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Tip Sheet Ideas from the American Camp Association
May 16, 2005 

1. 6 WAYS PARENTS CAN HELP THEIR FIRST-TIME CAMPER. Going away to camp is a major milestone for children and their families. Several shorter, casual conversations while running errands or eating dinner can help a child who tends to be anxious or homesick. That's how Bob Ditter, a Boston family therapist and a national expert on camp, suggests parents begin preparing their first-time camper. Ditter suggests his Rule of Six can help:
    
   1. Respect others and you'll have friends. Camp is about making friends. If you're shy, get to know others by being a good listener. Respect others—but realize not everyone in your camp has to be your friend. One or two is fine.
   2. Just try the new activities at camp. Remind your child of what excited them when they first thought of going to camp. It's normal not to like or be good at everything. But the more you put into camp, the more you'll get out of it.
   3. Be patient with yourself. It takes a few days to get adjusted. Everything is new—the kids, routines, the bed, the bathroom, and meals. Mostly, you'll be having so much fun, you won't mind all the changes—but give yourself time.
   4. Help out. Camp is about fun—but it also requires you to help out and cooperate with others. That's part of what makes camp so special—kids helping each other out. Clean-up is part of camp—you do it every day at home, remember?
   5. Get help if you have a problem or need something. Everyone has good and bad days. Your counselor is there to help you. Don't wait to tell your parents if you are upset. (And parents should know the "backup persons" at camp and how to contact them, if there is a problem.)
   6. Remember your strengths. It's great to reinforce first-time campers' strong points—remind them of their positive qualities, what makes them a good friend, their talents and strengths.

   For more information or for a reprint of Bob Ditter's article from CAMP: A Resource for Families, "First Time at Camp? Talking With Your Child," contact Public Relations at pr@ACAcamps.org.

2. CAMP RX—HEALTH AND WELLNESS AT SUMMER CAMP. Check out the waiting rooms. Pediatricians are doing a lot of camp physicals for kids in these weeks before summer camp. Doctors tell parents—be honest about what camp expects and whether your child can meet those expectations. "I believe there is a camp for every child, but not every child is right for every camp," says Dr. Edward Walton, pediatric emergency medicine specialist at the University of Michigan. Doctors can write orders for prescriptions, special diets, physical activity limitations, or special medical devices like inhalers or EpiPens®.

   But camp medicine cabinets are stocked with bright Band-Aids®, children's cold medicines—and plenty of know-how and TLC for incoming campers. The camp nurse and health care staffs at the 2,400-plus American Camp Association-accredited camps comply with mandatory health and safety standards. They pick up the partnership from doctors and parents—and have plenty of experience when it comes to child health issues.

   Linda Erceg, a nurse and executive director of the Association of Camp Nurses, knows a healthy lifestyle is contagious—in the best sense of the word. "Camp practices what we parents always preach," she says. "Be active, get up off the couch, turn off the TV, stop snacking before meals, listen to others, cooperate, eat a variety of foods, and sleep well."

   For more tips on health forms, questions to ask a camp health care professional—or for more information on prevention and care at camp—visit www.CampParents.org or contact Public Relations at ACA: 765-349-3317. Article reprints are also available.

3. ARE CAMPS IN YOUR SERVICE AREA? YOU BETCHA! If you think that community service projects go out the window once school shuts down for the summer, you need to visit more than 430 ACA-accredited camps across the United States. In 2005, one in 5 ACA-accredited summer residential and day camps now promote their community service as a specialty offering at their camp.

   "Service learning" or "learning by serving" brings the needs of the community into the camp. Whether as short-term experiences or part of the curriculum, service projects are integrated into the philosophy of 20% of ACA camps. The service activities range from park maintenance, erosion control, and trail building to intercultural awareness and civic responsibility, such as assisting food banks.
   
   Research shows service projects benefit the campers, too. Campers become more reflective and collaborative, they develop more problem-solving and communication skills, and they increase in self-esteem and self-knowledge. For ideas on local camps involved in service learning, contact ACA's Public Relations at pr@ACAcamps.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Public Relations, American Camp Association
765-349-3317; 765-342-8456, ext. 317
pr@ACAcamps.org

The American Camp Association works to preserve, promote, and enhance the camp experience for children and adults. ACA-accredited camp programs ensure that children are provided with a diversity of educational and developmentally challenging learning opportunities. There are over 2,400 ACA-accredited camps that meet up to 300 health and safety standards. For more information, visit www.ACAcamps.org.

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