Rookie of the Summer: 5 Ways to Get Your Kid Ready for Camp
It’s your kid’s first camp summer! Experts from four established camps: Camp Namanu, Willowbrook Arts Camp, Oregon Episcopal School (OES) and Trackers Earth bring you five surefire tips to prepare for a positive and FUN first camp experience.
1. Research.
“Parents know their kids the best,” says Hannah Olson of Willowbrook. You sure do. Start early, i.e. now, in learning about camps that you think would appeal to your child’s interests and fit their personality and comfort level. Does the camp have flexible scheduling in case of first, third or seventh day jitters? What about safety measures and medical staff onsite? Attend camp tours and open houses so you can ask staff questions directly.
2. Practice.
You don’t want your kid’s first time attempting a new skill to be in an unfamiliar environment, especially at overnight camp. Common new-to-kiddo skills include: showering, using an outhouse, applying sunscreen, trying new foods and sleeping away from home. Start teaching them how to do these things now and keep at it! Camp Namanu’s Steven Joinson and Natalie Lindsay also advise having kids practice making mistakes and asking adults for help.
3. Collaborate.
Involve your kid in the process from start to finish! Tony Deis of Trackers Earth emphasizes empowering your child to make informed choices and feel invested in making preparations. Share your research, read brochures and the welcome packet with them and shop for supplies together. Every camp stresses that kids pack their own bags to build a sense of ownership over their things and also, simply, so they know where to find their snack or (more importantly) underwear.
4. Communicate.
OES’s Kati Stenstrom urges constant, open communication with your kid. Ask them about their expectations and worries, then validate them. It’s perfectly natural for a kid to worry about new things, and they need to know that it’s safe to talk about those worries with you. Set realistic expectations about camp and create a game plan for any worries that might come true. Lastly, share your excitement about your kiddo’s first camp experience! Seeing you worry will magnify their anxiety; likewise, they’ll pick up on your positivity and enthusiasm.
5. Relax!
You’ve done the above four things, you and kiddo are as prepared as you’re going to be. Anticipate that there may be discomfort, worry or tears, but also trust your camp staff – trust your own child’s resilience! A common report from the camp experts is that even kids who are shy, nervous or anxious start to feel better and are more engaged after a few hours at camp. Okay, but what about those first few hours, starting with drop-off on day one? “Don’t linger. A swift, sure good-bye shows confidence that you believe they’re going to be safe there,” says Trackers Earth’s Jess Liotta. And there you have it!
Learn more about these expert camps:
Camp Namanu
Spring Fling, Sun Apr 3 12:30-3pm
10300 SE Camp Namanu Rd, Sandy
Hunt Easter eggs in the meadow, then share cookies and snacks with the Camp Leadership team!
campnamanu.org
Oregon Episcopal School
Visit website for Open House date to come; there you can expect to hear more about their athletic, academic and creative camp offerings that promote service learning and leadership, meet staff and see the campus.
summer.oes.edu
Trackers Earth
Portland Camp Fair
Sat Apr 30, 10am-3pm
4617 SE Milwaukie Ave
Meet program coordinators and directors, with optional activities including archery, basket making and blacksmithing.
trackerspdx.com
Willowbrook Arts Camp
On-site tours Sun 12-3pm, Mon-Fri 10am-2pm
Starting Jun 26
Browns Ferry Park, 5855 SW Nyberg Ln, Tualatin
Walk up and take a tour of the 30+ covered art and activity areas to see campers and staff in action.
willowbrookartscamp.org
Meet all four camps, plus about 30 more all at once at the NW Kids Camp Expo on Sat April 2nd at OMSI.
