For the Herald-Journal
Going off to summer camp is almost a rite of passage. Camp time is a time when children — and their parents — grow up a little and learn how to live apart. But not forever.
Before the sleeping bag is rolled and the suitcase is packed, there are some things every parent and child should consider.
First things first. Is your child going to be a happy camper? And is your child ready to spend a night or week away from home?
“Parents need to trust their own feelings. If they don’t think their child is ready for a camp away from home, the child probably isn’t,” said Joseph Harris, a licensed school psychologist, author and parent.
There is no magical age, but some experts agree that children aren’t ready until they show some interest and know some basic skills, such as how to tie shoelaces, how to cut food and how groom themselves, according to the American Camping Association.
“There really is nothing like the experience of a week at camp to develop life skills,” said Ann Woods, spokeswoman for the association. “The ability to go into a new environment, make new friends and succeed is so important in life. You take those skills with you always.”
So the idea is to make the experience a rewarding one — one that she will remember.
Don’t force camp. Consider how your child handles new experiences and being away from home. In fact, a child should have some experience or at least like overnight stays away from home.
To help ease fears about being away from home, try a day camp or overnight camp first. These camps are usually short enough and close enough to home for parents and children to feel comfortable, yet they still provide experiences that are different from school.
When the time comes for an “away” camp, parents need to be prepared. It doesn’t help a child who is ready to see her parent crying at the camp gate, Harris said.
Make sure you’re prepared to let your child go.
For residential camps, children should know they can call home. Most camps do not encourage home contact because it can make normal homesickness worse. Yet, children should have the security of knowing that parents can be reached in case of an emergency. Technology can offer some comfort for worried parents. Many camps offer daily connections between campers and parents, either through e-mail or posting photographs on a camp Web site.
Harris also suggests parents give their children a goal. “Ask the child to give the camp 48 more hours,” he said. But be prepared to go get the child then. More than likely, by that time, they’ll have adjusted and be having so much fun they won’t want to come home.
Security
Many parents hesitate when considering camps, particularly residential camps, because they have normal concerns about their child’s safety. It’s OK to be wary. Instead of disregarding the whole idea of camp, which can be a very positive experience for your child, use your concern to your advantage. Check out the camp, thoroughly. Ask other parents who have let their children attend the camp you are considering. Ask about camp certification and licensing. Contact the licensing board. Find out if there have been any complaints about the camp and find out how those complaints were addressed.
Harris urges parents to trust their instincts when selecting a camp. If you live close enough, a visit will allow you to walk around and talk to the counselors. “If you get a funny feeling, or the camping situation just doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t,” he Harris said.
If the camp is too far to visit, e-mail the camp, ask for promotional information or videos or take a virtual tour, if the champ offers a Web site.
Screen the camp
With more than 8,500 camps in the United States, the task of finding the right one for your child can be overwhelming. The American Camping Association lists several ways to screen camps and prepare for your child’s camping experience. Some sample questions include:
- How do you screen your staff?
- What training does your staff receive in the prevention of child abuse?
- What supervision does your staff receive in the performance of their duties?
- What methods do you use to make your staff sensitive to the needs and concerns of children?
- What experience and background do the staff have who supervise children?
- What are your policies about parent-camper communication?
The American Camp Association Web site provides lists of additional questions and tips for preparing your child for camp, and a listing of accredited camps in the region.
Communicate
Even if the camp you choose meets all your qualifications for security, you and your child should have discussions about personal safety long before leaving home.
“From the time they are big enough to talk, children should know that there are places where they should not be touched, and ways they should not be treated,” Harris said. Make sure your child knows that they can go to a trusted adult or contact you if they are treated improperly or fear they may be.
If children do call home, they may not be able to do so privately. Consider giving your child a code word they can use if they don’t feel safe.
Resources
If you go to www.nichedirectories.com, you can find information and links to other Web sites such as: kidscamps.com, campersmall.com, grownupcamps.com, payforcamp.com, retreatsearch.com, campdirectorsmall.com, and campjobs.com.
Nichedirectories.com is a company founded by Nancy Diamond and Kim Bregman in 1995. When searching for camp information, they couldn’t find what they needed, Diamond said.
Now, she and Bregman have developed a marketing company with a database of more than 15,000 camps worldwide. The kidscamp.com site was picked as a favorite in the Forbes Magazine “Best of the Web” feature in the spring of 2001 and has been featured in more than three-dozen news stories.
For accreditation information about camps in the Southeast, you can contact the American Camping Association, Southeastern office, online at www.southeastcamps.org or by phone, (828) 263-0934. The address is American Camping Association, Southeastern, 703 West King St., Suite 106, Boone, N.C. 28607. Or e-mail, info@southeastcamps.org.
Now relax
You’ve checked out the camp, your child’s ready, now let go. Have fun packing and sharing stories of the camps you attended and the silly things you did. See if you can dig up some pictures. Laugh at the outdated hairstyles and bathing suits. Bring back a bit of your own childhood fun and send your child off with a smile.
George Lauer, writer for The Press Democrat in Santa Rosa, Calf., contributed to this article.