Blog - 3/24 - Tips on Trips and Camps

THREE CHEERS FOR SUMMER!

April 13, 2023 by Eve Leave a Comment

As families prepare for camp, some do not realize that there is a language at summer camps that parents may not know. Here are some definitions that may help.

10 for 2 – This phrase reflects how many kids feel about camp – they live 10 months of the year anxiously awaiting to return for 2 months of sleepaway camp!
Color War – A spirited time when the camp is split into (typically) 2 teams. For many campers it is a highlight. The competition is high but it is not necessarily all sports related. At the end, campers return to their cabins as great friends.
Bug juice – Some camps serve this sweet juice at snack or mealtime. The kids love it. It is called “bug juice” because of the high sugar content attracting bugs (think Shoo-fly pie).
Meal ticket – This is a letter to home that campers must present in order to enter the dining hall. Everyone loves receiving mail!
Care package – Mailing packages to camp can be tricky. Most camps do NOT allow any food to be sent. Generally speaking, magazines, puzzles, and cards are all fine. Necessities are allowed
Blob – Big, floating toys that are in the lake. Kids have a ball jumping and sliding into the water.
Canteen – This is a physical place where kids can buy snacks and some necessities if they need them. Usually money is not needed (parents often have a canteen fund).

There are other terms and phrases that may seem foreign to you, but your campers upon their return will be happy to explain.

HAPPY CAMPING!

FITTING A SPORTS CAMP INTO YOUR FAMILY’S SUMMER SCHEDULE WITH EASE

March 28, 2023 by Debbie Smith Leave a Comment

This is the summer of the sports camp! All the rage for 2023, sports camps run by seasoned directors are providing parents exactly what they’ve been asking for. These specialty camps are offering discerning parents a myriad of options. What’s more, your child doesn’t have to be the next Serena Williams or Lionel Messi to attend. With so many to choose from there will be a camp that’s just right for you!

Depending on your priorities, consider these variables…

1 week or several

Overnight or day camp

Coed or single gender

Cabin or dorm style living

Elite instruction for the competitive athlete, or skill building for the camper who just wants to have fun, or a combination of both

With training by collegiate coaches and athletes as well as positive mind & body development from child-centric professionally trained staff, give your child a summer experience that fits YOUR parameters. We’re excited to share with you what’s new in the world of sports camps!

sports camps for kids

Reach out to your Tips Advisor today!

Counting Down to Camp!

March 14, 2023 by Eve Leave a Comment

In about two weeks, we will be 100 days from the start of camp season!

Kids will be able to:

Climb a rock wall rather than the steps of the school bus
Talk to friends face-to-face rather than through a screen
Ride a horse, sail a boat, learn to swim rather than complain they are bored
Dive into an art project, woodworking or cooking rather than worry about making a mess

Teens will be able to:

Experience the freedom to be themselves rather than worry about social media
Meet new friends with new perspectives from different states rather than only hang out with school friends
Climb mountains, sleep under the stars, canoe and kayak rather than play video games
Find joy in learning new skills rather than worrying about test scores and grades

Summer overnight camps, adventure trips, community service programs and academic experiences give students the chance to grow and blossom.

Make that happen for your kids!

Sights and Sounds of Summer Camp

January 17, 2023 by Jen Cippoletti Leave a Comment

It’s been decades (gulp!) since I have been at overnight camp. Decades since my younger self walked the paths, sang all the songs, jumped in the lake while morning mist was still rising from it, heard the bugle play reveille to wake us, and heard the loons at night singing us to sleep. And yet, camp is never too far from my mind. It could be on a hike in a forest somewhere in the world, where the smell of pine needles warmed by the sun brings me right back to New Hampshire. Or I hear a crazy song lyric that reminds me of some silly song that we used to sing – and I still remember every word. Or I’m in a lodge that happens to use the exact style of cups and plates we used at camp, and they make the same sound when being stacked and passed. I can’t hear a whistle at a pool without instinctively raising my hand for buddy check. And there is the particular sound of a screen door that slams when the spring attached to the frame stretches and releases that takes me right back to the cabin. But those loons! They have a sound I have only ever heard at sleep away camp, whether as a camper so long ago, or as an adult at family camp. Now I’m a mom to three camp kids, and those sights and sounds belong to them too. They will someday have their own memories that bring them back to camp, just as I do, no matter how far they roam.

Give your child or teen a lifetime of memories to treasure, and let us help you find the perfect match – our advice is free, and the experiences last forever.

Questions to Consider for Summer Programs

January 12, 2023 by Gayle Shifrin Leave a Comment

Considering sending your child to an overnight program for the first time? When is the right time? Where should my child go? Should they go with a friend? For how long should they attend?

There are so many questions about when and where you send your child for an overnight summer program that the process can be overwhelming. Whether you are considering an overnight camp or a travel program, there are so many choices. There are endless locations, types of programs, and lengths of stays. How would a parent navigate all there is to consider?

Here are some things to think about:

When is the right time? This depends on your individual child. Many children start as early as seven, itching to experience overnight camp as soon as the camp will take them. Other children may need a later start, beginning at 12 or 13. There is not one answer here, as the readiness of each child varies.
What kind of camp? A specialized program that focuses on a particular activity like theater or sports, or an all-round traditional camp? Talk to your child about their interests.
Should they attend camp with a friend? Your child might feel they will be more comfortable being away from home if they go with their friend. On the other hand, getting out of that comfort zone may be exactly what your child needs. Summer experiences can allow for cultivation of new friendships.
How long should they attend camp? There is always a transition period, no matter how ready your child is to leave home for the first time. It is important to allow your child enough time to adjust to their new surroundings, cultivate new friendships, and find their groove in a new place. Sometimes 2-week rookie sessions are a bit short, because just when your child is starting to get comfortable with their new environment it is time to pack up and leave. Of course, a 2-week session is also convenient for families wanting to travel over the summer.

