While it’s hard to send away your kid for a week or more in a sleepaway camp, the benefits are too good to deny. For starters, it’s an exciting venture that will create lasting good memories for your kids. But most importantly, there are lifelong critical skills they’ll learn over there. With the following tips on those going to a sleepaway camp, you can prepare yourself and your kids for this venture. Read on:
Arrive Prepared
It pays to prepare and have everything you need by the time you get to the camp. Through a positive attitude, careful preparation, and research, your kids will be less anxious and ready to camp thanks to you.
Camp Safety Questions
You should have a set of safety questions about the camp. They’ll help you walk away assured your kid is in good hands.
- Is the camp accredited by proper authorities like the American Camp Association?
- Are visitors screened before they get into the camp? If so, how are they screened?
- How do they handle homesick kids?
- What’s the staff to kids ratio at the facility?
- Do they have an orientation set up for campers?
- Do they have an emergency response plan?
- Do they have trained personnel to administer first aid??
- What’s their supervision protocol for campers, especially during daring activities like swimming and canoeing?
- Among others
Manage Expectation
If it’s a first-time experience for your kids, they will have lots of expectations. Some of these expectations may be fulfilled by the camp activities but not all of them. Therefore, you should encourage them to hold on until the camping duration is over. By persevering with the camping experience until the end, they’ll come out skillful and more independent. And these are invaluable skills that will help them in adulthood.
Research
What type of camp do you want your kid to attend for a sleepover? Do you want a secular one or a faith-based camp? Also, there’s the matter of location. Do you want a camp near the urban center or one in the countryside? With that in mind, there’s a lot to consider when choosing a sleepover camp for your kid. Therefore, thorough research is important if you want them to end up in the best place.
Camp Preparation
For your kid to enjoy the entire camping experience, they need to have all the necessary items. And you can only achieve that with the right camp preparation list. Even with the list, engage them in the whole preparation process. Go shopping together and even pack their luggage jointly. With enough supplies to last them the entire time in the camp, every moment will be exciting and enjoyable.
Sleepover practice
Before the due day for a camp sleepover, give them a sleepover practice. You can take them to spend a night at their friends’ house. While it’s not necessary, this practice will help them to adapt to the environment away from their home and parents. Also, it will help you as a parent to prepare emotionally to let them spend a night or several away.
Final Take
What if your kids are not ready for sleepaway camp? Taking it one step at a time is perfectly acceptable as well. Trying a day camp is a great way to introduce camp. At Camp Live Oak, you’ll have a piece of mind knowing your kids are in the hands of experts in this field. They’re not only caring but also great counselors. Your children will be able to experience that sleepaway camp feel, without having to sleep over!
Further, activities at this camp are the most diverse and comprise the most exciting options. From swimming to kayaking, hiking, fishing, and starlight sleepover, there’s nothing in this camp that your kid won’t love.
