Each year, the stack gets bigger and bigger! DO tour the camp when possible: Touring a camp the summer before can help families get a real feel for the camp before registering. For over nine years, Jess Michaels has been the Director of Communications for the American Camp Association, NY and NJ, a not for profit organization dedicated to enhancing the summer camp experience. Below are some DOs and DONTs for parents to help ensure their child has the most positive summer camp experience possible. If your friends try to say negative things about other people, change the subject or reply with a positive. While our counselors are not mythically powered, they do come to Weequahic brimming with energy and prepared to give each child their best. But camp noise is different than other noise. But do you ever find yourself a little bit confused about how to make that happen? Not only does this teach children to have a great amount of flexibility both individually and with each other, it teaches them to remain positive. DO thank your childs counselors at the end of the session: Being a counselor is a labor of love, but its also job and taking care of children 24/7 is not always joy ride, needless to say. Multiple pairs, if you have them, are ideal.

The and is important!. If someone in your bunk or at your activity is shy, go out of your way to include them and take a leadership role in introducing them to others. Not only will he or she make wonderful friends and try new activities, but your child will also learn life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and confidence that will help your child grow up to be a successful adult. Even after the summer endssometimes years laterwhenever THE song plays on the radio, it instantly conjures memories of that summer at Camp Starlight. A pair of rain boots or galoshes is always a good idea. Heat plus a lot of activity equals the need to stay hydrated. Campers and staff have taken it upon themselves to make this event known worldwide. DONT make pick-up deals: While discussing camp, dont make plans to pick your child up from camp if he doesnt like it. And dont forget to contact a local Childrens hospital to donate your caps. A saying is among camp staff who return year after year, you can never have too many of either! Ask yourself, what will you be doing at camp? One-way emails are great, but handwritten letters with a parents handwriting feel very personal to a child. Unleash their Inner Confidence for a Lifetime of Adventure, Just the Essential Details for Summer Camp, With Over 1,700 Listed Camps Researched by Kids Camp Experts, This is a Free Camp Listing, researched by our kids camp experts. Athletic shoes are essential. Space is limited to 150 participants. It signals a shift in the camp day. When you send your campers trunks up, make sure all of their bunk junk can fit, neatly, into the Underbed Box. This includes sticker books, rainbow loom/string boxes, stationary sets, and dress up clothes! This fee includes all meals, snacks, housing, andactivities. Rather, its about taking steps in the right direction when kids are ready and willing to take it on, even if theyre a bit nervous about it. So you usually only need enough of these to last the first couple of weeks, if packing space is at a premium. All camp directors want prospective families to visit and meet with them in person. DONT try to impress camp directors with how you know their job better than they do: As much as you want to feel comfortable with a camp director, the camp director wants to feel like youre a parent who will be a good and reasonable partner. Wed love to help. Remember, its just one thing out of thousands that happen over the summer. A few plain white t-shirts/tanks that can be dyed or altered for costume purposes, Eventually, youre going to need to do your laundry at camp. Summer camp encourages campers to give back to their community, and emphasizes the importance of community involvement. Manage your newsletter subscription preferences. Tags: American summer camps, camp community, camp starlight, charities, giving back to the community, hosting a charity event, sleepaway camp, stack the caps, stewardship. Dont just rely on favorites for your summer fun. Sure, they could do just about anything they do on a camp trip without having gone to camp, but doing them at camp makes them part of camp. If this is your Camp, we'd love to feature more of you. Holding your own Stack the Caps event is quite simple. Much like sorority or fraternity membership develops friendships leading to a lifelong network, so to does summer camp. It concerns the Stack the Caps charity sponsored by the camp in honor of a former camper who passed away. But the one thing they all have in common is that campfires happen after the sun goes down. If not, its not expected of them. For those who like to compete we have many options both on and []. Making a pick-up deal sends your child the message that you dont believe he will be successful at camp. We spend our entire off season finding and training the best group of camp counselors. Check-in begins at 11am with a rolling lunch. This is always a challenge for parents. Friday, August 26th to Sunday, August 28th. Being away from home can help simulate the camp experience.

Bring a new/unused cap to camp this summer so you can be apart of the fun and donate to a wonderful cause! Campers: June is finally here and youre about to head off to camp for the summer. Try some new things too. The things that happen during those weeks at camp each year are shared by a relatively small circle of campers who attend a respective camp. THE song has even been the theme of summers past and continues to live on in significance through its role in that theme, like We Take Care of Our Own.. Thats why theyre your friends. Guests will need to bring their own linens or sleeping bags. filed under: Camp Weequahic, Elite Camps, Uncategorized, Tags: America's finest summer camps, American summer camps, camp counselors, camp jobs, camp mentors, camp staff, sleepaway camp, working at summer camp, Tags: advantages of summer camp, America's Finest Summer Camp, American summer camps, benefits of summer camp, camp friends, camp memories, camp traditions, sleepaway camp. So one or two pairs for water-related activities and days off are sufficient. Each camper has a designated spot for all of these items, and its under their bed. It pops up in Week in Review slideshows. If so, make sure you leave room for it when you are packing.

