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As so many of you start preparing for your child to go to sleepaway camp for the first time this summer – I thought it would be helpful to re-share a list I created for my clients this past holiday season. 

While I truly stand behind the notion that camp is the actual gift – we all appreciate that you’re going to buy them things and thought this could be helpful information for you to have. Please do keep in mind though that many of these items last up to 3 years – so if you choose wisely, you will get a few years out of them!

A helpful tip, having 2 daughters already at camp, is to avoid anything ultra trendy such as a pattern (emojis, unicorns, I’m looking at you!). Classic colors and metallics will pretty much ensure you won’t be doing this again next year!

I hope the list I’ve created is beneficial to you – and obviously you can go as crazy or minimal as you want. Some camps do have restrictions on items so always double check (happy to help with this!). If you have ANY questions at all, please let me, or ANY of the S365 team, know – and if you find any great items I’d love to know about it to share with the greater camp community.  In recent years we have been creating shop camp events which have been really well received and we have upcoming ones in Westchester, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Long Island & New York City. If you would like further information on any of these – please let us know – we would love to see you there. We are so incredibly excited for your camper to start this journey and will be there for you every step of the way. 

ANXIOUS IN MARCH? THAT’S ABOUT RIGHT!! Even though it’s still winter in New York and there are still about four months until camp, it’s totally normal for your first time camper to feel heightened nerves! With camp appointments, camp shopping, camp playdates, discussions of bus partners and packing lists, it’s not uncommon for kids to start expressing that they’re nervous…whether it’s with their words or with “new” behaviors (waking up in the middle of the night, wanting to sleep in bed with you, a little separation anxiety).

OMG…THIS PACKING LIST!!!! The monstrous packing list that is silently taunting you is not as scary as it seems. If you chip away at it bit by bit and take a breath before your first camp appointment, all will be okay! AND don’t hesitate to call your camp director if you have questions! That’s what we camp directors are for, especially in the dark days of winter when the phones are eerily quiet!

IS THIS GROUP CHAT FOR REAL?? The group chat that miraculously appeared on your phone with numbers you can’t identify and 100 comments every 10 minutes MAY be overwhelming to you. Moms (and dads!) may chime in on everything from pre-camp playdates to packing questions to questions about the bus stops and everything in between. Do not fear. Take EVERYTHING with a grain of salt and engage only if you want to!! Don’t be intimidated by the chatter and we promise that some of the other parents on this chat will soon become your best friends (we swear)!!

DON’T BE SHY – PICK UP THE PHONE!! We camp directors actually ENJOY talking to you parents!! Don’t start every phone call to your camp director by saying, “I hate to bother you – I know you’re so busy!” We’re never too busy for you…our customers, our clients, our “family”. Don’t be afraid to contact us with any concerns or questions – no matter how big or how small. You’re about to join our camp family for years to come and we enjoy opportunities to build closer relationships with you!

CAMP IS A ROLLERCOASTER…JUST LIKE LIFE!! Each summer at camp is a journey – a marathon – not a sprint. There will be ups and there will be downs. Just like at home, camp is real life. And if you happen to have your weekly phone call with your child and it’s a “down” day, DO NOT FREAK OUT!! Calmly assess what is actually happening for your child…and decide whether it’s worth a call to your camp director (or group leader – whoever is your contact). All campers have rough days here and there – a fight with a friend, a swollen mosquito bite, a counselor that took away flashlight time two nights ago. Expect a down day…it’s NOT the end of the world or time to switch camps!! Number one piece of advice here: STAY CALM.

YOUR CHILD IS THE ONE GOING TO CAMP AND S/HE HAS A VOICE…Remind your sons and daughters that this summer is THEIR summer! AND, if they need ANYTHING, they just need to speak up! There are LOTS of adults in camp to talk to if they need something, if they have a problem, if they don’t like the food or if they can’t find where their counselors put their underwear when they unpacked. For the first time, your kids are not going to have you to speak up for them and they will get to find and use their own voices! How lucky are they!! Practice this at home before they leave so that they’re READY and ABLE to speak up when they get to camp.

WHO HAS TIME FOR MORE FRIENDS?!! The answer: YOU! Some of the other camp moms and dads whose names you’re just learning are going to become your closest friends. It may be hard to believe, but fast forward and you’re going to talk to them daily, travel with them on vacations, hug them with authenticity on Visiting Day and depend on them for advice and friendship and carpools over the next year….and over the next ten years. Embrace it!!