Tips on Trips and Camps advisors are ready and waiting to guide you through the process. Call us and get started!

Let’s Make S’More Memories

December 3, 2022 by Jill Leave a Comment

If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to start thinking about summer!

Finding a camp or teen program would make a great Christmas or Chanukah gift. Programs are filling up very fast for next summer – and already some have waitlists. If you’re thinking of camp or teen program as a possibility, this is the time to take action. For many programs, if you’re not sure, you may be able to put down a deposit and have the assurance that you can get that deposit back by a specified date. It’s best to secure your place as soon as possible.

Now is the time to focus on finding the right camp or teen program for your child.

We can provide detailed information that cannot be found on the Internet and guide you through the selection process.

To make it really easy, Tips on Trips and Camps is conducting a series of Zoom “fairs,” each focusing on a different type of teen program. Contact us to get information about these “fairs” or speak with an advisor closest to you who can provide you with a list of wonderful opportunities for your teen or camp-aged child. More information on the fairs can be found here: https://www.tipsontripsandcamps.com/blog/teen-summer-program-zoom-series-22-23/

For camp-related gift ideas, go to: https://www.etsy.com/market/summer_camp_gifts

TEEN SUMMER PROGRAM ZOOM SERIES ’22-’23

November 10, 2022 by Debbie Smith Leave a Comment

TEEN SUMMER PROGRAM ZOOM SERIES ’22-’23!

Two things TIPS Advisors know best:

TEENS & TEEN SUMMER PROGRAMS…

that’s because TIPS has been successfully connecting teens with exceptional summer experiences for over 52 years.

Listen & learn as experienced directors describe the magic that makes each of their summer programs special!

TIPS TEEN EDITION ZOOM SERIES DATES:

WEDNESDAYS @ 7:30PM EST/4:30PM PST

NOVEMBER 16 ADVENTURE TRIPS

NOVEMBER 30 TEEN TRAVEL USA & GLOBAL

DECEMBER 7 LANGUAGE

JANUARY 11 SERVICE

FEBRUARY 8 LIVE & LEARN on a COLLEGE CAMPUS

Click RSVP. To Register

Help your student make the most of their summer & make your summer program search easy!

Summer Camps and Teen Trips, What’s New for 2023

November 3, 2022 by Eve Leave a Comment

The Tips Team gathered last week for 3 days to review last summer and learn about what’s new for 2023. Our team visited 66 camps and programs this summer! It was wonderful to see so many happy kids enjoying their summer experiences. They were unplugged, engaged and spending time learning new skills. Over 95% of our reviews from summer experiences were good or excellent!

For summer 2023, some of the teen programs will be returning to destinations they had suspended during Covid. Japan is back on the list, as well as Africa, Thailand, New Zealand and Fiji. For younger campers, there are a number of new sports-oriented camps where over two or three weeks a camper can choose to focus on one or two sports with skills, drills and game play. Many camps have been offering early enrollment discounts, which will end soon. Camps are experiencing higher re-enrollment rates than in previous years, so families should reach out now to plan for next summer.

We are ready and waiting to help!

THE TIPS TEAM IS ON THE ROAD!

July 28, 2022 by Eve Leave a Comment

Tips on Trips and Camps was created in 1971 by two woman who felt that summer camps and teen trips provide more than just “fun”. They are an opportunity for kids to grow in their independence, confidence and ability to problem solve, all skills that are vitally important to children as they develop and grow. Tips is made up of a dynamic team of advisors whose goal is to help families of school-age kids find summer programs that will help them reach those goals. Crucial to our summer advisors’ ability to match a camp or summer trip to a family’s needs is that we really know the programs we represent through relationships with directors and summer visits to programs in action.

After a 2-year hiatus we are thrilled to be out on the road again seeing happy campers as they spend their summer learning and growing. The Tips Team looks forward to sharing what we learn for summer 2023!

TIPS FOR TRUNK PACKING FROM TIPS ON TRIPS AND CAMP

June 16, 2022 by Debbie Smith Leave a Comment

It’s time to pack for camp! To make this task less daunting, more organized for parents AND easier for campers, check out our tried-and-true trunk packing TIPS!

Use the camp’s packing list as a guide.
Designate a trunk-packing room. Make piles for similar articles of clothing and use a different color ribbon to tie each specific pile. The ribbons will prevent clothing from mixing together inside the trunk and will allow for easy unpacking at camp.
Ask your child to pick a few articles of clothing that he/she would picture themselves wearing in summer, which may not include their most favorite items. Camp laundry can sometimes result in a favorite being ruined or even lost. It’s best to leave the most special clothing items at home.
Socks, socks, socks! They disappear more than any other article of clothing. We suggest going with two non-white sock colors. Pick your child’s two favorites, label them and create sock balls. When bunk laundry comes back, they will know exactly which socks are theirs.
Select a few photos of family, pets and close friends. Younger campers may also want to pack a favorite stuffed animal. Having these important personal items at camp will provide a warm connection to home.
Write a short and simple letter and tuck it into your child’s trunk or duffle so that it’s the first piece of mail they receive at camp! Make the note positive and empowering while including some unexciting happenings at home.
Take some time to teach younger kids how to address the outside of an envelope and where the stamp goes. You or your child can pre-address some envelopes at home that can be included and packed with their stationery.

Including your child in organized trunk packing is a great way to begin laying the groundwork for a calm start to an amazing summer at camp!

Happy Packing!

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Experts on Overnight Camps & Trips for Kids and Teens

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