Parent Resources
So your daughter is off to summer
camp! This is an exciting adventure whether it is the first or fifth time
she will be going to camp. Your daughter is going to have an amazing time
where she will laugh, run, make friends, challenge herself with activities
she has never experienced before and more! Tied up into all this fun and
excitement are some goals and objectives we have for all campers that
include:
-
Promote the physical and mental well being
of every girl.
-
Promote independence and the ability to
care for oneself.
-
Develop resourcefulness, initiative,
self-reliance, and recognition of the worth and dignity of each individual.
-
Provide opportunities for practice in
democratic living.
-
Develop a sense of responsibility,
qualities of leadership, and an awareness of the capabilities of all people.
-
Provide an inner satisfaction, a sense of
awe and wonder, and deep enjoyment of the out-of-doors.
-
Provide a sense of accomplishment.
-
Stimulate each girl's awareness of the
scope of the natural world.
-
Develop the individual's sense of
responsibility for conserving the natural world.
| If you are feeling a little nervous to
send your daughter to camp you are not alone! Many parents actually feel
more anxiety than their little camper does! We have put together a few tips
and resources for you to prepare you and your daughter for a summer camp
experience at Keyauwee. By taking a little time to read over this
information and have a few conversations with your daughter you will find
that her Keyauwee experience can be a rewarding experience for her and a
relaxing experience for you! |
 |
These tips are adapted from the ACA parents website and an article by Bruce
Muchnick, EdD
Read Everything!
We send you information and forms so we can get to know your daughter and
her needs and so you can be prepared for her time at Keyauwee. By taking the
time to fill out the “get to know you form”, reading the Parent Packet and
other information you will be on your way to a great Keyauwee experience!
Parent Packet
Camper Information Form
Camper Release Form
Consider
camp as a learning experience
This is an opportunity for your child to explore a world bigger than her
neighborhood and a chance for you and your child to practice "letting go."
Letting go allows children to develop autonomy and a stronger sense of self,
make new friends, develop new social skills, learn about teamwork, be
creative, and more. This time also allows parents an opportunity to take
care of themselves so that they will feel refreshed when their child returns
home.
Prepare for camp together
Decisions about camp — like where to go and what to pack — should be a joint
venture, keeping in mind your child’s maturity. If your child feels a part
of the decision-making process, her chances of having a positive experience
will improve. Remember; do not send anything to camp that you would be upset
if it got ruined.
Talk about concerns
As the first day of camp nears, some children experience uneasiness about
going away. Encourage your child to talk about these feelings rather than
acting on what you think her feelings may be. Communicate confidence in your
child’s ability to handle being away from home. It’s important to make sure
that your suggestions for your daughter are in line with camp rules. An
example would be, do not tell your daughter to just give you a call or give
her a cell phone just because she is nervous. Build her confidence to be at
camp for a week, if you have confidence in her it makes a WORLD of
difference!
Have realistic expectations
Camp, like the rest of life, has high and low points. Not every moment will
be filled with wonder and excitement. Encourage your child to have a
reasonable and realistic view of camp. Discuss both the ups and downs your
child may experience. Your child should not feel pressured to succeed at
camp, either. The main purposes of camp are to relax and have fun.
