Shopping

Is your daughter starting to ask you about the possibility of summer camp, or is she about the same age you were when you first went away to camp? If so, you likely are remembering the fun and adventure of your own times at camp, and hoping for your daughter to have similar experiences. But how can you tell if she is ready for an overnight or longer stay away from home this summer? Here are some tips to help you assess whether or not this is the year to introduce her to camp.

Your daughter is most likely ready to go to summer camp if she is at least seven years old and:

1. She has slept over with friends or other family before and didn\’t have any problem being away from home. If this is the case, she will most likely be okay at camp. If she is expressing some concern about being away for so long, going with a sibling or a friend may help her be more comfortable on her first trip.

2. She can keep track of her belongings, make her own bed, take care of personal hygiene without help, and she knows how to behave in safe ways (with a bit of guidance from adults).

3. She is good at communicating with adults and expressing problems. If she will have difficulty talking to counselors about any issues that come up, you might want to wait longer before sending her to camp.

4. She is willing to follow the instructions given by counselors without challenging everything that is said. This is especially critical for any of the activities where following directions is a matter of safety, such as swimming or hiking.

5. She is open to making new friends and getting along with girls from all different backgrounds. Getting to know new people is a big part of camp. Friendships made during these times are known to last a lifetime. It is helpful if she is able to get along even with people she doesn\’t like much as well — this will make her time at camp easier for everyone.

6. She will try new foods. It\’s likely that, at some point, food will be served that she is unfamiliar with or doesn\’t find very appealing, and there may not be other options available. She might have a hard time adjusting if she is an extremely picky eater.

7. She enjoys outdoor and group activities, such as canoeing, horseback riding, archery and hiking, and she can tolerate bugs. At least at traditional camps, activities revolve around the outdoors and the outdoors comes with bugs — that\’s just a fact of life. A willingness to try new activities and to stick to them even if she decides she does not like them will help her get more out of the experience. (Of course, if indoor activities will predominate, such as might be found at a theater or computer camp, for instance, bugs should not be an overriding issue and there will be different priorities).

8. She is okay with how far she will be from home. You should make sure she understands the distance and time involved for you to reach her in case of an emergency. If she seems worried, you may want to consider an option that is closer to home.

Going away to a summer camp for girls is a big step towards independence. Not all girls are ready for this experience at the same time; however, if your daughter can do or is willing to try the above eight guideposts, she is more likely to have a great summer camp experience. And, if she is not ready just yet, there is always next year.

Searching for an extraordinary summer camp experience for your daughter? Located in Harrison, Maine, Fernwood Cove is a magical place where no two days are alike. Programs combine simple living in the out-of-doors with the warmth of community. Girls develop long lasting friendships while experiencing quality, skill-based activity instruction from caring, mature staff. Powered by SEO 2.0 Services

Tags: Children, girls camps, girls summer camps, Overnight Camp, summer camp for girls