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We’re excited to launch a two-part series all about summer camp – and we think you’ll find it helpful, whatever your kids’ age and whether they’ve been to camp before or not. encouraging! We spoke with camp director Carter Breazeale. Alpine Camp for Men in Alabama, about sending a child to camp for the first time, what to bring, what to expect and much more. Carter’s family formed Alpine Camp for Men More than 50 years ago and she grew up in the “camping world” – bringing with her a unique perspective as not only a camp director but also a former camper and mother. We hope you’ll feel more prepared and confident if you send your child to summer camp this year by reading what Carter said! Scroll down to read tips for sending the kids to camp!

Today we’re asking Carter all about preparing to send your child to camp, and in part two we’ll discuss arriving at camp and how to act while you’re away from your child for a week (or longer). Make sure you sign up to receive our emails so you don’t miss this post!

What’s the number one piece of advice you give parents before sending their kids to boarding camp for the first time?

I always want parents to remember an amazing gift they are about to give their child! It may feel overwhelming when it’s time to send your child to camp, but long after this camp’s trunk is empty, you will continue to find years of camp gifts unpacked. Camp life is so much fun and they will learn all sorts of new skills. But more importantly, it teaches a child to be independent, how to make friends and resolve conflicts outside of their parents, builds lifelong friendships, instills trust, and much more! You may be nervous about sending your child out for the first time and worry that you will “feel homeland” for them. But remembering why you’re sending your child to camp can help put everything into perspective!

What kind of questions should families ask the camp while preparing for the camp?

Ask the camp if they are accredited. If they’re accredited by the American Camping Association, that means the camp has undergone an incredible amount of reviews and followed the association’s guidelines, which includes everything from health and safety standards to counselor/camper ratios. The American Camping Association has a helpful website and you can search camps to see if they are accredited. If the camp is not accredited, do not include rates, what type of medical care is provided at the camp, etc. You can ask questions about

Wherever your child goes to camp, ask questions of their staff. How are consultants recruited? What is the interview process like? What is included in staff training? What are their employee and child protection policies? These are important questions that will give you peace of mind.

Are there any habits that children should have before going camping? Or skills that parents need to practice with them?

After the second grade, we sent our twin girls to camp for 25 days. When they were in first and second grade, they were so excited to go camping themselves! They kept asking when it was their turn to go, so we made a checklist of things they had to do on their own as a family. The list included things like cutting your own meat, tying shoes, and combing hair. Any camp counselor will of course assist a camper with any of these! But the point is to help them become more independent and gain confidence by doing these things for themselves. It is important that your child is able to follow instructions given by another adult and be mindful of basic hygiene. (Advisers will make friendly reminders!)

What strategies would you recommend to help children who are nervous or homesick before and during camp?

The biggest thing is to reassure your child that anyone, like campers, counselors, or even camp managers, can miss home. I often tell our campers that my father started a camp and was a camp manager for many years, and even missed his dorm when he was a camper. Remind them that it’s okay to miss home. And the best they can do is tell their counselor how they feel. There are also things that the consultant misses about the house! And they want to help their campers in any way they can.

A few practical things you can do: Make a calendar. Your child may be away for a week or even a month. To a young child, this may seem like an eternity. Making a calendar helps them realize they will be coming home at some point. If a child is worried about being away for a long time, you can mark the opening and closing day, Sundays as special days at camp, the last few days of camp and other special events and before. You know, a ton of days have passed!

Have your child make a list of everything they look forward to camping – for example, roping on the water, making new friends or riding a horse for the first time. This will help them begin to associate positive emotions with camp.

Sometimes we as parents need to be reminded that we can “miss our kids”. You can be sure that camp managers and staff know how to take care of your child! They know that children’s voices are good to be heard, and they also know that they need to take action and participate in activities to start moving forward.

It’s really important that everyone in the house who is part of sending the child to camp is positively united about camp. It can be very confusing for a child if one parent is very excited and supportive of the camp and the other parent is not. You should not enter into a pick-up agreement with your child. If a child knows their parents are coming to pick them up, they will never be able to fully settle into camp as the option to go home lingers before them. Of course, if your child is really struggling, you and a camp manager will discuss whether a pick-up is really necessary.

Any packaging done or not?

Your camp should provide a packing list. It’s a great idea to print this out and let your child be part of the packaging process! My girls loved taking a big trip to Target or Walmart! Choosing their shampoos, fun letter writing supplies, and other items was a pleasure and helped them embrace their camping experience. It may also be helpful to ask a friend who has been to your camp before what they might want to pack that is not on the packing list. Each camp has its own traditions and it can be helpful to know if you need to pack 4th of July outfits, camouflage outfits for a game at all camps, or other special items. And don’t forget to tag EVERYTHING!!

Do you have any favorite camping gear? What is an item every camper should have?

If you need a trunk, Everything Summer Camp carries my favorite luggage line. They come in all different colors and also have great luggage accessories.

Mables Labels Great for camping and school wear! We also use cutting edge pens or crayons to label everything from flashlights to flip-flops!

crazy creek chairs A camping must-have! They can be used to sit by a campfire or on a cabin patio. You can find them at most outdoor stores, or your camper may sell them with the camp logo!

headlights Great for having two free hands while frying s’mores and reading before bed!

Camping tip: Camping gear makes great gifts, especially for their first summer! Check your camp store to see if you can buy camping t-shirts and other items to put under the Christmas tree, wrap for a birthday present, or surprise them on their last day of school.

Thanks Carter for sharing these great tips for sending the kids to summer camp!

About Carter Breazeale: Carter Breazeale and her husband, Glenn, since 2006 Alpine Camp Managers for Men On top of Lookout Mountain in Mentone, Alabama. Carter grew up in Alpine, where her family started in 1959, and after working as a staff for girls at many summer camps and Camp DeSoto, as a counselor and later as administrative staff, returned to Alpine as a second-generation director. He and Glenn have twin daughters who love to live in the mountains year-round.

Resources: Camping Stationery | Personalized Water Bottle

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