overnight camps - Tips on Trips and Camps

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!

Overnight Camps in the Time of Covid

February 9, 2022 by Jill Leave a Comment

Are you looking to send your child to an overnight camp this summer but concerned about Covid? If so, you’re not alone. I think many parents are evaluating whether sending their children away during these times is a good idea.

You should know that the camps that I work with have learned what they need to do to keep campers and staff safe – and have done a great job accomplishing that! Some camps took on this responsibility in the summer of 2020. They followed CDC and state guidelines. For 2021, they shared these best practices with other camps and they remained aware of changes as they occurred. The result was a very successful 2021 camp season. I have every confidence that summer 2022 will be the same.

The major difference this summer is that most overnight camps will be requiring all campers and all staff to be vaccinated. This will allow camps to run, for the most part, as normal. What is not clear is whether those camps that offer inter-camp competition will do so. There is still a concern about breaking the camp bubble. Most camps offering inter-camp tournaments are back east or in the Midwest.

Our kids need a camp experience now more than ever. Last fall, when we thought the pandemic was under control and a glimmer of normalcy was in sight, Delta and Omicron quickly took over. Now most of our children are tested weekly. They are in school, out of school and back in school. The tension and confusion is real. How are your children doing in this scenario? Sending your child away this summer will provide them with a care-free environment where they can be with friends and participate in activities that are fun and provide them with freedom and a sense accomplishment.

Many parents have already come to the same conclusion, and as a result, this year camps are filling faster than ever before. Every day I receive emails about camps who are now waitlisting applicants.

If you haven’t started to research your child’s summer experience yet, do so now. Give your TIPS Advisor a call and let us help you find that special place for your child to thrive next summer.

SUMMER IS HERE AND WE ARE CELEBRATING!

June 10, 2021 by Eve Leave a Comment

WOW, what a difference a year makes! Tips on Trips and Camps advisors enthusiastically helped thousands of families find overnight camps and teen experiences for summer 2021. It was an interesting ride to get to this moment, and I am so proud of our trusted team. Like the directors of the programs we represent, we are “camp people,” so it’s no surprise that our team figured out new ways to advise and help our families. Camp fairs canceled? No problem, we offered them virtually. Camp visits postponed? We Zoomed and Zoomed and Zoomed some more with hundreds of our programs. Some of our veteran advisors decided the time was right to move on, and we now have two new advisors for New York City and Chicago. They bring new energy and ideas to our team. We are not just bouncing back but bouncing forward as well.

As kids start leaving for their summer experiences, we will be celebrating both the normalcy and specialness of sending kids off on summer adventures. We are proud to play a role in making that happen. New memories are right around the corner!

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!

It’s Camp Fair Season!

January 6, 2020 by Jill Leave a Comment

It’s time to think about Summer 2020. What will your kids be doing this summer? Do you prefer that they stay at home or explore new interests, make new friends and perhaps unplug for a period of time? An easy way to start the process of finding an overnight camp or summer program is to attend a camp fair.

Here are some reasons to attend a camp fair near you:

EXPLORE CAMPS AND PROGRAMS: Come with an open mind …. There are so many wonderful overnight camps and programs to learn about!

TALK TO DIRECTORS & ASK QUESTIONS: Most often it’s the camp director or assistant director who is at the camp fair. Talk to them and ask questions. Get a feel for the programs and what they are all about.

BRING YOUR KIDS: Let your kids explore, too. Let your child have a say in where they go. Don’t be surprised, though, if they find a camp or summer program different from what you think would be best for them.

Camp fairs provide an opportunity to collect information. Pick up brochures of camps and programs you are most interested in and then go home to review them.

If you’re lucky to be attending a Tips on Trips and Camps Fair, look for an advisor to help you. Ask them questions about the programs you’re most interested in. Didn’t see what you were hoping to find? Let an advisor guide you to the right camp or program.

And after you’ve reviewed the brochures you’ve picked up, call a TIPS Advisor for more information and, if needed, to help you distinguish between the programs you’ve found most interesting.

Check our website for the list of camp fairs in your city: https://www.tipsontripsandcamps.com/summer-advice/local-camp-fairs/

If you can’t find a Tips on Trips fair near you, give an advisor nearest you a call: https://www.tipsontripsandcamps.com/summer-advice/find-an-advisor/

Come to the fair with the confidence of knowing that WE are there to help guide you in finding the ideal program for your child!

Why Summer Camp Is More Important Than Ever

July 26, 2018 by Michele 1 Comment

As I am sure many parents can relate, social media and cell phones are making me crazy. Have you noticed how all the kids (and adults) are constantly scrolling, texting and watching things on their devices? Not only is this bad for their mental development, we are raising the next group of hunchback adults.

As I was strolling thru camps earlier this summer, I started to notice how happy all the campers looked. They were so happy talking to their friends, playing games and just being outside. Imagine that – all of these smiles and no Snapchat or Instagram to capture it. How amazing!! You know what else was amazing? They all made eye contact because their heads weren’t hunched down starting at a screen. Call me old-fashioned, but I truly believe that kids are happier at camp because it is now the only place where they can disconnect from the world, but more importantly, they are making real life connections. Laughing with their friends, making memories and feeling good about themselves.

