Is my child ready for camp?

Bob Ditter, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in child, adolescent, and family therapy, has recently written an article in Camping, a magazine put out by the American Camp Association.  In the article, he addresses the question that so many parents struggle with: Is my child read for the camp experience?  The other question that often gets overlooked is this: Am I ready for my child to come to camp?  That is, are parents and guardians ready for camp experience, knowing that their children will be away from home for an amount of time?

Ditter writes:”It is the joint responsibility of the camp director and the parent to make a determination of readiness.  In other words. the partnership with parents beings in looking together at what signs might help decide whether a child who has never been to camp before is ready.”   We at Camp Lake Stephens agree with this, and help parents almost on a daily basis decide whether or not the time is right for their camper to come to camp (no matter what age they are!).  Below, we have offered a checklist to get the thought process started, and the conversation started about when the time for camp is right.  The yes/no answers will help to give you a starting point to determine if the time is right!  As always, we welcome your thoughts, questions, and opinions.  Please contact Program Director Russell Casteel by phone (662-234-3350) or email, russell@camplakestephens.com

Bob Ditter’s “Ready, Set, Go!” Camp Checklist: