Tips for Sending Your Child to Overnight Camp For the First Time

We know the never-ending benefits of sending your child to overnight camp--the increased self confidence, building long lasting friendships and developing independence. But for a child who is off to camp for the first time this summer, it can seem overwhelming, and dare we say it, even scary! But fear not! We’re here to ease your child’s fears with these tips to help them realize that camp is going to be one of the best experiences of their lives.

It’s All In The Approach: When speaking to your child, don’t talk about camp as being “4 weeks away from home,” but rather “a summer full of adventures and new friendships!”

Visit The Camp: Scheduling a tour ahead of time to explore the facilities and meet the camp staff is a great way to familiarize your child with their new summer home. This will help them feel more comfortable as they’ll be able to visualize themselves there.

Talk About It: During the months leading up to camp, it’s helpful to talk about what they can expect this summer.  Mentioning things like sleepovers in the cabin and meeting new people  are both positive topics that will get your child excited about their new adventure.

Surf The Web: Exploring the camp’s website is a great way to have a virtual experience, especially if there are videos or interactive maps of the grounds. Seeing pictures of other campers having fun, or an activity calendar for the summer ahead is helpful in building enthusiasm.

Acknowledge Their Concerns: Ask your child positive questions, such as, “what activity are you most excited about?” or “what do you think your counselors will be like?” This will hopefully spark a conversation between you and your child, bringing up any concerns they may have. Let them know you are listening, which should redirect their concerns and minimize their apprehension.

We want your child to know that camp is fun! With a camper to staff ratio of  3 to 1, Camp Tioga is composed of carefully selected experienced and caring individuals who make sure that each child feels welcome and comfortable. To learn more about Camp Tioga, visit us on Facebook or Twitter.