camp advisor - 2/3 - Tips on Trips and Camps

Just like ice cream, there are many “flavors” of camps

April 6, 2019 by Stephanie Vordick Leave a Comment

I went to three different sleep away camps starting in elementary up through high school, and none of them were right. I’d never before or since had trouble making friends, but I didn’t feel like I fit in at any of those camps. And they were terrific high-quality camps that today as a camp advisor I have have no hesitation recommending. I went for eight weeks each summer, and that was a long time to feel out of sorts. All of my friends from home also attended sleep-away camps, and they all had great stories of fun and friendship which I wanted so very much for myself. I loved the idea of sleepaway camp, just not my sleepaway camps. Now as a camp advisor I know that there are camps for every type of child. I would have flourished at a laid-back, not too spirited, non-competitive place with lots of non-team sport options, and where the activities were mixed ages and selected by the campers. And isn’t it great that there camps like that? No matter your child’s personality or needs, there’s a camp for them.

Desperately Seeking Summer

March 8, 2019 by Stephanie Vordick Leave a Comment

The anticipation of summer not only brings the joy of seeing our kids off to camp but also reminds many of us of our own camp experiences. This never-ending winter has made me long for all the sights, sounds, and smells of summer. Do you feel the same? Take my short quiz to see how badly you need a summer day. Winner gets the hammock first.

You seriously consider ordering cute label stickers for your clothing
You spritz yourself in a bit of bug spray just for the smell
Wet towels out of the washing machine make you feel nostalgic
You asked the waiter for a bug juice cocktail at dinner last night
You intentionally smudge a little sunblock on your clothes before you leave the house

However you prepare for summer, Tips on Trips and Camps advisors are here to help you find just the right sleepaway camp or overnight program. It’s not too late to find great options for this summer, and it’s not too early to look for summer 2020.

What Did I Forget?

December 9, 2018 by Stephanie Vordick Leave a Comment

How can the calendar already say December?

My mile-long to do list is stuck in September!

The darkness each afternoon makes me long for the sun,

And also reminds me of one to-do I must get done:

It’s not the holiday planning, shopping, or celebrating,

It’s not the decorating, cooking, or ice skating –

It’s choosing a summer camp for each of my kids!

Sitting on their phones all summer heaven forbids.

But how will I get this giant job done?

Without any worries about whether I’ve found the “one?”

I know what I will do without delay –

I will call Tips on Trips and Camps! Yay!

My Tips advisor asks all the right questions,

And sends me an email with excellent suggestions.

Without much fuss, the decision is made!

I’m the best mom; I deserve a parade!

For all you parents who are worrying what to do,

Tips on Trips and Camps will pull you through!

Unique Gift Options for Your Camper

November 30, 2015 by Ellen Blum Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving has come and gone. We’ve all had our fair share of leftovers. Now, holiday shopping begins. Black Friday…Cyber Monday… where do we get the best deals? While we all brainstorm what to buy, some of the best choices cannot be purchased by standing in line for hours, or by using a coupon code. Give your children a gift that will last them a lifetime.

A summer camp or teen program is an invaluable gift to give your child. Whether it’s through the friendships that are made at camp, engaging in community service, traveling to a faraway location, or a host of other choices, summer programs provide endless possibilities of growth and innumerable memories. Now is the perfect time to contact your local Tips on Trips and Camps advisor and discuss the options available.

Is your child already signed up for camp or a summer travel program? There are many gift options to consider this time of year that will continue your child’s excitement:

A camp sweatshirt or other clothing item
A camp blanket for those chilly nights
Travel accessories (toiletry kit, duffle bag)
Fun stationery
New water bottles or fans

Many camps have links on their websites to companies who sell items specifically for that camp. Go online and check it out. You’ll find fun options.

If you have not yet decided on a summer experience, the holidays are the perfect time for you to look at summer programs with your child. What better gift . . . than the gift of an amazing summer experience!

Exploring Summer Options: How Early Is Too Early?

September 11, 2015 by Jenny Wolkowitz Leave a Comment

Often times, parents come to our advisory service too late in the season to find the perfect summer experience for their child. In many cases, the only session in which their child can participate – nestled between baseball season, the family vacation and school starting – is already filled up.

The best way to avoid this situation is to plan summer early. Done right, the process of finding the right camp can take an entire year’s worth of research, but the reward is great. When your neighbors are stressing out about what their child will be doing next summer, you will be sitting pretty with your child already enrolled!

