Holiday Gift Guide: Best Gifts For Camp Kids

Tis the season to go shopping! While we know that camp is still months away, for camp kids, it’s never far from their mind! Since most campers live 10 months out of the year, for two, you can bet that the will be really thrilled to get some new camp items for the holidays. If you don’t know what to get  the camp kid in your life this holiday season, here are some great gift suggestions:

A Colorful Diary: Since camp is full of making memories, what better gift to give the camp kid in your life than a place to write them all down? This sweet diary is the most fun way for kids to keep track of all of their experiences, and allows them to personalize it with stickers and gems. And if they’re worried about someone snooping, it comes with a lock to keep those personal memories, personal!

Camp Clothing: We bet your kids already have so much pride in their camp, that they want to show it off to the world all year round. Gifting your kids with camp t-shirts, sweatpants or headbands is a great way to keep them cozy and in the camp spirit, even when it’s not in session.

Cupcake Autograph Pillow: What better way to spruce up a camp bunk, and be creative with bunkmates than by adding this cute autograph cupcake pillow to your little camper’s bed? Your child will be able to have everyone sign their pillow so they will always be able to remember the fun days of Bunk 14.

Mini-Games: While we know that camp is non-stop fun and games, giving the camp kid in your life some extra games to bring to camp this summer will certainly be appreciated. You can make a basket filled with their favorite mini games and activity books to keep them busy up until camp arrives. Games like Mad Libs, Thumb Wars and mini hoops are all great ways to pass some quiet time in the bunk.

Friendship Bracelet Making Kit: We would be remiss if we failed to mention a friendship bracelet making kit on our holiday camp gift guide, as camp is practically the birthplace of friendship bracelets! Any camper would be happy to unwrap this for the holidays! This kit gives them everything the need to weave their own bracelets in their bunk for all of the new friends that they will make at camp.

What will you be getting your camp kid for the holidays? Let us know on our Facebook page.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for any child for the holidays, give them the priceless gift of sending them to Camp Tioga! Our superior staff, picturesque grounds and the 80 activities we offer, make our camp the perfect fit for any child. For an in-depth look at what Camp Tioga has to offer, take a look at our website or call 516-938-0894 for more information.

The Importance of Teamwork in Kids

T-E-A-M! What does that spell? Team!!!! Why is it important? We’ll tell you!

The ability to work together with others as part of a team is a crucial skill that children need to possess not only at school, but throughout their entire lives. Instilling a value of working together in your children is something that can’t be taught soon enough. Teamwork requires people to work cooperatively with others towards a shared purpose, and when they do, great things can happen!

Teamwork is a highly social activity and when children work together it takes all of the members of the team to respect each other’s opinions and abilities. Being part of a team is so crucial for the development or strengthening of your child’s social and emotional skills. It  enables your child to move from more intrapersonal ways of thinking to interpersonal. Teamwork helps children develop their social skills. Improve their confidence and makes them feel part of a community.

Children may be asked to work in teams at school, during sports games and certainly at camp! While your child will experience plenty of team-based activities outside of the home, it is important to continue the ethos of good teamwork there. Here are some reasons why:

• Make sure your child understands how great they’ll feel when they are part of a team and how it can be upsetting to be left out. Once they realize this, they will be sure not to exclude others.

• Teamwork can often inspire competitiveness with other teams. Encourage your child to be a good sportsman and a team-player and that it is OK to lose.

• Get children to work together on a project or play a board game at home – Board games can inspire teamwork, while working together on a project at home can encourage every child to decide on a role in the team.

One of the best ways to instill teamwork in your child is by sending them to camp! Camp Tioga provides children with an array of benefits--from making friends to gaining confidence. If you’re looking to help your child grow and develop, send them to Camp Tioga next summer! For an in-depth look at what Camp Tioga has to offer, visit our website or call 516-938-0894 for more information.

How To Make The Most Of Your Time Away From Camp

We know your children are probably longing for the fun days of new activities and forming friendships that camp brings. But since camp only lasts for three months, it’s important that they keep the camp mentality going for the remainder of the year.  Encourage your children to make the most of their time while away from camp with these tips:

Join a Sports Team:

Camp introduces children to an array of sports and activities that they may not have tried on their own. This could lead to them discovering a new sport that they’re not only good at, but that they enjoy as well. Joining a sports team is a great way to fill their time at home and teaches them about the importance of teamwork, being active and making friends--the same things they learn at camp!