Its certainly not noise pollution, though.

Tags: America's finest summer camps, American summer camps, camp activities, camp friends, camp fun, camp memories, camp spirit, how to have fun at summer camp, sleepaway camp. Posted by WCCA on September 19, 2014 at 8:07 pm under Parent Information. Our Family Camp Weekend will be held from Friday, August 26th to Sunday, August 28th. But at camp, sunset is something that just cant be missed. First youll want to contact[emailprotected] for more information, and some promotional products for your event! Even if your camp supplies a packing list, its hard to determine what you may be able to leave behind, if packing space is at a premium, and what you absolutely must have. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Summer camps focus on harnessing moments and making them special and fun, whether or not they are planned. If youre a parent of a child who is on their way to sleep-away camp this summer, youve probably been stressing out over the never-ending rush to get them packed before they get picked up [], Blog: What If Life Was Like Summer Camp? filed under: Camp Starlight, Elite Camps, Uncategorized, Tags: America's finest summer camps, American summer camps, camp friends, camp memories, camp music, camp song, camp traditions, music at camp, singing at camp, sleepaway camp. Friendships made in camp are bound by a commonality of experiences that may very well be cherished for a lifetime. Now in its 20th year, Camp Nesher continues to set the standard for excellence in Modern-Orthodox Jewish Summer camping. But new friends are pretty great too. So its a good idea to pack a rainbow of colors so that you are prepared to show team spirit when the time comes. Be honest with yourself. The term mentor comes from Greek mythology.Odysseus, when leaving for the Trojan War, placed his son under the care of a good friend named Mentor. And dont forget to think twice about if your child will actually use the items you are sending. Sometimes the entire camp participates in evening activities together while at others separate activities are held for different age groups. It was suddenly very loud, she said. We try our hardest at Camp Starlight to not let the Bunk Junk tornado run through our bunks. Summer Camp Activities? We are excited to offer families with rising 8th and 9th gradeyoung men a weekend they'll never forget. Get the latest NYC family fun and news straight to your inbox! Applying sunscreen often and generously insures that you do not find yourself very red and uncomfortable at the end of a sunny day and protects your skin from the potential long term effects of the suns rays. DO check your camps package policy: Before sending a package to camp, check your camps package policy as each camp has its own. Before camp begins, let your child know you are confident in his or her ability to have a wonderful summer camp experience. If this is your Camp, we'd love to feature more of you. They have constant contact, which psychologists say leads to an open environment, conducive to making friends. These activities help facilitate communication with campers, and are so much fun while in the bunk or cabin during resting periods or rainy days. Even after you return home, you find yourself wishing to hear the sounds that defined your summerbugle calls or bells to signal daily activities, constant cheering and laughter, mealtimes with hundreds of other people. Make it a point to say hello to people and introduce yourself to those you dont know. Many camps also dont allow children to keep food past the evening of visiting day. Building a strategy at home that includes knowing missing home is normal, talking with a counselor, and writing a letter saying: I miss home and these are the three things I like about camp are useful. DO involve your child in the camp process: When searching for a summer camp, the more involved your child is in decisions about camp, the more comfortable your child will feel about going to camp. DO get to know the camp director: Ask about the camps philosophy and program, and make sure they match your familys own values. Or Have a Question? One thing campers also love, however, are camp trips. Theres a reason you count down the months and days each year until its time for camp and why YOUR camp is the BEST camp. Children dont have play dates at camp where they meet someone for a few hours and then return home. Theyre a special time away from the daily routine. Packing can be a daunting task for first time camp staff. Tags: America's finest summer camps, American summer camps, getting ready for summer camp, packing for summer camp, preparing for summer camp, sleepaway camp. Your kids deserve the best! Choosing the right kids sleeping bag is an important decision. Some colorful shirts and shorts (especially in your camps colors). Get the latest NYC family fun straight to your inbox! The Best Summer Camp Search & Kids Camping Blog. It seems like such a small detail, but music is such a big part of camp that the THE song not only becomes a camp trend in the current summerin this case the Summer 2014but is permanently associated with it through the memories we make with it as a soundtrack or inspiration. Blue-and-white uniform t-shirts check; sleeping bag check; flashlight check; tennis racquet check; and way too many pairs of socks and underwear that undoubtedly will not come home at the end []. This is a Free Camp Listing, researched by our kids camp experts.