One very helpful thing to do is plan a visit to see camps in action. All camps gladly receive guests, if you schedule an appointment. Most camps are located in beautiful areas near state parks or resort areas, so these visits can be fun for the whole family. You could even plan your family’s vacation at a camp and take advantage of a family weekend. These visits can help your child acclimate to the environment of the camp and make the decision to leave home a lot less scary. And, your first-hand observations of the facilities, the activities or the dining hall routine can help you know if this would be the right place for your child!

If you plan early and you have determined which camp suits your child, you can take advantage of early bird discounts. These discounts usually hold the cost of camp down to the previous year’s tuition or take several hundred dollars off the tuition price.

Some parents might not have the time to research camps on their own. With over 11,000 camps in the United States, it is important to come up with a list of questions to guide you. By doing so, you can narrow the possibilities to a manageable few. Then it is helpful to meet with directors, attend a camp fair, and/or enlist the advice of a summer program advisor.

Tips on Trips and Camps, Inc. is a FREE service specializing in overnight summer experiences for children ages 7-19. Call 866.222.TIPS or visit our website at www.TipsonTripsandCamps.com . Once you register, a local advisor will follow up with you immediately. You know your child and we know the camps. Together, we can find the RIGHT match.

Why you should take a leap of faith and put your child on the camp bus.

June 17, 2013 by Carey 1 Comment

In a few weeks, there will be large gatherings of nervous parents and children in the parking lots of shopping malls all over the US. Will you be among those parents or will you be driving the interstate to take your child to sleep away camp? While it is much harder for the parents than the children, the advice from Tips on Trips and Camps advisor, Carey Rivers, is to go for it. Just don’t cry till you see the back of the bus going down the road.

The camp bus plays an important role in the separation that takes place as your child enters the world of sleep away camp. By the time campers arrive at camp they will have at least one friend and be able to sing a camp song or two. You do not want your child to be the last one entering the cabin after the bus has arrived – with his parents in tow! Nor do you want a nervous time waiting for bunkmates to arrive on the bus if your child arrives early with his parents. Your child will feel more comfortable with other excited campers rather than their nervous parents.

The bus is also an opportunity to learn about all the fun activities at camp. Water sports, land sports, climbing walls, science and nature activities, specialty camp programming and what the food is like.

So trust your child to be able to handle the separation. Camp is designed to foster independence. Give your child a vote of confidence, a hug and a wave as the bus drives off. You will not regret it.

How to Visit and Tour an Overnight Camp – the summer before you go.

February 22, 2013 by Nurit Leave a Comment

A great way to choose a summer camp, whether you are using a Tips Advisor or searching on your own, is to visit the summer before. While it is still too early to make appointments to tour, now is a great time to narrow down the selection.

Step 1.
Call your Tips on Trips and Camps advisor to discuss sleep-away camp options for your child. You may not even know what you are looking for at this point or, you might have an exact picture of the summer camp or experience in mind.

Step 2.
Peruse the websites of the camps that were sent to you by your advisor. You may already be getting feelings about likes and dislikes at this point.

Step 3.
When brochures and DVD’s arrive, look them over without your children. If possible, narrow down the options to a few that look the best. If you need help with this, call your advisor to discuss. Your advisor can help you formulate questions to ask and is there for you throughout the selection process. Calling camp directors is a great idea at this time because they are not yet focused on the daily ins and outs of camper life and have the time to talk with you. Your comfort level with the Director and the answers to your questions should count a lot in your decision. One question to ask: When is the best time to call for a camp tour this summer?

Step 4.
Once you know which camps you want to visit, you can now share some specific DVD’s with your future campers if you think it is a good idea.

Step 5.
Call before camp season begins and make an appointment. Appointments are not always available at the times that may suit you best. Generally, the first and last weeks of camp are not even possible. While many families visit on weekends, keep in mind that mid-week tours will often allow for some extra attention and a slower pace. Also, ask who will be giving the tour? Depending on this answer you might want to ask for time to speak with the director, or some current campers….

Step 6.
The number of camps you visit in a day, will depend on the proximity of the camps. Too many and you will be unable to tell them apart.

Step 7.
On the day of your tour, make sure to be wearing comfortable shoes and sun hats. Ask to see bunks from your campers age group and also one from an older group so you have an idea of what your child will be looking forward to. Also speak to some older campers so you get a picture of the kids your child will be aspiring to be.

BONUS
By doing your search in advance, you may discover through your advisor, or on your own that the camp you are considering has a rookie day or weekend. How awesome it may be for your burgeoning camper to be able to spend an overnight at camp, while you stay at a local B&B enjoying a quiet meal and some adult time!

