For traditional campers, swimming and boating are a big part of the summer camp experience. This is why water-safety should be at the top of the minds of camp staff, parents and campers.
Here is everything you need to know to ensure swimming stays as safe as it is fun this summer!
Where I grew up going to summer camp was the norm. Every summer I would get on a bus for 7 weeks of outdoor bliss. No parents. No technology (and this is before the days of smartphones). All the activities you could dream up. Amazing people. Ok food. And memories I carry with me for my lifetime...
Summer is here and preparations for summer camp have begun... here's a suggested list of essentials to pack for overnight summer camp.
This might be a startling fact, but one in 68 children are diagnosed with autism these days.
No single homesickness prevention strategy is as powerful or simple as practice time away from home. Indeed, now is the perfect time for parents to arrange for their child to spend a long weekend with friends or relatives. The key is to simulate a camp-like separation from home by eschewing phone calls, refraining from pick-up deals, and encouraging hand-written correspondence.
Some of Anne Marie Caneco’s fondest childhood memories come from her summer camp days. She started going to overnight camp at 9-years-old, and continued going every summer until she became a counsellor herself. Now, 36, Caneco looks back on those days as having a profound impact on her development.
I think growing your independence in a really safe and supported environment is a great skill.
I think it’s important they choose the right camp. I think it’s important that kids are spoken to about their options.
Camp director Blaine Seamone's favourite part of the job is being able provide the children an opportunity for a fun and exciting and engaging summer.
"We want children to live in the moment," Kelly Mathews, King Day Camp's director said speaking on the benefits of a technology-free camp environment.
I think one of the big benefits for kids attending camp is building their confidence, getting away from their parents and a little outside their comfort zone so that they’re becoming more independent.
Homesickness is absolutely natural and it would be weird if we didn’t have homesick campers... They’re crying at the beginning because they want to go back home and they’re crying at the end because they don’t want to leave.
We’re fighting technology more and more. And there are amazing games out there. You’re competing with some pretty flashy stuff sometimes, but at the same time, it’s more important now I think than ever that we’ve got that opportunity for kids, especially to be outdoors and identify with the outdoors.
My favourite part of my job is seeing campers and counsellors grow over the summer... the feedback that the staff and the kids share is just incredible and really reminds you of how impactful a wonderful summer experience can be
Leading a camp is like any other business. You have to have a good leader, someone that has to be able to listen to people, someone that has to make sure people are safe
We have a lot of international campers, so it’s really nice to get to know people from around the world and have the different cultures be a part of our camp.
Every camp also has something different to offer. Yes, every camp has a ton of activities. We have a ton of activities for everything whether it’s art or athletics, but for us, we value skill and growing in character.
While so many options are available, which type of camp is better for your child?
Whether it’s your child’s first year at camp or their third this summer, there are water-related steps that all parents should take to make sure that the experience is safe as well as fun. Steps can be taken before, during and after camp when it comes to water safety.
Choosing a camp is not easy, but asking prospective camps if they use data for certain information will go a long way in helping you decide what camp to send your child this summer.
“Do you even like your children?” the woman I had just met asked me. The audacity of the question took my breath away. I had been chatting with her, explaining that my kids go to sleep-away camp for two months every year.
It’s natural for parents to have concerns about sending their child to summer camp. However, by following these expert tips, parents can put their worries to rest and help their child enjoy the experience of a lifetime.
At summer camp, children learn many new skills — how to canoe, water ski, build a fire, just to name a few — but it is the following personal skills they learn at camp that are worth every penny it costs to send them.
Here is some advice to address your common camp questions you were too afraid to ask.
When it comes to sending children to camp this summer, doing your homework is key.
Parents can provide their children a path to success by starting to take the summer camp experience much more seriously /
The more you learn, the better chance you’ll have of choosing the best camp for your child. It will also decrease any apprehension you have caused by not knowing the truth or not having all the facts.
Answers to these questions should give parents the confidence that the camp they are looking at is equipped (onsite) or has a strategy in place to ensure quick and competent emergency response and everyday wellness.
The overall purpose of any camp is to serve the total needs of the camper - social, emotional, physical – through a fun and safe experience, in co-operative, outdoor settings. But going to camp is a big step for children and parents. Here are some key tips that will lead to a successful summer camp experience:
