Hey Camp Fans!

Check out today’s Throwback Thursday to get great information about co-shopping for your summer camp prep. Having your kid help out with shopping, packing, and general involvement in the preparations is certain to put a positive spin on their summer camp stay. ‘Throwback’ to April 24 of last year to learn from summer camp expert, Chris Thurber, easy ways you can involve your child in summer camp prepping.

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

Today I have another Throwback Thursday for you in which we link back to an old Blog post that we think is SO helpful we want to put it in front of you again. ‘Throwback’ to March 20 of last year to review great tips from Dr. Thurber about attending summer camp along with a friend. What may sound like an incredibly helpful idea may not be as wise as it seems.

Look back with us today to glean great points about why summer camping with a friend may not be the best approach.

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

Today I have another Throwback Thursday for you in which we link back to an old Blog post that we think is SO helpful we want to put it in front of you again. ‘Throwback’ to March 20 of last year to review great tips from Dr. Thurber about attending summer camp along with a friend. What may sound like an incredibly helpful idea may not be as wise as it seems.

Look back with us today to glean great points about why summer camping with a friend may not be the best approach.

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

Just about everybody loves summer camp! That’s why summer camps are filled with diversity. Despite the similarities we may see in each other, we also know that everyone is different. We all come from our own, separate worlds—even brothers and sisters who grew up under the same roof are different.

Sometimes our differences with other people can collide undesirably. Bullying is more often a problem encountered in school, but it can certainly happen at camp too.

Well, if there’s a chance of bullying at camp then why bother going, right? No, no, no. Don’t think that way. Camp is full of memories that will last a lifetime. I still remember my summer camp experiences like they happened yesterday! You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity because there’s a chance you could encounter a bully.

Instead, just learn how to handle one. There are just a few things to keep in mind:

1.) First of all, knowing when and where a bully may try to strike is important because being ready for it is half the battle. Bullies will typically strike when a counselor isn’t around like in the showers or in the bunks after lights out.

Being ready for an encounter with a bully means remaining calm.

2.) The best response you can give a bully is the lack of one. Ignore them. Walk away. Or just tell them that you don’t care about what they have to say. Bullies want to control your emotions. If you show them they can’t, they tend to lose interest in you.

If your bullying problem involves physical force, it’s very important that you find some way to protect yourself and be sure to tell a counselor or some other adult about any threats or assaults. Adults have a way of solving the problem and can usually do so without the bully even knowing that it was you who said something.

3.) Lastly, it always helps to flip the script. Instead of seeing bullies as villains, try seeing them for what they really are: a miserably frustrated kid who wants to make others feel just as miserable as they do. Don’t allow it to happen.

It’s true, these three pointers are all easier said than done—but if you can stay calm and stay in control of your emotions, bullies WILL overlook you as a potential victim. Don’t stand for bullying and enjoy your time at camp! And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Fans of Everything Summer Camp!

Introducing Throwback Thursdays! On these days, we’ll be linking back to an old Blog post that we feel is so helpful in summer camp prepping that we want to get it in front of our readers again. Throwback Thursdays are all about reviewing the extremely valuable information in specific old posts (not to mention, giving ME a break!).

So ‘throwback’ with us today and take a good look at our post from one year ago by Dr. Christopher Thurber to help you determine how long of a camp stay is appropriate for your camper!

- John