4 Signs Your Child is Ready for Overnight Camp

Remember back in the day when you were gathered around a campfire roasting marshmallows, singing camp songs and laughing with your friends during the summer? Remember that feeling of joy and excitement upon making new best friends?

Those were the days. Now that you‘re older and wiser, don‘t you want your kids to enjoy a classic summer experience? Now it‘s their turn to tell ghost stories in their bunks and stargaze at the top of a mountain.

But how do you know if they‘re ready or not?

The team at YMCA Camp Tumbleson Lake, our overnight camp nestled in the mountains in Ward, Colorado, offers some helpful insight on how to recognize if your child is ready for this new adventure.

Here are four signs to look for to know when they're ready to attend overnight camp:

1. They‘re showing interest in camp.

If your child initiates the conversation of wanting to go to overnight camp, they have already assessed it for themselves. Trust them that they are ready. If they start to show an interest and ask questions about camp, they are probably ready to pack their bags and try something new this summer.

2. They‘ve had successful sleepovers.

Another good indicator is if your child has slept away from home before and not had any problems. If they are loving slumber parties, they are probably ready. On the other hand, if sleepovers and staying away from home for a night are still a little scary, then waiting until next year might be a better option.

3. They are comfortable with new people and experiences.

In order to have a fun and successful first time at sleep-away camp, your child must be comfortable meeting new people, making new friends, experiencing new activities and discovering new scenery. If they tend to be welcoming to new experiences (especially experiences where a parent or guardian is not present), they are likely ready to expand their horizons.

4. They follow the rules.

It‘s important that your child is good at following rules when coming to camp, because there will be many camp counselors and adults leading the group. Safety is their highest priority. If your kids are good listeners and rule followers at home and at school, this is a great sign that they are ready to branch out and try summer resident camp.

Even though your child might be ready for an overnight camp, homesickness is very common and should be expected. The camp counselors go through extensive training to learn how to best deal with homesickness, which can be scary for kids. Counselors help by finding activities and friends that will distract your camper from their worries and allow them to feel more connected.

If you decide that your child isn‘t quite ready for resident camp yet, one of the YMCA‘s day camps could be a better option. Campers will still have the opportunity to participate in activities like archery, hiking, games, art, camp songs, color wars and more in a relaxed environment. After each day, campers will get to go home and relive the day's adventures with their family. Whichever form of camp you choose, you'll be able to share in your camper's excitement and relive the good old days!

Learn more about the YMCA Camp Tumbleson Lake’s day and overnight camps as well as YMCA Day Camps throughout Northern Colorado and Cheyenne.