SERIOUSLY…NO TV OR YOUTUBE BEFORE BED? MY KID WILL NOT SURVIVE! Ummmm…yes. Your kid will survive and it will be the GREATEST thing that ever happened to him or her!! Being unplugged is one of the best “gifts” that camp will give your child (next to friendships and confidence, of course). Giggling, flashlight tag, “apples and onions” and counselor bedtime stories will take the place of TV and video games and we PROMISE your son or daughter will love it and won’t ever look back!!

SHAMPOO vs. CONDITIONER…APPLYING SUNSCREEN…SKIM vs. 2% vs. WHOLE MILK vs. SOY…We know that these are just a few of the hundreds of questions that are keeping YOU awake at night. How will your kids navigate new responsibilities that you have always managed for them? How will they tell the difference between shampoo and conditioner? What if they choose skim milk instead of the soy that you serve at home? Don’t you worry….that’s what COUNSELORS are for!! We promise that the counselors we hire are capable and amazing, and they will be the ones to help your sons and daughters figure it all out all day every day at camp

ADHD…OCD…BED WETTING…RITALIN and MORE…We’ve seen it all and nothing scares us. We all have campers in our camps who take medication, who wet the bed, who struggle socially…and we BEG you to be up front with us before the buses roll into camp…because the more we know about your child ahead of time, the better we can take care of him or her during the summer and the more amazing we can make his or her summer at camp!! You don’t need to be embarrassed or afraid to tell us the truth about your child because we’re the ones caring for him/her for 50 days and nights and we all have the same goal – an AWESOME and HAPPY and AMAZING summer!!

 

WE GOT YOUR PACK!

Packing. First time packing for overnight camp. There is always this mystery surrounding it. Is there a secret list?  Should you really follow the list? What about the “extras”? Our momboss powered team of experts is made up of first time camp parents, camp veterans, and everything in between. As trusted advisors, beyond helping families find the best fit sleepaway camp, we are here with information, tips, and advice to help you in this new chapter of your parenting journey…so without further adieu here are some golden rules to abide by! 

Also in terms of a camp appointment – don’t save all those new items for camp!  Wash them and incorporate them into your camper’s home closets.  There is no reason you shouldn’t get more mileage out of them – and you never know if it will make its way home from camp (or what shape it will be in!), which segues perfectly into…

If your camp has a uniform and offers an appointment in your area – GO! It is a great way to see the products, feel them and most importantly, try them on to see the best size.  It is also a great way to get your camper into the camp spirit! No appointments in your area? Not to worry! Most camp outfitting companies will send you sample sizes to try.  Order early, anything that isn’t personalized can be exchanged for a different size if needed. When it comes to uniforms, our motto is to buy big. The kids won’t care if it’s a bit large and then you may get a second summer out of them (or a hand me down!)…because it is true – most of them will come home with MOST of their clothing.  Though we won’t lie – those white shirts often won’t make it. But they can always be turned into tie dye!

We totally understand the stress and anxiety that goes along with your first time packing for sleepaway camp.  The good news? Next year, you will be a seasoned pro and others will be asking you for advice. Have more questions? Reach out to us – we are ALWAYS here to help and spread the camp love near and far.

 

A parents’ note from the heart reflecting on their sleepaway campers first time adventure at overnight camp.

Dear [Camper],

I’m writing this letter to you…but after thinking about it, I decided not to give it to you until after camp is over…Why?

Daddy and I think camp is such a magical place.  But it’s not about US.

It’s YOUR place and YOUR feelings!!!

I don’t want to tell you how I felt at camp or how daddy felt at camp.

I want YOU to feel and experience everything on your own.  Those feelings should be discovered by YOU. The excitement, the nerves, the sadness, the happiness, the butterflies, the confusion, the gratitude, the spirit, the victories, and the passion.

But what I can tell is that Camp Lokanda is a very special safe place.  A place that is all about friendship, the beauty of the outdoors (digital detox!!!…you won’t even miss it), the excitement of waking up to each new day full of sports/activities, contagious camp spirit and true friends.  Oh and Ronen’s chocolate chip pancakes that I wouldn’t give you at home.

It is about experiences and lessons that build GRIT, self-esteem and lasting character. (GRIT…single most important, but will save that for another time).

