Is your daughter starting to ask you about the possibility of summer camp, or is she about the same age you were when you first went away to camp? If so, you likely are remembering the fun and adventure of your own times at camp, and hoping for your daughter to have similar experiences. But how can you tell if she is ready for an overnight or longer stay away from home this summer? Here are some tips to help you assess whether or not this is the year to introduce her to camp.
Your daughter is most likely ready to go to summer camp 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 can communicate with adults easily. Your daughter needs to be able to talk to her counselors if she has a problem. If this is extremely difficult for her, she may not be quite ready to go this year.
4. She follows instructions given by adults in charge and doesn’t constantly challenge everything. At camp, ignoring instructions can be a big safety problem and could result in injuring herself or others.
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 doesn’t refuse to eat foods that are new to her. She’ll probably be served food at some point that she is unfamiliar with or doesn’t find appealing, and there might not be anything else. If she won’t try new foods, it could be hard for her to adjust.
7. She would enjoy hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, swimming and other outdoor and group activities, and can handle being around bugs. Traditional camps are largely outdoors, and that will mean bugs no matter how much bug spray she uses. (At less traditional events where activities are mostly held indoors such as computer or theater camps, this is not a factor). In any case, she will get the most out of her experience if she is willing to try new activities and not give up on them even if she decides they aren’t her favorite.
8. She is okay with how far she will be from home. You should make sure she understands the distance and time involved for you to reach her in case of an emergency. If she seems worried, you may want to consider an option that is closer to home.
For many girls, their first time away from home at summer camp is a major step towards independence. It’s to be expected that the age at which girls are ready for camp varies from person to person. If your daughter meets the above criteria, she is likely prepared to have a wonderful summer camp experience — but if she isn’t quite ready, there’s always next year.
Looking for an exceptional summer camp for your daughter? Located in Harrison, Maine, 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.
