Is Your Daughter Ready for An Overnight Camp This Year?

Do you remember the fun of singing songs around the campfire when you first went away to one of the hundreds of overnight camps in the United States? Maybe your daughter is the same age now as you were on your first trip to camp, or maybe she is eager to try going away herself. How do you know if your daughter is ready for an overnight or possibly extended stay away from home this summer? Following are eight guideposts to help you gauge her readiness.

Your daughter is probably ready for an camp experience if she is at least seven years old and:

1. She is fine with spending nights away from home. If she's slept over with friends or at grandma's house before and didn't have problems, she'll most likely be okay at camp. If she's worried about being away from home too long, you might think about having her go with a sibling or friend. This can make the first time at camp easier.

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. Outdoor activities like canoeing, horseback riding, hiking and more should be reasonably appealing to her, and she should be prepared to put up with some bugs. Traditional camp activities are mostly out-of-doors, and bugs are a fact of outdoor life. (Of course, if she is attending a camp that is mostly indoors, like theater or computer camp, this won't be an issue.) In any case, a willingness to try new activities and to stick to them even if she decides she doesn't enjoy them will help her get more out of the experience.

8. You've explained the distance and time involved for you to reach her in an emergency, and she is okay with being that far from home. If she is concerned about being too far away, select an option that is closer.

Parents know that every child is different, so it's to be expected that not every girl is ready for camp at exactly the same age. Going away to summer camp for the first time is an exciting step towards independence! If your daughter can meet or is willing to try her best at the above eight tips, she's probably prepared to have a great time at a girls' summer camp. If she's not ready yet, don't worry -- there's always next year.

Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com

About the Author

Looking for an exceptional summer camp for your daughter? Located in Harrison, Maine, Fernwood Cove offers two separate 3 1/2 week programs that 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, professional staff. SEO 2.0 Services

by: Stephen Daniels

Total views: 7 Word Count: 623 Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 Time: 3:57 AM - 1 comments

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