We’re so excited for you and this new big girl adventure. We’re here keeping your bedroom locked and cheering you on from afar, beaming with excitement at the thought of all the new things you will be doing for the FIRST time.

We love you and can’t wait for you to share your summer with us..swapping stories (if you care to listen to ours!)

The amazing, the bad, and the ugly.  Although there really isn’t bad and ugly…it’s camp. It’s all magical.

Love you!

Mommy & Daddy

When you find the best sleepaway camp for your child, magical things can happen. And there is no better gift to share with the one you love!

5 Reasons Why a Global Learning Summer Experience May Just Be The Perfect Next Step For Your Camper

By: Adam Aronovitz, Director of Global Routes

Let’s face it…camp is magical. There is nothing on earth like feeling so at home, so welcomed, and so embedded in an intentional community of caring individuals. But the real magic of camp is being immersed in an environment that gives us support and space to grow, try new things, expand our horizons, and solve interesting real-life problems. It opens up our universe, illuminates our core values, and encourages us to be joyful, compassionate, community-minded, generous, curious, creative, and courageous. 

Camp raises the bar for our daily existence and how we view true friendships. But at a certain point, it’s essential for camp-lovers to take their journey to the next level, by moving out of the camp bubble, and back into the magic beyond the comfort zone to put those skills and values into action out in the world.

Since the age of 6, I’ve spent almost every summer either attending or working at a summer camp, or designing and leading international immersion programs for students that have aged-out of camp. As the Director of Global Routes, and a 9-time global immersion leader myself, I work with countless former campers each year that are making the leap from the waterfront to the world. I want to help you make the leap in a way that will best support the continued growth of your camper!

Top 5 Reasons Teenage Campers should make the leap to a Global Immersion Program

Of course, the most valuable perspective here comes from life-time campers who made the leap from camp to global immersion programs when they were in high school and now have had several years to look back and assess the value of those experiences.

Here are reflections from Jillian Gray and Kaleigh Mangiarelli. Jillian attended a month-long 2017 global immersion program and Kaleigh attended 3 month-long global immersion programs from 2008-10. 

How was your global immersion experience the perfect next step after many years at camp?

“My experience allowed me to become a more confident leader. The LIT program at my summer camp served as a basis for this confidence, and my program in St. Vincent helped me put these skills into action. The purpose of our trip aligned with the goals of my camp in many ways. Being able to travel with a group and have a common goal helped make the experience even more valuable to me. In many ways being a camper and being an international traveler are very similar. In order to fully embrace either experience, one has to be willing to keep an open mind and be willing to make mistakes. It is all part of the process.   -Jillian

What would you say to a teenage camper who was considering transitioning from camp to a global immersion experience? 

“DO IT. I cannot stress enough how important seeing the world outside of your “bubble” is. International travel is so important in opening your eyes. The people you come into contact with, the history you learn about, the new activities and foods you try are all so extremely valuable in helping you see what life is truly like. When you actually get to see these places in person, you are gaining a much deeper appreciation for the world around you.” -Jillian

“Just do it.  You absolutely will not regret it.  It will change the way you look at your life, change the “things” you value, and ignite a spark for travel and learning about others that you never knew you had.” -Kaleigh

How did your global immersion experience help prepare you to be a confident global citizen?

“It helped my empathy grow to be more than just about other people’s feelings, but about others circumstances as well.” -Kaleigh

“International travel is so important in making us more aware of the world around us. Being more aware helps us become more empathetic and informed. I became more aware of myself and the impact I can have on the lives of others just as other people can have a similar impact on me. Realizing how interconnected we all really are is emphasized through international travel.” -Jillian

What was the biggest impact of your global immersion experience?

“Truly it is the people. These people have come to shape my perspective and have allowed me to become a better version of myself. I think that learning from other people is the most powerful tool we have, and the Global Routes experience allows you to form those connections to people you would never expect to be friends with at first.” -Jillian

How were the values you learned at camp reinforced on your global immersion experience?

“The ‘Full Value Contract’ explains it all.  Putting the group members in charge of creating the rules, not just the authority making those decisions. This is a way that both camp and Global Routes teach young people to hold each other accountable, but in the most positive of ways.” -Kaleigh

How did your global immersion experience help you make the transition to college?