My love for camp is stronger than ever. Can anything really replace face to face fun? How about a time for your child to feel good about themselves and doing things they can truly enjoy, not because they want to post it. Let’s take this a step further. Now I know I may get a lot of backlash from my nearest and dearest but maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if camp directors eased up on the camp pictures. I can hear the loud protests. Hear me out – I recently visited a camp that did not post pictures. When I asked the director why not, he said, “kids act differently when they don’t have to be on”. Hmm – that’s true. He then continued, “This is their journey, not their parents”. Even I had to sheepishly admit he was right.

This camp also had the highest percentage of former campers coming back multiple years as counselors. A coincidence? Maybe, but it is something to think about.

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD…..AND THAT’S NO BOLOGNA!

March 8, 2018 by Lois Leave a Comment

Every year, thousands of campers go to teen summer programs or overnight camps wondering if they will make new friends, learn new skills, or gain confidence in living independently. Increasingly, more and more families are asking about food. Parents are worried about allergies, dietary restrictions, and nutritional content. They want fresh fruits instead of sweets, flavored waters instead of soda, and foods that are not heavily processed.

Worry no more! Camps for Vegetarians? No problem! Gluten free? A piece of cake (gluten free cake, that is)! Nut allergies, lactose intolerance, egg sensitivity, vegans, kosher families, and paleo-diets have all forced camps to rethink their menus.

I remember my first meal at camp…..chopped hotdog mixed with canned baked beans, iceberg lettuce, red jello for dessert, and “bug juice”. I had no idea what it was at the time. I later found out it was called bug juice because all the sugar attracted the bugs. Today, most camps are replacing institutional foods with health-conscious options. Many camps hire specialists to make sure kids with allergies are properly looked after. The trend is to give kids healthy choices and develop good eating habits. Salad bars are at almost all camps. Breakfast bars are not uncommon. Cooking has become a very popular activity. More and more kids want to be in the kitchen and learn how to prepare delicious meals. Many camps have gardens that provide some of the produce. Most camps still have canteen and candy is offered, but it is typically not every night. Dessert is often served but perhaps not at every lunch or dinner. Snacks are typically fresh fruits.

If you have a “picky eater” or a child with allergies, or just want to encourage good dietary habits, do not worry. Speak to a camp director about your concerns. Contact a camp advisor to discuss which programs focus on dietary issues or are more health-conscious. I think you will be surprised that “mystery meat” is a thing of the past.

Looking for Sleepaway Camp? Come to a Camp Fair

January 7, 2017 by Barb Leave a Comment

When we were growing up , families learned about sleepaway camps and teen summer camps by going to a camp fair and calling a camp advisor. While calling advisors like us has always been a mainstay of a camp search, camp fairs seemed to fall out of favor with the advent of the internet. To some Googling seemed to be a good substitute. But what goes around comes around, and camp fairs are once again gaining popularity. Why attend a fair? THREE top reasons:

One stop shopping. You get to browse through several kinds of camps in one place.
Human contact! You actually get to speak one on one with camps directors, and at our fairs, you get FREE personal advice from an experienced advisor.
Instant feedback. You can tell within minutes of initiating a conversation with a director whether it is a camp you want to learn more about.

In the age of social media, devices and lack of face to face communication, families have realized that a Tips on Trips and Camps Camp Fair is one of the best ways to start a camp search.

To find a fair near you click here: https://tipsontripsandcamps.com/summer-advice/local-camp-fairs/

Co-ed or Single sex camps: which one is right for your child?

January 9, 2012 by Jenny Wolkowitz 2 Comments

Regionally, camps often have a common set of characteristics. These characteristics can be based upon geographical attractions or the region’s social mores. One of the ways that camp regions differ is around the issue of single sex vs. co-ed camps. The East coast offers more co-ed camps, especially the mid-Atlantic Pennsylvania camps. The Carolina camps are predominantly single sex. The Colorado western camps are co-ed, but split into girls and boys camps (called “brother-sister camps”). Brother–sister camps usually have a gender divide for daily activities and dining rituals, but have socials together at night or on weekends. The Northwoods Region of Minnesota and Wisconsin is home to an abundance of single sex camps and a number of brother-sister camps. What kind of camp did you go to as a child? Will this inform the type of camp you send your own child?

Camp, Social Skills and the Art of Communication

April 20, 2011 by Nurit 2 Comments

All children – not only those with special needs – need help with social skills. Our children are expected to navigate through so very much as they grow. For the born charmers and negotiators, it comes naturally. But, for most it is a skill that needs to be learned, nurtured and then fine tuned. Today, kids need to re-learn the art of communication. In the era of Face Book, they also need to re-learn how to foster authentic relationships. They need to learn how to communicate face-to-face NOT text-to-text or email-to-email. A college dean once told me that he had heard of students arguing with one another by text, while sitting on their beds in the same dorm room! Even some of my adult clients prefer email than having an initial telephone conversation so that I can best understand their needs in finding a summer program that would fit their childrens interests.Camp is the antidote for children with helicopter parents. The camp milieu is such that campers, teens included, learn to solve problems by themselves or with some assistance from counselors and peers, instead of seeking parental advice. They are empowered. They leave behind their electronic pacifiers and comforters. They take actual pen, or colored pencils and markers, to paper and write letters home. Where else do they address an envelope and seal it with a postage stamp? At most camps, kids are unplugged as there are no cell phones, or electronics.

Thank goodness for overnight camps!

Experts on Overnight Camps & Trips for Kids and Teens

A Free Advisory Service