Helene - Tips on Trips and Camps

Embracing Growth: The Journey of Sending Your Child to Overnight Camp

May 5, 2024 by Helene Leave a Comment

Sending your child off to overnight camp is a significant step filled with a mix of emotions, but it’s an incredible opportunity for growth. Camp provides a wide range of fun activities that not only entertain but also teach valuable life skills. From sports to arts and crafts to outdoor adventures, children learn resilience, problem-solving, and teamwork. The camp environment fosters independence as kids make decisions and manage their time without parental guidance. Additionally, it’s a chance for them to disconnect from screens and reconnect with nature, forming lasting friendships along the way. While it’s natural to worry, trained staff ensure the safety and well-being of every camper. So, embrace this opportunity for your child to grow and anticipate their return with stories of adventure and newfound confidence. Take comfort in knowing that they are in good hands and that this experience will leave them with cherished memories and valuable life lessons. It’s going to be a great summer for both you and your child!

Tips for a Successful Camp Experience

May 17, 2023 by Helene Leave a Comment

Summer camp is right around the corner. Here are some tips to help you and your child prepare.

Be confident in your decision to send your child to sleepaway camp! You chose the camp carefully and believe your child is ready.

If you are anxious about sending your child off to camp, discuss it with your spouse or friends. Work hard not to convey these feelings to your child. Sensing that you are concerned will only worry your child.

Avoid statements like “I’m going to miss you terribly”. While it may be your attempt to reassure your child, you don’t want him or her to feel guilty about leaving you.

Let your child know you are confident they will adjust well to camp life. Refer to positive experiences when they’ve been away from home previously. It’s okay to let your child know that he or she might experience some homesickness and that it is normal and natural.

If you attended camp yourself, heighten your child’s interest in camp by pointing out some of the exciting things you remember about your experiences. Be sure to be positive about how you were able to handle being away from your parents.

If your child is still attached to their “blankie” or a certain stuffed animal but may be at the age that they’re hesitant to take it with them to camp, pack it in the zipper of their pillowcase. That way, they can have the security of having it with them without “going public”.

Tuck a cute card in your child’s duffle before they leave, so when they unpack, it will be a nice surprise. Also, send a letter before camp begins so that it will arrive shortly after they get to camp. Let your child choose fun camp stationery and help them pre-address and stamp the envelopes.

You are giving your child the wonderful gift of camp. Be positive and excited for them.

Thoughts of a Wilderness Trip 28 Years Later

May 12, 2022 by Helene Leave a Comment

A friend of mine knew I was an advisor for Tips on Trips and Camps and came to a camp fair I sponsored a few years ago to see the directors of the wilderness camp she attended 28 years ago. She feels that experience impacted who she is today, and she shared her thoughts with me.

She writes, “Attending your camp fair and seeing Doug and Bev was just such a special connection after all of these years. It was as if I was visiting my past life, in the very best sense. It was like visiting me when I was 14 and insecure about stupid things but, after that special summer, I learned that I could literally climb mountains. And today, grown and the mother of 3, that experience connects me to my younger self and also to my father who has since passed away. His love of summer camp was passed on to me and I mentioned it in his eulogy. I talked about his countless summers in Maine. He loved camp, he loved camping and he loved Maine. He loved talking about taking the train to camp when he was 6 and how the campers always had to give the counselors the cream off the top of the milk. They bathed in the lake and went hiking. One year, he even led the hiking trips. It’s from my dad that I got my love of the outdoors and adventure that led me to an amazing teen wilderness trip. When my kids are older I hope they too will attend a wilderness experience. It changed me and I think will do the same for every teen.”

I could not have said it better.

The Excitement of Summer!

April 20, 2021 by Helene Leave a Comment

Summer is around the corner and we can feel the excitement everywhere! The weather is gorgeous, the school year is coming to an end, the sun shines a little longer each day, we are thinking BBQ’s, picnics, and enjoying the outdoors with our children and friends, and maybe even staying out a little longer. When I think of summer, I think of camp! To me, camp means trying something new, adventures, and unplugging from technology. It means making new friends, discovering your best self, gaining independence and leadership skills, new found confidence and self-esteem and being in nature. Mostly though, when I think of camp, I think of making memories and having FUN, so much FUN!!

Summer 2021 is waiting for our children and it’s going to be so wonderful!

I can already feel the memories being made!

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 19, 2018 by Helene Leave a Comment

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the Tips on Trips and Camps girls, want to say how thankful and appreciative we are for allowing us to make your kids summer amazing. As your families gather to spend quality time together, here are a few suggestions to make those special forever memories:

*Volunteer together

*Family football game

*Outdoor scavenger hunt

*Family game night

*Browse through photo albums

*Run a Turkey Trot

*Deliver a meal together

*Family bowling night

Wishing you and your family, a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!

How Summer Camp Can Impact Kids with Special Needs

January 3, 2018 by Helene Leave a Comment

Helene Abrams, our advisor located in Dallas, TX, was recently featured in the Good Life Family Magazine. Helene touches on not only the benefit of summer camp for all children but specifically for those with special needs. Children with special needs have the same opportunities as other children to experience camp. Whether it’s at a traditional camp or at a camp designed for special needs there is something for ALL children to have the best summer ever.

