Once again camp packing is underway.  Last night, we hauled our massive bags downstairs for a middle of the night pickup where our bags joined other bags from around New York City to be mingled and sorted and sent to parts North and West.

This is a bittersweet summer for me as my last child starts her final year of sleepaway camp (at least as a camper!).  My three children have been fortunate enough to have had several different camp experiences and have had opportunities to learn about themselves at the different camps they attended.  Our boys learned that rustic outdoor experiences were nice but that they really wanted sports as well.  My daughter realized that she wanted a co-ed camp since she attends an all-girl school.  These realizations seem obvious at first, but they are not things that I would have thought about when selecting a camp.  Having first hand experience at five different sleepaway camps (all of which were terrific!) helped me understand the different nuances of each camp. These subtleties are hard to understand if you don’t physically visit a camp and these insights are what helps me in my recommendations.

The Tips advisors are getting excited for our annual camp visits – We plan to see over 75 camps in action this summer.  By meeting with directors, counselors and – best of all –  the campers – we get to see a camp come to life. We get a snapshot of the kinds of kids go there, how engaged they are in their activities and what kind of spirit and vibe there is. With each camp visit we are more equipped to help families find a good fit for their children.  That is one of the most rewarding aspects of this job!

So, as we move towards the opening days of camp, we wish everyone a wonderful experience full of new friends, activities and fun.  The sense of independence that kids gain is just one of the many benefits of camp. To me, being away from technology and having a full busy and active day is what I am so excited for my daughter to experience.  Just imagine – 7 weeks without Tik Tok!