Are your kids heading off to summer sleepaway camp this summer for the first time? We want to share some tips from ourselves and our fans to help make preparing everyone a bit easier.
Remember that you want to make this a positive experience for both so it is best to get your kids involved every step of the way. It will probably also help if they are a little aprehensive about being away from you 24hrs a day for anywhere from a week to the entire summer.
1. Check the camp’s website as most have a very thorough packing list to help make sure you don’t forget anything important.
When my son and I recently had an overnight experience at Muskoka Woods I realized that I never thought to bring any hand soap to wash our hands after using the little boys/girls room. I thought about shampoo and such but it never occurred to me that there would be no soap dispenser in the cabin washroom.
2. Involve your kids in the shopping and packing process.
Making shopping for camping supplies fun and allow them to pick what sleeping bag they want, it might help to make their time away from home more enjoyable as their space will feel more like theirs. As a fan shared, having your kids help you pack is important so that they know what clothes or items belong to them.
3. Label every single item that they bring with them.
Just like having them help pack, the labels are extra important. You could have 10 kids in one cabin and it will become very easy for items to get mixed up between kids. We highly recommend Mabel’s Labels Camp Combo which includes everything you need so everything that leaves with your child comes home with your child. Don’t wait too long as it is a limited edition and only available until the end of June.
4. Don’t forget stationery to allow your child to document their adventure and keep in touch with you.
There are many items that you could pack like our personalized camp note cards to hopefully encourage them to write home. Stamp and address the envelopes to make it super easy for them. But we can’t promise that they won’t use them to ask you to come get them! Also include a special journal that they write about their adventures. It will be fun for them to look back through once they are back home.
One mom shared how parents can send a letter the week before their child leaves so that it is there waiting for them. Her mom did that when she went to camp for the first time, it made her feel so special as she was the only one who had mail on the first day and helped her feel more comfortable being away having that immediate contact. We think this is a great idea!
5. Pack a digital camera for your child and include a large memory card.
If you your child doesn’t already have their own camera we recommend buying one so that they can document all of their memories and new friends in photos. You can buy a disposable camera or a good digital camera for around $50.
6. Be sure to include your child’s “special thing”.
If your child has a favourite blanket or stuffed toy be sure to include that too. Don’t worry that they might be the only one, on our adventure 3 of the 4 boys in our cabin had their stuffed toy with them. This will help your child feel connected with home should they start getting homesick.
Do you have any tips to add? Did you go to sleepaway camp?