Response from: Teen Summer Camp

I went to summer camp for 9 years - there is nothing like it!

Response from: Michael Knauf

Another thing to remember about summer camp blues (or homesickness) is to acknowledge the child's feelings and reassure them that such feelings are normal.

You're also spot on with the last comment about the parents... at our summer camp, frenchwoods.com we have a very robust support system for homesick kids (I'm sure most summer camps do too.) We give them lots of extra attention and are sure to keep them busy and having fun, but no one is providing this support to the parents, and frequently it is the parents who have the hardest time dealing with the separation.

Response from: Rockbrook Camp for Girls

When a camper feels homesick it is so important to reassure him or her that these sorts of feelings are completely normal. Then the activity of being at camp, meeting new friends, and trying new things all help forge new feelings of accomplishment and belonging. Just experiencing all of that is a great opportunity for personal growth. It is almost magical!

Response from: Rochelle

While I haven't come to grips with sending my children away for camp, I have ventured to allow them to go for a 2-night/3-day camp away experience during their 'normal' day-camp summer.

It was a bit nerve-wracking to know that my oldest child would be two states away from me for an extended period of time, but I trusted the camp director and knew from watching her staff that my child would be in great hands.

My son came home with glowing stories about his first-ever real canoeing & camping trip in Pennyslyvania. He loved it and I loved that he came back to me in one piece -- although he was a little smelly...

Park Explorers Day Camp (in Park Slope, Brooklyn) allows kids to be kids and to explore different activities -- sports of all kinds (soccer, gymnastics, baseball, hockey, basketball) -- and theatre arts along with musical counselors who share thier passion with the campers.

My kids love it so much they already begged to go again next summer and that was a month ago!

So, for me camp away from home are still not high on my list, but short romps with a camp I trust, like Park Explorers, is a definite.

As far as allergies and camp, my younger son has slight asthma as well as seasonal allergies. I prepare him by making sure I reduce his sugar intake, and at time his soy/milk/dairy product intake and up the vitamin C. If things get a bit tough for him with post-nasal drip, I pull out the Singulair and give him a tablet a day for 2-3 days then see how he is.

I tend to stay away from heavy duty medicines and use homeopathic remedies when I can.

Response from: Boys Summer Camp

The first step to easing the anxiety for the parents is to feel comfortable with the camp that you selected. Contact the camp directors before you make your decision, and speak to them. Make sure that their philosophies coincide with yours. Next step, is to choose a camp that matches your child’s personality and interests. Only once you and your child feel comfortable with the camp, will the anxiety level will decrease.

Response from: Lisa James

I sent my 14 year old son and 9 year old daughter to SuperCamp this past summer and they both loved it. My daughter's camp was 7 days long and my son's was 10 days. It was hard being apart, but they called home every day around 5:00 p.m., and they sounded so happy, it made it easier on me. Now, 4 months later, I'm so glad they went. They made new friends that they stay in touch with, but they picked up some new skills for school and both seem more enthused about school this year.

Response from: Eric Naftulin

Unfortunately homesickness is part of camp life, that's for sure. But with skilled counselors you can help most kids get through it. It's also nice to have the parents send an email or package BEFORE your kids leave for camp so it's there waiting for them upon their arrival at camp -- this can relieve their homesickness some right off the bat. We have a day camp in Los Angeles (http://alohabeachcamp.com)
so we don't have to worry too much about homesickness, however my wife and I have sent our daughter to sleepaway camp for several years and also have a Maui, Hawaii sleepaway camp of our own (which you can visit at http://alohabeachcamp.com/hawaii_surf_camp.html),
so we've become more familiar with how to deal with it.

