Last summer my twins went to sleep away camp. They were seven, almost eight, and had been begging for it ever since they saw The Parent Trap. (They believed they might find their long lost triplet even though I assured them that was impossible.) To my surprise, lots of people had lots of feelings about them going. Which led to a bigger question - how do you know if and when your kids are ready?
Weekend Things
Choosing Sleep Away Camp
My two are headed back to their camp in Maine this summer and are already counting down the days. Lucky for me, their camp director took some time to walk me through how she thinks about the choice and her advice for parents.
When to go for the first time:
There isn’t one age when kids start camp. Some feel ready when they are younger because they have an older sibling, are headed off with a twin, or are just generally extra confident. Others are more hesitant. A good rule of thumb is around 2nd - 5th grade.
You know your kid best. You’ll know in your gut if its just nerves and they will get over it or if it is anxiety that will ruin the summer.
Finding the right options: Our camp director said people find them one of three ways - word of mouth, a “camp advisor,” or just straight up google research.
Word of mouth is usually the favorite since there has been a little vetting on both sides. People have a realistic expectation of the experience and they know someone in the camp community.
Camp Advisors are also great. If they aren’t working with a service like Strongsuit, they tend to be really regional. They are usually moms who know sleep away camps inside and out and help steer kids to choices that they think best meet their goals for the experience. The camps often pay a fee to the advisor for campers that enroll (no charge to the person looking at camps). This is where a lot of their “marketing” budget goes because it leads to a lot of happiness on both sides - campers have unbiased guides and camps can be sure they are excited and ready!
Straight up cold research doesn’t happen as often as you’d think. When it does, the camp will set up conversations to talk to the family and the camper to make sure they are ready, excited, and know what to expect. Not much “marketing” money is spent on things like SEO or ads, but it takes up a lot of the camp administration’s time.
Timing:
A lot of the northeast camps where fully enrolled for the 2023 summer by October 2022. Some even earlier. Most people are ready to make the commitment at the end of one summer for the next.
If you have camps that you want to visit (though according to our director, this has stayed way down since COVID), they will host you when camp is in session. They don’t like to host visitors at the beginning or end of a session, so they will find a day in the middle. This can help extra reluctant campers - even if it is less research, more preview! So if camp 2024 is on your mind, think about a visit in July of 2023.
Making the Most of It:
According to our camp, there is no reason to reach for “parental extra credit.” If they welcome cards and emails, do that. No need to break out all the crafting supplies unless that’s your stress release. If they say no care packages, no packages. Call at the specified times and specified frequencies. Part of the joy is how straightforward they make it for parents. If you are reading the emails and making it though the packing checklists, you are passing with flying colors.
Make dinner reservations! Go on a trip! Host your single friends! Yes, you will miss them, but it’s also blissful to realize how not-busy you are when your kids are having the time of their life somewhere else.
Learn from my mistake. Don’t plan an action-packed family vacation after pick-up. They will be exhausted. It’s an ideal time to get some rest & relaxation at home. They’ve been away from siblings, technology, their room, etc, and you have a grace period before the usual negotiations, bickering, and “I’m bored” start again.
Can't Live Without this week...
Girl Scout cookies! And because we don’t have any local friends with a Girl Scout, I order them online to benefit the troop dedicated to girls in New York City’s temporary housing - Troop 6000.
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