Let’s cut to the chase: Really, only you and your daughter can decide when she’s ready for overnight camp. But, here are some questions to consider and skills to practice, before signing up or dropping her off at check-in.

Questions to consider and discuss as a family:

1. Has she expressed an interest in camp? This is an excellent first step. If she’s asking about camp and shows a genuine interest in pursuing the opportunity, it’s worth continuing the conversation.
2. Is she up for the adventure? If she’s a go-with-the-flow, unfazed, slightly oblivious, bundle of energy…she’ll probably fit right in. But, if she prefers to follow a careful routine or clings to you in new settings or unfamiliar situations, you’ll want to have a discussion about whether she’s ready to get outside her comfort zone.
3. Is she prone to homesickness? Most campers experience some level of homesickness, as they adjust to a new location and being away from the familiarities of home and family. Consider whether she has spent the night (or multiple nights in a row) away at her grandparent’s house or at a friends house. How did she handle those experiences? What were the challenges? How did she cope?
4. Is she comfortable in the outdoors? Camp is unfamiliar territory to some first-time campers. Consider how much time she typically spends playing outdoors, with bugs, heat, dirt, and rain. Has she ever slept outdoors in a tent – even in the back yard – or have you gone camping in an RV or cabin as a family?
5. Does she have the skills to care for herself? Our trained staff counselors will ensure her safety and well-being at all times, but our campers are expected to care for their own bodies and belongings. Before coming to camp, she should be able to: pick out clothes appropriate for the weather and dress herself; brush her own teeth; brush/comb her hair and put it in a ponytail, if applicable; correctly apply her own sunscreen and bug spray; make her bed and keep her belongings neat and tidy; keep track of her backpack for an entire day; change into and out of her swimsuit; sleep through the night without wetting the bed or sleepwalking (if accidents happen, our staff are prepared to support her, though – and they’ll keep it as discreet as possible).

Here are a few tips to prepare for her first session of summer camp:

• Discuss camp openly with her. Debate the pros and cons of the experience, and come to a consensus together. Invite her to fully participate in picking out her camp session based on the theme or dates.
• In your discussions, make a list of questions she has that you don’t know the answer to, and reach out to our summer camp expert, Aimee Beauchamp, to get all the answers.
• Practice spending more than one night at her grandparents’ house or a friends house, or in a tent in the backyard. Debrief the experience and ask what she liked, what she didn’t like, if she was ever scared, what feelings she felt, what challenges came up, etc.
• Create a camp countdown with a calendar on the fridge where she can “X” off each day or paper rings where she can remove a ring as each day gets closer to camp.
• Practice each of the skills she’ll need to care for herself (see #5 above).
• If you’re the parent of a camper, get yourself ready! Sometimes, parents are more nervous about a first-time camp experience than the camper is! That’s understandable, though – it’s a big step in her growth and independence. In the weeks, days, and moments leading up to her camp experience, be aware of your verbal and non-verbal communication. Are you encouraging her to be brave, try new things, and overcome challenges? Her confidence will soar if you believe she can do anything she puts her mind to.

When you decide – together – that she’s ready for the camp experience, check out all session options at www.citrus-gs.org; or use GSUSA’s Camp Finder to locate a camp across the country (maybe near Grandma’s house!).