“The group living aspect of the Global Routes experience was particularly helpful to me in making this transition since it taught me some of the most valuable lessons about cooperation and collaboration. I know that my parents have said before that they didn’t have trouble picturing me going to a school far away because they knew of the independence I gained from this program. I am loving my experience in college already and I am thankful that I was able to feel right at home here almost immediately because I have already had such wonderful experiences being so far outside of my comfort zone.” -Jillian

Anything else you’d like to share?

“It is hard to put into words how life-changing it is.” -Jillian

Tips from Adam to find a great program fit:

Please note that Global Routes offers free webinars this February for families that are hoping to learn even more about global immersion experiences. Learn more here.

Written By:
Wendy Siegel (Director, Tyler Hill Camp)
Mindy Jacobs (Director, Timberlake Camp)

Big day ahead! Your son or daughter is soon to meet all of the kids with whom s/he’ll be spending the summer!

Here are 7 tips to help your camper nail their first camp get together:

Follow Summer 365 down memory lane… back to when you were little and saw your first magic trick. You didn’t really understand it, you couldn’t fully explain it, but you know that it amazed you and exceeded all your expectations of what you thought was going to happen. This is how we try to explain sleepaway camp to those who have never been. For people who have never experienced it, it is hard to understand the obsession that is camp. And those who are part of it can never fully explain it, but they definitely know that it was amazing and that it exceeded all their expectations. This is our answer to the question, “why go to summer camp:” because you too will be part of the group that understands the unexplainable magic.

The camp magician teaches children how to master ten magic tricks.

First Trick: Confidence

The trick of being confident. Schools have tried, parents have tried, friends have tried, but I have never seen anyone do a magic trick on children the way that camp can to bring out a child’s inner confidence. It can sometimes be a hidden gem in a child that camp manages to find and bring out.

Second Trick: Loyalty

The trick of being loyal. It’s the magic of friendship that camp teaches children. Your bunkmates quickly become your family and your loyalty to them is extreme and it is real.

Third Trick: Responsibility

The trick of learning responsibility. The magic of camp is that children grow up more in those short 7 weeks than they do throughout the whole year. It’s no longer a nagging parent that instructs a kid to do their duties (brush her teeth, clear his plate, make her bed), rather it is the child who takes on responsibilities to take care of him or herself, to take care of his or her belongings, and so much more.

Fourth Trick: Bravery

The trick of being brave. Getting on the bus that first day requires a new level of braveness that children have yet to experience at that age. Once at camp, being in this magical place, kids are able to conquer their own fears of touching the bottom of the lake, going down the zip line, trying out for the soccer team, or even just trying new foods.

Fifth Trick: Teamwork

The trick of teamwork. Camp is a magical community and doesn’t function without the happiness, spirit, and personalities of each camper. Whether it is partnering up with a new friend, working together on a color war team, or just sitting by the lake, the bonds in this community are unlike most others.

Sixth Trick: Second Family

The trick of creating a second family. Living in a place where you are surrounded by hundreds of people who genuinely want you to be your best self is magical. Camp creates a second family in which children find role models to look up to, people who look after them, and a place where kids learn the great life skills and values from great people.

Seventh Trick: Accepting Others

The trick of accepting others.  Camp is a place where being called “weird” is one of the biggest complements one could accept. Children learn to open up their eyes to people similar and different from them. Camp teaches everyone to find the magic within each other. There is magic within each person, camp just helps people see it.

Eighth Trick: Sportsmanship

The trick of sportsmanship.  It is just as fun to lose as it is to win at camp. Camp teaches the magic of focusing on the positives of every situation. You can ask any coach, teaching sportsmanship is not an easy task, but somehow camp counselors have mastered this. Children actually cheer on the opposite team as much as they cheer on their own. Now that is MAGIC.

Ninth Trick: Living in the Moment

The trick of learning to live in the moment. In this day and age children are surrounded by technology, electronics, and are always diving into the “next thing.” At camp, life slows down. Each day, children learn the magic of embracing the moment, making the best of each day, and being outdoors and in nature. It is not about doing an activity so you can Instagram it, it is about doing an activity because it is fun. Camp brings back the magic of the world that isn’t based around technology.

