Is Your Child Ready For The Summer Camp Adventure

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• IS YOUR CHILD READY FOR THE SUMMER CAMP ADVENTURE?

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• Is your seven or eight-year old clamoring to set
  off on the grand adventure of overnight summer
  camp?

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• Kids get bitten by the sleepaway camp bug when
  they hear about cabin shenanigans, daring high
  ropes courses, canoeing on the lake and munching
  gooey smores by the campfire.

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• How do you know if theyre really ready to head
  off into the wilderness for several weeks or
  longer?

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• Ask yourself a few basic questions, and youll
  have some idea if your youngster is really
  camp-ready.

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IS YOUR CHILD COMFORTABLE SLEEPING AWAY FROM
HOME?
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• Has your child spent time sleeping away from home
  at a grandparents or friends home?

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• Is she comfortable at sleepovers with a group of
  kids or does she ask to go home in the middle of
  the night?

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• Although summer camp is a longer stretch of time,
  if your youngster does well staying elsewhere,
  she has a good chance of adjusting to summer
  camp.

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IS YOUR FUTURE CAMPER INDEPENDENT?
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• Being at sleepaway camp does require a certain
  amount of independence. Kids should be able to
  take care of themselves and their belongings with
  minimal supervision.

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• Some basic skills your child will need at camp

Brushing teeth
Keeping track of clothes
Figuring out camp schedules
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• Although counselors are there to supervise and
  help out, campers are expected to be responsible
  for the basics of cabin living.

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DOES YOUR YOUNGSTER ADJUST EASILY TO NEW
SITUATIONS?
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• Does your youngster adjust easily to new places
  and situations? Does he make friends easily?

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• If so, its likely that hell have an easy
  transition to the new setting, routines and
  acquaintances of summer camp.

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• A child who warms up more slowly and tends to be
  more of a home body may need a bit more help
  adjusting to the sleepaway camp experience.

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• In this case, going to camp with a friend or
  attending the same camp as a sibling may be
  helpful.

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CAN YOUR CHILD FOLLOW DIRECTIONS?
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• Part of being at camp is cooperating with
  counselors, staff and other adult leaders. Your
  child should be ready and able to follow
  directions and treat staff with respect.

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• Campers learn a lot of amazing things at camp,
  from swimming, climbing, canoeing to sailing and
  gymnastics.

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• And to get the most out of the experience,
  campers need to be able to listen to and
  cooperate with instructors and leaders.

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DOES THE CAMP HAVE SHORTER SESSIONS?
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• Some camps allow an option of first-time campers
  attending for a shorter than normal period of
  time, perhaps a week or two rather than a month
  or the whole summer.

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• If your youngster finds they love camp so much
  that a week or two isnt long enough, its a
  pretty sure thing that next summer theyll be
  ready to sign on for the whole season.

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WHAT KIND OF CAMP INTERESTS YOUR CHILD?
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• Summer camp programs vary quite a bit. Some are
  traditional style camp, focused on recreation and
  outdoor adventures, while others may be more
  focused on sports, theater or music.

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• Be sure your child is asking about attending a
  camp you feel would be appropriate for his
  interests.

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• In some camps, options are available to
  concentrate on certain interests, such as
  gymnastics or trampoline, while still
  incorporating traditional camp activities.