Month: November 2024

Originally posted April 2023

Children who spend time at camp each summer show self-confidence, resilience and independence out in the “real world”. Within the camp environment, children are willing to take risks, which is what leads to them developing these critical skills.

Why/how does this happen?

• Camp creates an environment where children feel safe, loved and supported.

• We switch from “Try this, do that!” to “Let’s all try this together!”

  • Positive peer pressure under the supervision of well-trained staff = children trying new things without even thinking about it.

• We provide language for a child to say, “I’m not comfortable with or ready for that yet.”

  • Our staff models this language and the empathy that must be shown when someone decides they aren’t quite ready to climb the wall or go down the zip line.

• We congratulate those who accomplish their goals AND those who show resilience in trying to reach a goal, even if they haven’t quite gotten there yet.

• In other environments children have often decided the answer is NO before they hear the question.

  • At camp they are excited to have new opportunities presented from different voices.

• Children observe other children overcome fears right before their eyes and see that this transformation is possible.

• Camp is focused on the social, emotional & physical growth of a child; this is what we care about above all.

• Camp provides intentional but also natural opportunities for children to practice and build these skills.

What does it look like in the “real world”?

• A child volunteers to play goalie or speaks up to say they DON’T want to be goalie when asked, instead of just agreeing to avoid conflict.

• A child who is usually very quiet in class decides to run for a student government position.

• A child who wouldn’t go near the pool before summer began is at grandma’s house pulling their parent’s hand towards the pool so they can be the first one in.

• A child visits an amusement park and surprises their parent by being comfortable trying a scary ride.

• A child who used to shy away from character appearances at parties/theme parks now runs to the character to give a high five or is at least willing to stay in the same room as the character.

• A child comes home from the first day of school talking about making friends for the first time on the first day.

• A child enters a “drop off” birthday party or event with no hesitation for the first time.

These are just a few of the examples reported back to camp leadership from year to year. What has your child done out in the “real world” that was influenced by building self confidence, independence and resilience at camp?

Hello camp families!! It’s been two years since I wrote about my family’s introduction to sleepaway camp (Wow! Time flies!) and how we knew it was the right time to send them. Last I wrote (scroll down for original blog), my two older children were preparing to go to Camp Walt Whitman in New Hampshire. One for four weeks and the other for seven weeks. They were of course nervous, but the camp hosted some off-season gatherings to get them excited, break the ice and to meet other camp families.

I am happy to report that their first summer away was a huge success and they of course wanted to return. They came home with tons of new camp friends, new experiences to share, and best of all- self-growth and much needed independence!!  They both wanted to go back for the full summer and they even convinced my youngest to give it a shot for 4 weeks.

My little one is a home body and enjoyed his previous summer without siblings. He had mom and dad all to himself…was he really going to give that up to sleep in a cabin with 9 strangers? Yes! He did!! Summer 2024 he did a four-week session and absolutely loved every minute of it. He cried his eyes out the day he had to leave and come back home. Thankfully, he came right back to his Shibley family that immediately embraced him for the second half of the summer.   

My three children have very different personalities. We chose a co-ed camp so they would all be in the same place but still expect and encourage them to have their own experiences. That’s exactly what happened and they can’t wait to get back to camp for summer 2025. It’s a win/win for the entire family. My husband and I know our kids are busy and active, learning new life skills, having fun, staying off screens and being safe. And the kids are having a blast without any worries or noise from the outside world. It’s just pure joy every day.  

We are well into the school year but there is not a day that goes by that there is no mention of camp. Whether it’s a text from a bunk chat, a picture that pops up on Instagram or the clothing that they are wearing (they have a large Walt Whitman wardrobe/and awesome camp jibbitz), camp is always on their minds and in their hearts!!  

If you are considering a sleepaway camp for your child but you are not sure where to start-give me a call at camp!

Read my original sleepaway camp post: https://www.shibleydaycamp.com/is-my-child-ready-for-sleepaway/

Read more about our camps:  https://www.shibleydaycamp.com/thinking-about-sleepaway-camp/

Sleepaway Savings Account Info: https://www.shibleydaycamp.com/summer-camp/sleepaway-camp-savings-account/

 

Featured Article in Forest Hills Living

Camp directors are out promoting SUMMER camp at camp fairs, school events, community events and other family friendly venues already…but why do we start so early?

Of course, it is to our advantage for planning and budgeting purposes, but it is also to YOUR advantage as a parent to think about your child’s summer plans early on.

Campers Acclimate to Camp Staff and the Camp Property

Camps tend to host events throughout the year for their campers and prospective campers to attend. Some camps host these events on the camp property, and others will take over bowling alleys, arcades, etc. to hold camp reunions and open houses.

Each time the camper steps on the campgrounds or interacts with a veteran staff member, they are taking one step closer to a smooth transition on day one. It is extremely valuable for the child to know and recognize what the camp looks like, where their bunk or meeting area is and who they can ask for help when they need it.

Parents/Guardians and Camp Leadership Build Relationships

It is important that parents/guardians have complete trust in the camp staff responsible for keeping their children safe. Off-season events are excellent opportunities to meet veteran camp staff and leadership in-person and observe how they interact with your children. These interactions will reinforce your choice of program.

Enrolling early also allows you to complete camper profiles and medical information as soon as they are released by the camp. This gives camp leadership and the health care team time to read forms thoroughly and reach out to gather more information, as necessary.

Get a Head Start on Swimming

Camps that offer swimming will open or have access to their pools a few weeks before camp begins for training and inspections. Some will also offer pre-camp lessons on weekends so children who are new to swimming or nervous or just eager to improve their swimming skills can swim with camp lifeguards before camp begins.

Early Bird & Sibling Discounts

It is common for camps and summer programs to offer early bird discounts. Depending on the program, time of enrollment and age of children, camps can offer savings of up to $1000 or more per child. It is also typical for camps to offer discounts if multiple siblings attend. A later sign-up may mean one age group is available, but a second or third child’s age group may already be sold out.

Space is Limited

Many top-quality camps and summer programs sell out immediately upon opening registration or shortly after new families are invited to enroll. The demand is high, and families will recommend their favorite programs to their close friends leaving little room for new families to grab a spot for their child. Do your research now so if enrollment is not already open, you know when it will begin, and you do not miss out on your program of choice.

The more time you and your child can spend within the camp environment and around the camp staff before summer, the more prepared they (and you) will be for opening day.