Going on a camp alone - Life skills for kids

It is summer time and you are leaving on a camp with a lot of your friends and also some new kids.  

It is all very exciting and you are looking forward to it, but lets looks at some information to get yourself prepared to make this a fun experience.

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If you are going on a 'sleepaway camp' it will mean you will be away from home for at least 2 days or more and will sleep over at the camping area.  You will take part in the activities and make a lot of new friends, but there can also be times when you miss your home, parents and pets, especially if the camp is a week or longer.

You might go to a traditional camp, where kids swim, do crafts, put on plays, and sit around the campfire at night. Or maybe you're going to a special-interest camp, where you'll work on your sports skills, or learn more about computers, outer space, or art. There are even camps that serve kids who have the same health problem, such as asthma or diabetes. 

If it is your first time going on a camp by yourself, it can make you a bit nervous, because you do not really know what to expect, but it will also give you a feeling of excitement, because you will get the chance to do a lot of things that you do not experience every day. 

It is fine to feel a bit scared, but we must not let that feeling take over everything that we forget to have fun.

You have maybe been on outings for the day with your friends but now you are going to sleep over and there will be a few extra things that you can do, like making a camp fire, getting to know the bush at night, watching stars, interacting with other kids for more than a few hours and many more.

If you know to which camp you are going, do a little research and read more about the place and activities.  Even though this will not tell you exactly how every day or the other kids will be, at least you will have an idea on what to expect.

If any other children that you know have been to this specific camp, you can also ask them to tell you more about the camp and what the enjoyed and disliked most.  You can gather a lot of information, but at the end of the day, you will have to make up your own mind.

Usually, the camp mails out information to your family before you go, so you'll know what to bring. You'll also probably need to have your doctor fill out a health assessment for you, so the camp can be sure your shots are up to date and camp counselors know about any health problems you have. 

It is very important that if you need special medicine or have allergies that the counselors are aware of it or keep the medication with them.  If you have to keep the medication with you, make sure you pack it away in a save place that it does not end up in the hands of another child.

Make a list of all the clothes and goods you want to pack and as you pack it, tick it off the list in order to make sure you have everything.  Always make sure you have enough sunblock and a warm jacket if it gets cold during the night.  You do not want to have a bad experience at camp because the sun burned you or you were very cold every night.

You may think that you will be able to do whatever you want at camp, or you will worry about who will look after you, but all camps have older teenagers or adults that will not only look after you, but also organize activities and show you how to have fun, but most importantly, they will be there if you need advice or 'a shoulder to cry on'.

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It is always a good idea to label your clothes and any other things you take with you, because things do get lost or forgotten and that way the others at the camp will know whose it is.  Try not to take any valuable items with you like jewelry etc.  You really do not need it.

Take some extra money for snacks and be daring and leave your cellphone at home... You will be amazed how much fun you can have if you do not worry about being on your phone or missing a message the whole time.

You will be kept busy most of the time, but there will be times that you feel a bit 'homesick'.  That is okay, the other children will most probably feel the same.  Do not let this keep you from taking part in fun activities.  Even if you miss home, just know that your parents also misses you, but they would be so happy to hear all the stories when you get home and they know you really enjoyed it a lot.

If there is a phone or you take your cellphone with just to use once a day to speak to your parents, use it if you really feel very homesick.  Just hearing their voices can help a lot.

If you're feeling down, it can help to talk with other campers or your counselors about your feelings. But it's also OK if you don't feel lonely because you're too busy having fun. That's the idea, after all. 

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