OC Register: Summer camp guide 2024: What to know before your kid goes to camp
March 24, 2024
By AMY BENTLEY | ontheroad@scng.com | Correspondent
Campers work the ropes course at the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, CA, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
You’ve finally decided to send your child to summer camp. Where do you start?
First off, parents and families should start the camp selection and application process as soon as possible because camps book up fast, advised Tom Rosenberg, president and CEO of the American Camp Association (ACA). He suggests families look around online and find five camps that meet the child’s interests, then look into those. Admission to camps, especially day camps, has grown more competitive, said Rosenberg. “Demand is hot,” he said.
When preparing and packing for camp, especially a sleepover camp, parents need to consider more than just what clothing and supplies to pack. They should also prepare the child emotionally and socially.
“Make sure your camper is packing a sense of adventure and positivity,” Rosenberg said. “Kids can pick up on parents’ anxieties. ‘Talk up’ camp, help them see the opportunity they will have to learn new things and the social opportunities. Pack your confidence and self-esteem.”
Jubilee Hoggard, 8, left, stirs the ingredients for tropical fried rice salad as Nikka Chahbazi, 8, center, and Daphne Parsons, 7, look on during the Culinary Kids Summer Camp at Aliso Viejo Middle School in Aliso Viejo on Friday, July 22, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Girl Scouts of Orange County, which runs day camps and a sleepaway camp near Idyllwild, advise parents to talk to their kids about taking responsibility for themselves and their belongings. Also, if the camp hosts a “parent information night” in advance, try to attend.
Clothing items campers will need include T-shirts, tank tops, shorts, jeans, a rain jacket, sweatshirt, swimsuit, sleepwear, underwear, socks and sturdy footwear. If your camper wears or packs new sneakers or hiking boots, make sure they are broken in ahead of time. Sleepaway campers will likely need bedding or a sleeping bag, towels and all the usual toiletries. A reusable water bottle, a flashlight with new batteries and a laundry bag are handy also. Here is a link to the ACA’s suggested packing list.
If the child is attending a sports camp or a camp where athletic activities are on the schedule, ask the camp in advance about gear, clothing or shoes the camper might need like a tennis racquet, swimming goggles or cleats.
Here are five other tips from Rosenberg and the Girl Scouts:
- Make sure the camper is prepared for sun exposure and inclement weather by packing sunscreen, a sun hat, lip balm, bug repellant and rain gear.
- Label everything with the child’s name.
- Have the child pack some books, magazines and writing paper plus pre-addressed and stamped envelopes for quiet time. Kids at a sleepover camp may want to write home.
- Ask the camp director what supplies and clothing are needed. Camps often provide a packing list.
- If finances are an issue, ask the camp about financial aid. The cost of camp is rising as the costs to operate camps are going up, Rosenberg said. Scholarships may be available for campers from lower-income families, children of veterans, children with pediatric cancer and their siblings, and children with a parent who died on the job in law enforcement in or a weather disaster, among others situations.If the child is bringing a cellphone, learn the camp’s rules about cellphone use at camp and make sure the child knows they are responsible for the phone and assume the risk if the phone is lost or damaged.
Finally, Girl Scouts of Orange County offers tiered pricing and financial aid awards to help children attend camp and they welcome donations to fund camp scholarships. Last year, 42 financial aid awards were given to Girl Scouts to attend the sleepaway camp near Idyllwild. To donate, please visit www.girlscoutsoc.org/donate.
