7
SUMMER ACTIVITY GUIDE 2020
SLEEPAWAY CAMP:
HOW TO PREP FOR YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME
BY: ABBY LYNES
of stay and requirements with your children. If you pack with purpose and care, it can Sleepaway camps can be tough: You And if the camp is close, visit it and have a help you save money not having to replace may miss your child, and it may be look around. Both you and your child will be your child’s items when they come back from scary for them to spend so much time glad you did. Your child will be spending a lot camp, and it can help all the other campers away from home. It can be incredof time at this place, and it’s important you keep their belongings straight. Review the ibly rewarding, though. Sleepaway both know what you’re getting into. camp gear list with your child, and make sure you’re only bringing the essentials, leavcamp can provide your child with the • Check with friends and family and see if ing valuable items at home. opportunity to gain independence, you know anyone else going to the camp. Having a friendly face can make the camp • Discuss safety, and make sure your child confidence, self-awareness and cooptransition a lot easier. knows which adults to talk to in case of an eration skills, all while making friends emergency. Make sure they know camp rules from across the country, even the world. • Talk things through with your child, see what and regulations. they’re concerned about and what you can Sleepaway camp holds a special do to help. Remind them that a lot of kids are • When you drop off your child and it’s time to place in children’s hearts, and it’s a feeling the same way, and they have nothing say goodbye, be positive and upbeat, replace where they will make memories to worry about. Sleepaway camp should be minding them you’re only a phone call away to last a lifetime. fun! and they’re going to have a fun summer. • Do your research in choosing a camp for your child. Compare costs, activities, duration
• Label, label, label. When it comes to packing, labeling is key, and multipurpose items rule.
Don’t say you’ll come get them if they hate it, because then they’ll assume you will.