Greetings from Strong Rock! This is Corie Himstedt, camp owner, director, and resident mom. I’m honored to have the opportunity in this new section of the blog to talk to you about some things that are near to my heart, and to offer thoughts on how we as parents can help our children (and ourselves!) prepare for a terrific summer camp experience.
Over the past 17 years through working in a variety of camp settings, I have had the opportunity to see first hand what wonderful things camp does for kids. Before I became a parent myself I knew the things a child left camp with were things I would want for my own kids someday. Many of these are intangible; increased confidence in self and more importantly, in God, discovery of new interests, gifts, and talents, development of positive relationships with peers and real live role models, and discovery of who they are as seen through the eyes of the One who created them. James and I have been blessed beyond measure to start Strong Rock, and to partner with parents in raising their kids with purpose. God’s extravagant love and blessing in allowing us to touch the lives of families in significant ways continue to amaze me!
Knowing all of the positive benefits of a camp experience still aren’t always enough to dispel underlying concerns of campers or their parents before the start of camp. So what are some of the ways we can help our kids prepare for camp?
For first time campers, a visit to camp beforehand can be valuable. Getting oriented with the surroundings, meeting the directors, and having a chance to ask questions can help relieve anxiety.
Talk it up! Be excited for your kids and let them know you are happy that they will be making new friends and having fun outside of their own family. Kids can be inadvertently made to feel guilty if language at home has somehow conveyed that it’s not okay to form healthy attachments to adults other than family members.
There are several ways to help them avoid homesickness. Practice letting them spend the night away from home, send a familiar item with them to camp (perhaps a favorite stuffed animal), and again, realize that a parent’s attitude or language often sets the stage one way or the other. If they are promised that you will come get them if they miss home, they will likely dwell on this thought instead of getting through it and on with the fun. As hard as it is for us parents not to want to step in and rescue our kids from any kind of distress, we have to remind ourselves that our ultimate goal in parenting is to create a well adjusted adult!
Finally, as parents the best we can do to prepare our children and ourselves for a wonderful camp session is to spend some time praying about it. Praying with and for your kids is an amazing way to calm any anxiety they may have, and yours as well. Strong Rock staff members pray constantly that the campers God sends here will gain much from their experience at camp. As a mom I promise to pray for you as parents as well.
I look forward to either meeting your child for the first time, or to seeing them again really soon. Happy camping!
Tags: camp, Parenting, strong rock