Keep in Touch With Camp Friends:

While Camp Tioga is a tech-free zone, social media and technology are great ways for your children to keep in touch with their camp friends. It helps campers feel a sense of belonging when they stay connected to their friends from camp. Planning a camp meet-up, or a mini reunion is also something that your kids might look forward to during the off-season.  

Reflect On The Camp Experience:

Once camp is over, your child will have time to reflect on the experience as a whole. Camp teaches kids so many life lessons, it’s important for them to think about them and apply them to their daily life.  After reflecting on these lessons, it will be interesting to see what they’re looking forward to learning next summer.

Looking for a sleepaway camp for next summer?  Camp Tioga  is the place to be! We provide fun, friendships and lifelong memories to all of our campers. To learn more about all that we have to offer or to schedule a tour of the camp, give us a call at 516-938-0894 or visit us on Facebook.

7 Reasons We Can’t Wait Until Camp Next Year

Even though camp just ended, we don’t think it’s too soon to start counting down the days until next summer! After all, camp kids live 10 months out of the year for two, so it only makes sense to start getting excited about Tioga 2017 now! Here are some reasons we can’t wait until next summer:

• The first day of camp: The first day of camp is just the best! All year the excitement builds, until the day you finally step off the bus, knowing that the best summer of your life is about to start.

• Making new friends: Camp is all about forming new friendships, and the friends you make at camp can become friends for life.
• Disconnecting from technology: Camp Tioga has a strict no cell phone policy. Unplugging from the outside world of social media gives campers a chance to connect with nature and be present in the moment of all that is going on around them.
• The fun activities:  Jewelry making, archery, swimming, oh my! Camp Tioga proudly provides campers with 80 different activities to choose from. With that kind of selection, you'll never get bored!
• The color war: The color war of 2016 was a success, so it’s no doubt that color war 2017 is going to be awesome!
• Trips: Tuesdays are trip days at Camp Tioga! We visit amusement parks, water parks and sporting events.
• The staff: Our entire staff strives to provide our campers with the best possible summer experience of their lives. We’re like a second family to our campers and wouldn’t have it any other way!

If your son or daughter can not wait until camp next year, enroll them at Camp Tioga today! Let them experience all of the greatness that we have to offer. Our superior staff, picturesque grounds and the array of activities we offer will be the perfect fit for any child. Today is the last day to enroll to save big! Visit our website to learn more, or give us a call at 516.938.0894.

4 Ways to Help Your Child Transition Home From Camp

Camp is over for the summer! Cue the sad music and break out the tissues--we’re just as sad as your kids are. After having one of the best summers of their lives, it can often be hard for kids to return home and get used to living their normal life again. Camp gives them freedom and the opportunity to learn, grow, make friends and try lots of new things, so it’s no surprise that coming home can certainly be an adjustment. Help ease your child back into everyday life with these tips:

Continue their freedom:

After spending weeks away from home where your kids have a taste of freedom, continue the freedom at home by giving them options and making them part of their decision making process--even if it’s limited. Allowing them to choose what they want to wear, eat or when they sleep within reason will help make the transition home a little smoother.

Plug-in slowly:

Since camp is a tech-free zone, this is the perfect opportunity for your child to ease back into using their phones, laptops and social media slowly. Hopefully their tech detox made them realize that they don’t need to rely on these things to have fun. Limiting their time with their electronic devices will ensure they don’t experience tech shock and become overwhelmed when plugging back in.

Be a good listener:

Your child will want to share all of their memories, stories and experiences from camp with you! Make sure you are there to listen to them and understand the joy that they felt. Encourage them to continue to sing camp songs and wear their camp shirts around the house. Living away for the whole summer comes complete with personal growth and learning life lessons. Remind your child that you missed them but are so proud of how they developed this new sense of independence and maturity. Showing encouragement and support will ensure that they open up to you about other things in the future.

Leave the “camp” in camper:

Encourage your child to look at their camp photos on the website, allow them read the camp blog, and schedule play dates and sleepovers with their camp friends periodically. Incorporating camp traditions into their daily lives is another great way for them to always keep a piece of camp with them as they continue on their normal daily activities. Most importantly, remind them that Tioga 17 will be here before we know it and we will be ready to have another amazing summer full of the best memories ever!

