[ENCORE] Ep. 91: 4 Reasons Not to Worry While Your Kid is at Camp

Visit Sunshine Parenting for more episodes & resources. Subscribe for resources and ideas for happier, more connected families. In Episode 91, I'm chatting with my longtime friend and fellow camp director, Maria Horner. Maria and her husband, Tom, have been the executive directors of Catalina Island Camps since 1995. We discuss four reasons why parents don't need to worry while their child is at camp this summer. 1. You have chosen a camp program that's accredited by the American Camp Association. This means that the camp meets the ACA's high standards to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for your child. 2. You have been in touch with the camp director. Always be upfront with any issues your child may be dealing with so that the staff can be prepared to help them. Take time review at all the material that the camp has sent you ahead of time and phone them with any questions you may have. 3. You have prepared your child for the experience: You've allowed your child the opportunity to sleep away from home with adults other than parents. You've reviewed the materials from the camp with your child. You've packed for camp together so they know what they are bringing with them. You've talked to your child about camp, focusing on the fun. Develop strategies with your child to address anything they may be feeling nervous about. You've expressed confidence in your child. Say, "I know you're going to have a great time and enjoy this!" 4. You have prepared yourself for the experience: Manage your expectations. Be realistic about contact with your child while they're gone. Don't over analyze the communication you do get from your child. Quotes Audrey: "One of the reasons not to worry is actually the amount of training we do with our staff." Maria: "You chose an accredited camp, so if you're coming to my camp, or if you're going to any other camps in your Happy Campers group, those camps are all accredited by the American Camp Association, which means that those camps care enough to undergo a thorough peer review of its operation. And that includes everything from staff quality and training to emergency management--all things that they're doing voluntarily to ensure that their program is top notch." Maria: "Camp professionals from around the country can volunteer to be what we call standards visitors. So every five years, a team of trained standards visitors go into each accredited camp and observe, both through documentation and practices actually in place, based on the identified standards, to see that the camps are  in compliance with all of them." Maria: "If you're going to allow me to take care of your child for two or three or four weeks during the summer, I'd actually think it stranger if you don't want to talk to me first. I would imagine you would want to know who's the person in charge of the place where your child's going to be spending a lot of time. Pick up the phone and actually talk to the person who is running the show." Maria: "I really encourage parents to be as upfront and transparent about your child as possible. We can do a lot at our camp and we can do it way more successfully when we know in advance. If we have to spend a few days figuring out what's going on with the kid, either socially or behaviorally, or even with their food issues, that's time lost. If we knew that up front, we would be able to meet those needs right from the very beginning." Maria: "Get online and watch videos from camp. Besides our promotional videos, we have a program with our go-pro cameras and the kids make videos every summer. And that's a great way to get an insight into what camp looks like through the eyes of our campers." Maria: "I think you really want to focus on the fun when you talk with your child. I think definitely engage your child in conversation to get a sense of their excitement level and if there are things that they are nervous about, you work together to develop strategies for the child to be able to address those." Maria: "It's okay for me to be nervous, as a mom. It's not okay for me to project that onto my child." Audrey: "What I really want parents to communicate to their kids is: 'Hey, at camp there are all these adults there to help you have a great experience. So if you need anything and I'm not there, here are some people you can talk to: your counselor, the camp director Maria, the head counselors.' I think that if you look on the website, or call the camp, you can find out who those people are. I think that empowering your kid to talk to those people is really important." Audrey: "I do think we are very connected with our kids, which is a good thing and close relationships are fantastic. But the dark side is that it makes it a little harder--when your child's doing something independent from you--for you to have the separation." Maria: "One of the things that I often tell parents is to really take advantage of this opportunity. Consider what it means to have some time either just to yourself or for you and your spouse together. That doesn't happen very often in the craziness of life and raising children." Maria: "We tell kids, it's okay to miss home when you're at camp. You can miss home and still have fun at camp at the same time. Those two things aren't in conflict with one another. The same thing is true for the parent's side. Of course, you miss your child and worry about them. That's to be expected. And you can still allow them to have this amazing growth experience, even if you're a little bit nervous. Audrey: "Give yourself permission to enjoy yourself. Spend some more time on a hobby you haven't had time for, go out to dinner, go to movies--there's nothing wrong with that. And actually, you giving your child the gift of a more relaxed, happier parent when they get home from camp is amazing." Maria: "It okay to have an incredible experience not all together. It's okay to let your child do fun things without you and it's okay to do fun things without them." Audrey: "It's always this kind of mixed bag; you're excited for your kid when they have some new adventure or get some great job far away, but then you're also like, 'Oh bummer. They're kind of far away.' I think always keeping these things in mind that it's okay to have both feelings." Resources & Related Posts 5 Reasons NOT to Worry While Your Kids are at Camp 100 Questions about Summer Camp Why choose an ACA accredited camp? Happy Campers Camps What are good questions to ask when selecting a camp program? Ep. 10: Homesick & Happy with Michael Thompson, Ph.D. Ep. 76: Partnering with Your Child's Camp Director Ep. 37: How to Prepare for Overnight Summer Camp Ep. 87: The Impact of Camp Experiences How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims How Camp Helps Parents Raise Adults Other Podcast Episodes with Maria Horner: Ep. 22: Jedi Mom Tricks, Part 1 Ep. 33: Jedi Mom Tricks, Part 2 Ep. 42: Jedi Mom Tricks, Part 3 Ep. 64: Home for the Holidays Links American Camp Association