Posts Tagged ‘girls camps’

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 probably ready for an camp experience if she is at least seven years old and:

1. She is comfortable spending time away from home. Has she slept over at grandma’s or a friend’s house before? If she was okay being away overnight, she will most likely be okay at camp. If she is less than excited about spending nights away from home, going with a sibling or a friend may make her more willing to give camp a try.

2. She is accustomed to taking care of her own personal hygiene, making her bed, having her own pocket money, and keeping track of her things. She also should have awareness of basic personal safety matters (with a bit of adult supervision).

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 is willing to follow the instructions given by counselors without challenging everything that is said. This is especially critical for any of the activities where following directions is a matter of safety, such as swimming or hiking.

5. She is ready to meet people from many different backgrounds and make new friends. New friendships are one of the most treasured results of time at camp, and they often last well past childhood. Ideally, she will also have an ability to get along even with people she may not like or understand. This will make her time at camp go more smoothly.

6. She is willing to try new foods. At some point, food will probably be served that she finds unfamiliar or less than appealing, and she may not have other choices. If she is very picky about what she eats, it could be a difficult adjustment for her.

7. Outdoor activities like canoeing, horseback riding, hiking and more should be reasonably appealing to her, and she should be prepared to put up with some bugs. Traditional camp activities are mostly out-of-doors, and bugs are a fact of outdoor life. (Of course, if she is attending a camp that is mostly indoors, like theater or computer camp, this won’t be an issue.) In any case, a willingness to try new activities and to stick to them even if she decides she doesn’t enjoy them will help her get more out of the experience.

8. You’ve explained the distance and time involved for you to reach her in an emergency, and she is okay with being that far from home. If she is concerned about being too far away, select an option that is closer.

Going away to a summer camp for girls is a big step towards independence. Not all girls are ready for this experience at the same time; however, if your daughter can do or is willing to try the above eight guideposts, she is more likely to have a great summer camp experience. And, if she is not ready just yet, there is always next year.

Looking for an exceptional summer camp for your daughter? Located in Harrison, Maine, Fernwood Cove 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. SEO 2.0 Services