Is  your child experiencing withdrawal from summer camp? We can’t say we blame them! Camp Tioga is located in the incredible endless mountain region of Pennsylvania, equipped with a state-of the-art campus built on 110 scenic acres, with panoramic views reaching over 40 miles. We provide fun, friendships and lifelong memories to all of our campers. If you’re looking for the best sleepaway camp in all of Pennsylvania for next summer, call Camp Tioga! To learn more about all that we have to offer or to schedule a tour of the camp, give us a call at 516-938-0894 or visit us on Facebook. Enroll now for summer 2017 and save up to $600.

4 Tips To Help Kids Unplug

In a world run by ever-evolving technology, kids can miss out on experiences and real life connections to others. The children of today spend an average of nine hours per day using technology, according to CNN. Those numbers are alarming and can lead to lack of social skills and health problems down the road. Removing yourself from technology, even for a little, is so crucial for the mind and body. Camp is a place where children can put down their smartphones and learn to connect to others while enjoying nature.

Help your children unplug from technology when they’re not at camp, with these four tips:

1. Encourage hobbies: Encouraging your child to take up things like sports, art, dance or music are all great ways to help lessen their screen time.  They’ll keep busy going to practice or getting ready for a big game that they won’t have as much time to text.
2. Set Limits: Limiting the amount of time your child can spend on their electronic devices is a great way to make sure they also get to experience the world going on around them. Some parents like to ban cell phones at the dinner table or during family conversations, which is helpful in getting your child into an “unplugging habit.”
3. Spend Quality Time Together: A lot of technology use comes from your child being bored and having nothing to do. Spending quality time with them- such as going for a walk, to the movies or just having a talk over ice cream- helps steer them from the screen.
4. Motivate Them To Exercise: It’s really important to get your kids moving! And making it a family affair is even better. Arrange outdoor activities like swimming or hiking, or even join a gym together! You’ll both reap the health benefits and have some time away from your phone!

At camp, children can unplug from the cyber-world and focus solely on building real life relationships, an important skill that will help them throughout life.  Are you searching for a place to help your child unplug next summer? Look no further than Camp Tioga! We are confident that by the end of camp, your child will have new friends and memories that will last them a lifetime. To learn more about all that our camp has to offer, visit us on Facebook or call 570-756-2660 to schedule a tour of the camp.

Best Camp Care Package Ideas

You labeled their clothing, you packed their bags and now your kids are off to camp! But your parent duties don’t end here--now it’s time to put together the ultimate camp care package to send their way! While there are some restrictions on what camps will allow in, there are certainly lots of little items you can include to put a smile on your child’s face. Here are some fun ideas for a summer  camp care package:

Glow Sticks: When the counselors call for “lights out,” glow sticks could be a great alternative to ease the fears of a first time camper and provide them with a little comforting glow. They are also great in helping lead the way to the bathroom at night or for hanging outside to keep the mosquitoes away.

A Taste of Home: Send your child their favorite treat from home! If their camp has rules on food restrictions, such as keeping them nut free, make sure to abide by them to ensure the safety of other campers!

Love Notes: A simple note telling your child how much you love & miss them and are proud of them goes a long way. It’s like sending an instant hug through the mail. Sometimes a little reassurance from home eases any apprehension they might have.

Small Toys & Games: A deck of cards, bouncy balls, yo-yos, frisbees and even your child's favorite graphic novel are always a sure-fire care package hit. While camp is chock full of super fun activities, these are great additional ways to keep them busy and entertained on their own time.

Toiletries: Chapstick, hair ties and headbands, oh my! Since their stock might be running low, packing up some toiletries and accessories are a great way to replenish your child’s stash and bring some excitement to their package!

Happy shopping, moms & dads!

At Camp Tioga, we provide fun, friendships, and fantastic lifelong memories. Our campers love getting care packages--we welcome 2 packages per session! If you’re looking for a great sleepaway camp for next summer, choose Camp Tioga! Located in the incredible endless mountain region of Pennsylvania, our state-of the-art campus is built on 110 scenic acres, with panoramic views reaching over 40 miles.To learn more about all that our camp has to offer, visit us on Facebook or call 570-756-2660 to schedule a tour of the camp.