Tenth Trick: Happiness

The trick of happiness. We often hear parents ask camp directors if they put something special in the water at camp that makes every kid so happy. Camp makes kids smile a little wider, makes their adrenaline rush a little harder, makes their nose crinkle a little more from laughing too hard, and truly makes their heart beat a little faster. If that isn’t magic, then we are not sure what is.

We have yet to learn the magic trick that lets campers stay at camp for 12 months of the year… but we are working on it!

By: Katie Waldrep, Head Nurse

My child is sick at camp. Now what!?

It was my first summer as a camp nurse and I can still remember the panicked voice on the other end of the line. It was my first phone call letting a camp mom know that her child was sick at the Health Center. She was more distraught than the camper who was sitting in front of me. Mind you, I was not a parent yet and most of my experience in nursing had been in Intensive Care. I had no idea that what I perceived as straightforward Strep Throat would elicit such a response.

If you are like most parents who have sent your child off to camp, you researched it all… Which activities will best enhance your child’s interests? Which staff and directors have the type of personality and attitude to encourage and nurture your child? Which camp has the cleanest looking cabins and bathrooms? I know you were thorough because parents worry about these things. But even though you may have toured the Health Center and spoken with a nurse, you may not have really considered what it might mean if your little camper got sick while they were at camp.

Most parents have been the primary caregiver to “nurse” their child through an illness. You’re probably wondering how this camp nurse will know how to provide for your child while they are sick, and if they even will be able to “get better” while in the care of someone else. It can be upsetting to learn that your child is sick at camp but it does not have to ruin their summer, or yours. Below please find some helpful facts we have learned while caring for your children over the years.

Your child will get better.

It is hard enough to send your child away to camp and the guilt you might then feel when they get sick can be overwhelming. But remember — they will get better. The illness will pass and the event may even be remembered as an accomplishment. Do not discount the importance of overcoming an illness while away from mom and dad. I often tell parents that being “in the Health Center” becomes a part of their child’s camp story. The event becomes woven into the tapestry and can often be a funny or warm memory.

This too, shall pass.

Often it is harder for you than it is for your child.

As parents, we sometimes try so hard to make things perfect for our children that we can get upset if things don’t turn out as planned. Many parents are saddened if their little one has to miss out on an event while at camp due to illness. I cannot tell you how many parents have expressed concern to me because their child is missing a “Break Out.” So many camps go above and beyond to make the Health Center stay a positive, memory making experience too. We go on Mystery Golf Cart Rides and “sneak attacks” on the Canteen…shhhhh, it’s our secret! We have Head Staff visit to play games or watch a movie. And if an illness occurs during a special event like “Break Out” or “Sing!” we have our sick campers there for the show, too.

Don’t beat yourself up!

The staff welcomes your input.

Many children have special needs when they are sick. My daughter ALWAYS vomits with a fever. Some children are prone to night terrors or bedwetting when ill. Please share this with the medical staff. You may have written this on your forms and it can be slightly annoying that the staff missed this detail. Please remember it’s not intentional, we are all on the same team and while it may seem careless we can assure you it’s not, your camper is under great supervision while in our care. Be a part of the collaborative team with the camp medical staff. Share your tips. It may be a special technique to get them to swallow medicine or a certain food that you know will be the only thing they might consume while sick.

Help us out, let’s stick together.

Going home is not failure

Times have changed in the camping world — even within my 10 years of camp nursing. When I first started as a camp nurse, campers would stay in the Health Center for their entire illness, no matter how long the course. Going home was simply not an option.

At Camp IHC, just like many camps, our care is individualized which means we do what is best for EACH camper. Sometimes a stay in the Health Center can become a negative turning point, and a camper can be too distraught to stay more than a couple of nights. Our camp physician may feel that additional testing or a second opinion might be beneficial. Sending a child home for a short period during the summer can be a difficult decision.

Parents are members of the collaborative care team and it is in everyone’s best interest, especially your camper, to be positive and supportive. Parents sometimes worry that re-entry to camp can be a little difficult. Rest assured our staff, both Nurses and cabin counselors, are trained to make that transition as smooth as possible for your camper.

This is what we do!

Can you prevent your child from ever visiting the Health Center? Probably not. You can teach hand-washing and nose-blowing (or try — nobody’s perfect!) You can have your child immunized and up-to-date on their flu shot. But even with all of that, children love to share, and germs are certainly no exception. So when your caller ID shows camp’s name, try not to panic. Take a deep breath and remember that we are all on the same team.