One step at a time.

I find the best way to get my kiddos out the door to school in the morning, to bed at night, ready for Saturday’s baseball game and packed for that family vacation is to take things one step at a time.

Same goes for sleepaway camp!

Whether you’re sending your child to sleepaway camp for the first or tenth time, the prep work can be a bit overwhelming at first. But it doesn’t have to stay that way! Here are some steps I take to prepare my children for a successful session at Camp Highlander and I hope they help you too!

• Believe in your child. They can do this and so can you! Staying positive and supportive throughout the entire process helps your child build the confidence they need to try something new and spread their wings. If your child isn’t quite ready for the two-week session, Camp Highlander offers great opportunities for your child to segue into the camp experience including Kickoff Camp (a shorter session at the start of the summer), Family Camp, Father-Son Weekend and Mother-Daughter Weekend.
• Make sure your camp is American Camp Association accredited and review ACA’s Prep Checklist
• Get familiar with camp in advance. Carve out some time to sit down and review the Camp Highlander website with your child. Watch the videos, look at the photos and read Camp Highlander’s blog posts - they all were extremely helpful to me. I wanted to get to know Directors Bryan and Melissa Fitzgerald, how they hire, who they hire and the activities my kids would soon enjoy. The videos and blog posts helped paint an accurate picture of Camp Highlander and helped us all familiarize ourselves with the camp experience.
• Ask your campers to come up with any questions they have about sleepaway camp and then schedule a call with a year-round staff member to answer those questions for you and your child. Relationships will be built at Camp Highlander, plus your child will have a friendly face they’ll know come summer. *Discuss what activities your camper may be looking forward to and also the camp rules and routines. Stress the importance of flexibility and teamwork and that this is the time to try new activities, new foods and meet many new friends.

• Practice Independence: Have your child make their own beds, pick out their own clothes, shower and brush teeth on their own and put their clothes away. Talk them through these things so they become comfortable with all of these tasks. Consider scheduling sleepovers at friends or family members’ homes.
• As summer draws near, let your children help you plan and pack for camp. Print out the Camp Highlander Packing List and shop for items with your child. Personalized sticker labels are helpful too! I also like to check in with other moms who have already sent their children to sleepaway camp; these moms often have great packing tips (what to pack, what are some of the best reminders of home to send with your child, how to decorate their bunk, what to mail them while away, etc!). No matter what, start collecting the items early in the spring.

• Show your child the Camp Highlander Communication page - explain how you can write emails back and forth to each other via the Campanion app throughout their time at camp. Some children enjoy writing notes daily and others end up finding themselves way too busy to write as much as we want them too! Sometimes children write home and express how much they miss home and Mom and Dad. Don’t fret….know you can always give the camp office a call and talk through any concerns you might have.
• Send a note to camp or order a care package ahead of time so that there is something waiting for your child when they arrive! Camp Highlander offers care packages that you can preorder; campers receive the care packages shortly after arrival.
• Explain that it’s okay for your child to be nervous. Learn ways to walk your child through the many emotions and feelings that come with a summer ahead at sleepaway camp. And it’s okay for you to feel anxious too - I did and I am a Camp Highlander alum and one of its biggest fans! Lean on experts and Camp Highlander leadership to answer any questions and concerns.
• Expect a quick camp goodbye on dropoff day and explain it to your child too so there are no surprises. There’s a reason most camps don’t have us linger - be excited for your child, give hugs and kisses and send them on their way to fabulous fun! Then enjoy some sleep and write a lot of letters!