Extension Corner - Kids and camp
With schools winding down for the year, kids start dreaming of lazy days of summer. Meanwhile, parents are thinking about how to keep their young ones busy and happy through the coming months. Think about camps as a piece of the summer puzzle.
Depending on the age and personality of your child, there are a number of things to keep in mind.
• For younger children, between 6 and 9, think about whether they are actually ready to go off to camp. A day camp may be a good choice. Look for camps that have older children and teens as junior counselors. This will provide children with positive role models and give your child something to work toward in the future.
• With children between the ages of 10 and 15 talk about why they want to go to camp and what they want to get out of it. Then work with them to identify options and make their choices. Camp provides a chance for youth to build their self-concept away from the established expectations of family and classmates.
• Older children, between 16 and 18, can be encouraged to consider becoming a junior counselor or exploring other leadership opportunities. They can take on the responsibility of getting ready for camp, including saving money to share in the expenses.
The American Camp Association tells us that there are more than 7,000 overnight and 5,000 day camps in the United States. Many of the youth-serving organizations in our own community offer camps throughout the summer. You can chose from 4-H camps, Girl Scout camps, Boy Scout camps, YMCA camps, and church camps…to name a few.
Today’s camps are designed to couple traditional camping experiences with the special interests of their campers. Nebraska 4-H has camps for swimmers (“Aquatic Blast”), animal lovers (“Zoo Bound”), actors & actresses (“Microscopes & Spotlights”), competitors (“Summer Camp Olympics”) and adventurers (“Survivor Style Camp”). The Big Red Academic Camps for high school students cover topics like movie making, quilt design, theatre, landscape design, and web design and animation – all opportunities to explore career options and have fun.
So talk to your children about whether they are interested in summer camps. Contact youth-serving organizations in your community about their summer camp offerings. Your County Extension Office can give you information about 4-H Camp opportunities across Nebraska.