The Transition from Summer Camp to Teen Programs

April 16, 2012 by Meg Smith Leave a Comment

Is your tween or teen ready to make the transition from Summer Camp to a Teen Program? That depends on the individual child. Many traditional camps can certainly offer summer programs through the teenage years and some have added Leadership programs and Community Service to keep older children challenged. As a camp advisor with Tips on Trips and Camps, I have explored hundreds of traditional summer camps and teen programs by meeting directors, visiting programs, and reading camp reports written by my fellow advisors. Being able to go beyond the websites and web searches and knowing as much as I do about all the wonderful options available, I am still challenged to come up with the best option for my own three boys. Each have distinct personalities and needs and I have found that what works for one child may not work for another. While my oldest loved learning to sail and scuba dive, I have ruled it out for my middle child who would never make it past his sea sickness issues.

Even among the traditional camps, there are subtle differences that make them unique and a better fit for one child over another. That is why, as an advisor, speaking with a parent is critical in helping me to determine good fits for my clients. You know your child better than anyone and if you can communicate to me their strengths and interests, I can give you several options that will work. With so many summer choices, I can save you time and protect your summer camp investment by narrowing down your choices. Anyone with distracted or lethargic teenagers knows that too many choices will not help them make a decision. Often they need to be pushed to step outside their comfort zones (leave their cell phones and friends behind) and explore places and interests that will allow them to grow as individuals. Whether it’s learning more about an interest they might want to pursue in college by taking an academic/enrichment class or seeing how people live in different parts of the world and the challenges other cultures face, they will come away with a greater sense of self. My goal for your family is that you will be pleased with the happy child you greet at the end of their summer experience.

Summer Camps and Trips – a Perfect Graduation Gift

April 5, 2012 by laura rumbough Leave a Comment

It’s April, and I, like many of the parents I work with am thinking: “what is my daughter going to do this summer?” It would be great for her to get a job, but as we all know, it’s not that easy in this economic climate.

As a camp advisor, I have access to, and relations with hundreds of incredible summer overnight programs. The programs that I represent are carefully screened, I know the directors, and I am familiar with the culture of each and every one. You’d think with all the amazing summer camps and trips out there, my daughter would be chomping at the bit to take part this summer, right? No, not really… She is completely immersed in her schoolwork, sports and extra curricular activities, not to mention the college decision-making process that is happening right now. My daughter, a senior in high school, isn’t ready to think about summer plans yet. I think she just wants to get through the semester, graduate, and then take a deep breath.

But I however, am doing behind the scenes research for her on the most meaningful and fun summer program that I think she would love. The summer trip is going to be a graduation gift to her, a reward for her work well done, and a celebration of all her achievements in high school. She mentioned traveling to Fiji or Australia at one of our dinner conversations. She also likes the idea of doing meaningful community service with families struggling after the hurricane. Or she could join a leadership expedition specifically for graduating seniors, and earn her Wilderness First Responder certification in Colorado. Whether we decide on a two or four week trip, I know once she goes she will love it, meet interesting kids, see amazing sights, and have incredible experiences that she will remember for a lifetime.

Overnight programming in the summer is so valuable. Whether your child is 8 years old, and is a first time camper; or he is 18 years old and is a graduating senior, the lessons learned and the experiences gained can be life changing. Independence, self-esteem, and confidence all come to my mind when thinking about the value of sleep away summer camp. I know that my children have benefited from the fact their mom is a summer camp advisor. They are lucky to have taken part in amazing overnight camps and programs these last six years, and I am grateful for the personal growth they have made as a result of their overnight camp experiences.

Share Your Summer Camp Memories

May 5, 2011 by Carey Leave a Comment

Have you noticed how much adults love talking about their summer camp experiences and how it affected their lives? I am a camp advisor who helps families find the best sleep away camp for their child. As I speak with parents, they fondly remember their own overnight camp experiences and love to reminisce. While on a radio talk show, a caller said she became the person she is at camp. At a dinner party, I once spoke to two senior citizens who had met at summer camp, become friends and practiced law together for 45 years. One of my tennis partners came to the US on a teen study abroad program as a 16 year old. Many years later he returned as the Ambassador from his country to the United States. Who will ever forget color war, the last night of camp or camp songs we sang? Former campers love to know that their camp still exists and that current campers feel as sentimental as they did. Summer camps and teen experiences may not be the typical Washington political discussion but it is something everyone loves to talk about. Share with us your memories about a summer camp or teen travel experience.

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Experts on Overnight Camps & Trips for Kids and Teens

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