As the summer approaches, overnight camp is a big topic of conversion in many households with children.
Whether you’re thinking of sending your child to an overnight summer camp or you are the parent of a first time camper already enrolled, you may have a few hesitations about what to expect. It’s common as a parent to feel some anxiety about time away from your child, especially in a new environment.
When your child goes to summer camp, they’ll experience some of the greatest moments of their childhood. They will come home more confident, more independent, and with a new found set of skills to help them better navigate many of the unpaved roads they’ll walk as they grow.
But just knowing the benefits doesn’t always make the emotional preparation any easier. It is important for children and parents to feel prepared before leaving for camp.
Here are some ways to help ease your hesitations and ensure your child makes the most of their first overnight summer camp experience.
Connect with Staff before camp
One of the best things you can do for you and your child when choosing a camp is to meet the staff that will be supporting your child throughout the summer. Whether it’s an individual conversation or a group open house, it’s an important first step in building trust with the camp and its leaders.
Get to know the directors of the camp personally, you’ll want to make sure you are comfortable picking up the phone and calling to check in or just to help put your mind at ease. Directors also appreciate the partnership and relationships with their camp families.
Camp Mah Kee Nac offers 1 on 1 conversations and group virtual open houses to give families and their future campers the opportunity to learn more about the camp experience.
New Camper parents at Camp Mah-Kee-Nac also have the opportunity to also join in a First Time Parent Orientation on May 11 on Zoom. Meet other first time parents on Zoom in the comfort of your own home to learn more about Camp Mah-Kee-Nac, get to know our Directors, and ask your camp questions!
Take a tour of camp either summer before or leading up to camp
Touring a camp before the summer season is a great way to meet the directors and leaders face to face, see how your child will be spending their time and see the camp in action. Be sure to bring your child along to experience camp too so they can be familiar with the environment and get excited for the summer!
Once you’ve toured the facilities and grounds, you’ll know what to expect on arrival day and feel confident leaving your child to make some awesome new memories with their new camp family.
Camp Mah Kee Nac offers in person tours of camp as well as a New Camper Picnic and tour day in June just before camp. For families looking at a future summer, we offer two options to tour camp during the season; a personal family tour or Mini Mak Rookie Day. Personal summer tours are welcomed and encouraged for all potential families. Tours can be arranged daily at 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM most days of the summer. Contact us to schedule a tour today. Can’t make it in person? View our virtual tour here.
Talk to other seasoned camp families – they are great resources!
If you’re looking to learn about the full summer camp experience from an unbiased perspective, try connecting with a current camp family. Current camp families can share memories based on their personal experiences and give an insider point of view into the programs, facilities and day to day camp life.
Camp Mah-Kee-Nac takes many opportunities to connect potential families and first time families with seasoned Mah-Kee-Nac families. We do so during the year at our off-season Huddles (family get togethers in camper populated cities), through phone and Zoom conversations, as well as simply connecting families by email when requested.
You can learn a lot by speaking with families who’ve been through a summer (or ten!) at Camp Mah-Kee-Nac. And the best part is, they are always willing to help.
Participate in camp sponsored events
Many camps host events year round to welcome newly enrolled campers to the camp family and get campers excited for the summer season.
At Camp Mah Kee Nac, we take time to visit our campers and staff over the year by traveling to many of the cities that our campers come from. What’s better than getting camp friends (new and old) together during the school year? Not much! Read more about our new camper gatherings and huddles here or contact directors@campmkn.com to find out more about other upcoming events.
Camp Mah-Kee-Nac also hosts 3 new camper gatherings leading up to each season (January, May, & June). These camp sponsored gatherings help both new campers and new families meet other first-timers and feel more comfortable and confident knowing some other familiar faces.
For more information please visit www.campmkn.com. To keep up with camp throughout the summer season and beyond, follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Make this summer extraordinary and enroll today!