ranks of these happy campers?
Let’s start by taking a look at the reasons for attending overnight camp. According to Paul Cope, Executive Director at “Camp Champions”, based in Marble Falls, Texas, “An overnight camp experience can prove one of the most significant growth experiences for a child… it gives kids a chance to learn things like respect for others, teamwork, self-confidence and independence.” Add Thurber and Malinowski, “First of all, camp is not school. As if that’s not reason enough for kids to love it, overnight camps offer outdoor activities that most kids don’t have at home or school.” My daughter’s favorite camp stories include an “elegant” night during which the counselors “dressed up” in beach towels and sandals and ate their meals with big, clunky kitchen utensils. She laughs at stories of overturned canoes (in shallow water!), and stories told around the campfire at night. At camp she is a part of unique and tight-knit community, enjoying the outdoors and having fun without the watchful eye of mom or dad. Even the not-so-pleasant experiences present opportunities for growth. For her first year at camp, my daughter’s counselor spoke almost no English (she was from Russia). My daughter and her cabin mates figured out on their own that they would need to go to the cabin next door for information. They ended up having a great time. What could have been a disastrous experience turned into a life lesson for my daughter: not everything in life will go smoothly, but I can figure out how to make things right on my own!
How do we know if our kids are ready for overnight camp? If they hear friends talking about it and eagerly ask a parent if they can go, too, they are probably ready (otherwise, they probably won’t bring it up). Some children might need a little extra nudge if no one in their circle is attending overnight camp. You can “plant the seed” by showing them some websites or brochures of overnight camps, or telling stories of your own or Cousin Johnny’s positive experience with camp. The point is not necessarily to pressure the child to go to camp; it is to make them aware of the possibilities of overnight camp.
As a parent you will need to honestly assess your own comfort level with sending your child “away” for a week or two. Do a little research. Talk to other parents and children who have had success with camp. Check out camp web sites. Talk to camp directors. Their stories will convince you that you are giving your child an invaluable experience, the benefits of which will last a lifetime.
What camp is right for us? According to Thurber and Malinowski, “A good camp is kid heaven.” To find that piece of heaven, consider the following:
Cost: camps vary widely in cost. Typically, nonprofit camps such as Girl Scout, Boy Scout, and YMCA camps cost less than privately run camps.
Activities: Do you want a camp that specializes in certain skills? Or do you want a more general outdoor camp experience?
Location: How far away from home are you willing to send your child?
Length of stay: A few days? 1 week? 2 weeks? For young first-timers, try a 2 night stay. Experienced campers can go longer.
Other factors: accommodations (cabins or tents), coed or single-sex camp, type of organization with which the camp is affiliated, size, and ratio of camper to counselor.
After you’ve made the decision, prepare your child. Plan positive overnight experiences at friends’ houses. Visit the camp’s website and look through the brochure often, talking about the things he/she will do. If you have the opportunity, visit the camp ahead of time with your child.
When my 7-year-old daughter emerged from the camp bus after her first overnight camp, I burst into great sobs of relief. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed her. My puzzled daughter said, “Mom, why are you crying? I had a great time!” and hopped into our station wagon. As she rattled off her delightful stories of camp, I dried my eyes, kept my mouth shut, and smiled. I knew I had just given my child the gift of a lifetime.
Summer Camp Resources:
The American Camps Association website: www.acacamps.org
The National Camp Association website: www.summercamp.org
The Summer Camp Handbook - Everything you need to find, choose, and get ready for overnight camp – and skip the homesickness. By Christopher A. Thurber and Jon C. Malinowski. Perspective Publishing, 2000.
Summer camps and programs for kids and teenagers: www.petersons.com/summerop/
The Secret Ingredients of Summer Camp Success – How to have the Most Fun with the Least Homesickness (DVD/CD). By Christopher Thurber, Ph.D., 2006
