Pre-Camp Prep

The process of getting your child ready for camp begins long before you start packing his or her bags.

• Make sure your own mind is at ease about your child going to camp. If your child senses that you might be nervous, he or she will be nervous too. Contact the camp and find out everything you can about what your child will be experiencing and who will be taking care of your child. A great way to get an inside look at a camp’s staff is to look at their online application. The kinds of questions asked on an application will tell you worlds of information about the kind of staff that a camp hires.

• Visit the camp’s website with your child. Seeing pictures of the campus, the staff and activities that they will be participating in is a great way for your child to be familiar with the camp before he or she even gets there.

• Talk about camp! Ask your child about his or her expectations or questions. Don’t be afraid to contact the camp to get answers to any questions. Discuss what it might feel like to become homesick, but encourage your son or daughter to trust God’s strength and plan on having a great time. Be careful not to discuss the option of calling home since many camps do not allow children to call their parents throughout their stay.

• Get excited with your child! Make going to camp a big deal. Post a large packing list on your child’s wall and mark items off the list as you help your child pack. Share fun stories about your own camp experiences.

• Make yourself and your child very familiar with the camp’s policies. Know what your child can and cannot bring. You don’t want a child pulling out a bag of mom’s cookies only to find out they’re not allowed.

Hit the Road

Keep the big day from being a stressful day by remembering these ideas.

• Be familiar with the camp’s check-in and orientation procedures. Double check before you leave the house to make sure you have all the right paperwork.

• Start early. Don’t create a stressful situation for you or your child by being late and rushed.

• Once you arrive, walk around the camp with your child. This will make him or her familiar with the grounds, and it will help you to feel a part of your child’s experience.

• Make saying good-bye as easy as possible. No tears! Continue to be positive and encourage your child.

Off and Runnin’

Helping your child have a great camp experience doesn’t end when you drop your child off.

• Write letters. Mail at camp is special, so use it to encourage your child. It’s even a good idea to send a letter before your child leaves so it will be sure to get there. Be careful to not talk too much about home, but emphasize how proud you are of your child and how excited you are for him.

• Pray for your child! There is no better way for you to be a part of your child’s camp experience than to continually ask God to show Himself to your child and to work in his or her life.