Response from: Debbie Taylor

What I've experienced, and what I've heard from a lot of other parents, is that there are a lot of kids and teenagers who don't want to go to camp, but once they get there, they love it. They don't like the idea of taking a week or more of their summer vacation to go to camp, not knowing what it will be like. This was my experience last summer. A friend told me about SuperCamp (http://www.SuperCamp.com),
a learning and life skills camp. I checked it out and thought my son, who was going into high school in the fall, could really benefit from it. I showed him the website and he balked. But my husband and I insisted. It turns out, he thought it was great. He got over his pre-camp blues in less than a day. I could tell with his calls home each day that he was having a great time. When my husband and I went to the graduation on the last day, it was incredible. He actually got up in front of everyone - 125 kids, their parents and the staff - and shared how this was such an incredible experience for him. And we've seen great results at school this year because of it. I guess my message is, even if your child puts up a fuss about going to camp, you should resist the urge to give into him or her, especially if it is a camp that you think can have some long-term value. My son actually thanked us for sending him, once he got home.

Response from: Michael B

I know several kids who went to Supercamp this past summer also. They all loved it and plan to go again this summer. What Debbie said is true: kids (teens especially) often just want to sit home on the couch all summer and are reluctant to the idea of camp. www.supercamp.com/academic_summer_camps.html Has a lot of information about the camp - it will convince you that Supercamp can make a real difference in the life of your child. All of my friends' kids loved it, so i highly commend this summer camp.

Response from: Penny Gould

My 11 year old son attended Cybercamps last summer, and loved it! His father was in the hospital at UCLA for 8 months, and life was tough for this little boy... I went on line and searched for a tech camp at UCLA, and voila! I found just what the doctor ordered! This year my son is again scheduled to go to this same camp, and can't wait! He's signed up to be an Action Agent - someone that tells other people about the camp. This helps us to earn tuition credits for the camp. If anyone is interested in a nice tech camp, they have over 50 locations across the US for kids ages 6 to 18. They even have a camp at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida!!! (for kids ages 14 - 18) That camp is called livewire. My son can't wait to be old enough for that camp! Here's the livewire link: http://livewiresummer.com/what-happens-at-livewire.aspx


If you do register and would like to use the promotional discount code, here it is: Spok117

Have a great summer!

Response from: Charles Beene

I agree with what Penny said. And one of the really great things about Cybercamps Academy is that you have the option of sending your kids to day camp, where you pick them up each afternoon, or they can go to overnight camp for the week, whatever is more comfortable for you and your child. I agree with many of the comments that most kids who are shy or timid at first tend to open up and don't want the week to end. This is certainly true with Cybercamps Academy, where kids learn game design, robotics and other cool tech stuff but they also make new freinds, are around other kids like them, have fun outdoor activities along with computer time, and their self esteem and confidence is boosted ... an truly unforgettable summer experience.
http://www.cybercamps.com/

Response from: ChrisJ

I think going away for the summer is part of every kid's childhood that they look back upon fondly as they get older. I know I do. I'm not sure what the numbers are, but I'm sure I read that numbers at kids summer camps are coming down, which to me seems a real shame.
http://www.coppercreek.com/

Response from: Tina

Parents please check into your summer camps food service! I am a head cook in a local school district and decided to work at a summer camp so that my son could go and have a wonderful experience. It was a total nightmare! The "head chef" was the nastiest person I ever met. He had been working there preparing food for 2 weeks and didn't even have soap to wash his hands! The teenage foreign help spoke little english and he was sadistic to them. He'd give them jalapeno peppers and tell them "taste it, it's sweet". The camp was mostly Jewish children and he ordered pork products (telling the owner it was beef). He had the foreign teens working from 6 am to sometimes 8 at nite with only 1 half hour break. He would yell at the children that attended the camp. One little boy burned his hand on the steam table, and instead of comforting him, he called him a dumb*** for touching it. This is only a couple examples of many that I witnessed. I took my son and left after one week, and I NEVER SENT my children to summer camp after this! PLEASE, check out all aspects of the camp before sending your children!!! I'm a mom of 3 and a grandma, and I can guarantee that I'll never send my kids to a sleepover camp again without demanding to meet the cooks and check out the kitchen. It's your right!