There are man amazing camps where kids with special needs are in a safe environment where everyone understands them and trained staff are there to support them 24/7. They are in a place where they can be themselves and participate in camp activities where there are no physical or emotional barriers. They come alive! – Helene Abrams

Read more at Good Life Magazine

We are thankful for you!

November 12, 2017 by Helene Leave a Comment

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the Tips on Trips and Camps girls, want to say how thankful and appreciative we are for allowing us to make your kids summer amazing. Just wanted to remind everyone that there are some great new opportunities available for Summer 2018. Give us a call when you’re ready to start planning! Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!

Sending Your Love to Camp–What to know about sending letters and care packages!

June 27, 2017 by Helene Leave a Comment

You’ve hugged and kissed your child and confidently sent them off to camp. Next step, CARE PACKAGES! As someone who has worked in the camp mailroom, I have seen the mailman and Fed-ex man drop off hundreds of packages to be delivered to hundreds of children having the time of their lives at camp. Camps require that packages are screened and I have opened many with cleverly hidden “contraband” (candy) inside. Most camps to not allow candy with good reason, it brings bugs and other creatures into the cabin and often there are kids with peanut allergies so some candy could be dangerous.

Check your camp’s mail/packages policy. Many are getting away from boxes, only allowing flat packages and letters. If your child’s camp allows packages, there are a variety of options. There are numerous companies on the internet that will send prepackaged goodies right to your child’s camp gate. Etsy and Pintrest also have darling creative out of the box ideas, or stop at your local Target, Dollar Store, or Walmart and shop the aisles .

Here’s few ideas!

A pillow case to decorate.

A quiet time kit: a deck of cards, stationary/pens.

Temporary tattoos

A book or magazine

A small book light.

Colored Zinc sunscreen- 2 fold, protects their sweet faces and also a fun decoration.

A fun girls package- nail polish, hair products, fun socks.

July 4^th packages- anything red, white and blue.

Probably one of the most special things your child can receive is a hand written letter from you. Letters are uniquely powerful in the lives of camper and a parent. After camp your child can get them out and read and reread the letters, a treasure of wonderful memories for years to come. When you write, assume your child is having a good time and say so in your letter. Show enthusiasm and ask questions about their new friends, new activities, wonderful camp food and their new experiences. Do not say how much you miss them or how much the dog or cat miss them. To encourage writing, send addressed and stamped post cards to camp with you child.

Mail call is one of the many highlights of a camper’s day! Care packages do not need to be big or letters long. It is better to keep it simple: a card, a little love note, or a small box of goodies is all it takes to put a smile on the face a busy camper and send a long distance hug.

Packing for Camp… Where do I begin?!

May 10, 2017 by Helene Leave a Comment

The excitement of Summer begins!

Packing for Camp…..Where do I begin?!

The good news is, you probably have many things your child needs for camp in your house. Take the packing list (usually found on the camp website or in the welcome packet) and check around the house before heading off to the store. Find out how often the camp offers laundry service. Most likely, you will only need to pack enough clothes for 1-2 weeks. For items you do need to buy, checkout these helpful websites for ordering camp gear:
CampStuffforless.com

Everythingsummercamp.com

BeeBeeDesigns.com

Also, labeling everything is a must! Check out Label Daddy for super cute labels! Of course a black sharpie always works too! To help keep your child organized, use large baggie’s to pack small items, underwear, socks, etc.

LabelDaddy.com —- for every kind of label you can think of! And use our 20% discount code! Tipsontrips

Remember, you want your child to have fun and not worry about ruining their clothes. It’s not about the clothes, it’s the enriching, fun time your child will experience at camp.

After your child comes home from camp, pack away things in the duffle or trunk for the next summer. (flashlights, fans, laundry bags, water bottles, towels) When next summer rolls around you will be that much more ahead of the game!

CAMP is one of the BEST times of your child’s life, make packing easy, fun and part of the experience!

“Every morning I wake up thinking I’m one day closer to camp.”

From the Mouths and Hearts of Campers……

April 30, 2016 by Helene Leave a Comment

As Tips on Trips and Camps consultants, each summer we travel and visit camps around the United States. Seeing camps in action, campers engaged in wonderful activities and having so much fun. We often have the opportunity to speak with campers and ask them about camp. One summer I asked campers to tell me the best thing about camp! Here is what they said!

“Tradition”

“The fun!”

“You get to pick your own schedule.”

“You can be yourself.”

“Stronger friendships that at home.”

“Evening programs.”

“Making friends from all over the world.”

“Nobody judges you at camp.”

“No pressure.”

“I love when it rains, because you can slide in the mud!”

“We’re too busy to miss our parents.”

“No clicks.”

“A good bubble.”

“Shaving cream fights!”

“S’mores”

“This is my second home.”

“The video is for REAL!”

From the mouths and hearts of campers. What an awesome experience to see camp life in action first hand! Needless to say, it touched our hearts.

Experts on Overnight Camps & Trips for Kids and Teens

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