Children throughout the country will be heading back to sleepaway camp this summer. The everlasting tradition of kids packing a trunk and heading to camp was put on hold in many states last summer and this year parents are excited to see their children get back out in to the woods and away from their screens and living rooms.
Knowing the right age to send your child off to sleepaway camp is a question that is asked of Camp Directors every day. Rhino Merrick, director of Camp Sloane YMCA in Lakeville, CT gives advice to parents who are wrangling with the idea of their child’s first experience.
“Really, there are three simple steps for parents”, Merrick says. “First is to chat with your child about camp. When the camper is excited about the idea of going away to camp, that will be a good indicator that they are ready.”
“Next is to consider how long you’d like your child’s camp session to be.” Camps offer sleepaway programs for shorter one and two-week sessions, as well as half summer and full summer sessions. Quite often choosing the length of session is based on summer schedules, family vacations or even what your chosen camp offers.
The third step is the most important, according to Merrick, a long-time camp director. “You need to find a camp that matches your families’ values”. He suggests speaking to camp directors and asking about camp philosophy, what their licensing and accreditation status is and how many campers and staff the camp has.
Many sleepaway camps begin accepting kids at around rising 3rd grade. A camp that is able to offer small groups and more counselors can help your elementary school-aged campers settle in and thrive. While there is no magic age where a child will succeed at camp, parents know their children best and can make the best assessment about their resiliency.
“Kids can do so much more than we always first assume. I’ve seen timid, shy campers absolutely shine at camp when they are given the right support. Reach out to your preferred camps’ director – we all love talking about summer camp”, said Merrick.
More About Camp Sloane
Camp Sloane YMCA has been providing children with a place to grow since 1928, in the beautiful foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. Camp Sloane has been built around the things we know you, as a parent, are looking for. Safety is our #1 priority, we have a high-quality and well-trained staff and we offer a wide range of fun and exciting activities.
We are a tech-free camp and campers are given the opportunity to engage in creative play and communication. Since 1928 our campers have lived in our canvas walled platform tents - the way camp should be. Each small tent group of up to 6 campers is part of a tent village. Living in these villages, campers get to experience a sense of community like nowhere else.
For more information on the 2024 summer camp season visit: www.campsloane.org.
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