Unplugging Kids from Technology at Summer Camp

One of the many benefits of summer camp is allowing your child to be in a nature-rich environment, free from their digital reliance. While some campers may feel oppressed by not having their device on them for the first few days, the new activities they engage in and new friends they meet will have them feeling different about this sooner rather than later.

Unplugging Kids from Technology at Summer Camp

As a parent you want your child to explore his or her surroundings, have fun with all sorts of activities and make new friends while at summer camp. Your child will be unable to enjoy these things if they are constantly glued to their smartphone.

Here are things that can help your child unplug from technology before they go to camp:

1. Before summer camp starts, slowly separate your child from the device that he or she uses often. This gives your child time to adjust to a few days or weeks without using his or her device. Suddenly separating your child from his or her device will make it harder for them to deal with it while at camp and can ruin their summer. Start with simple ground rules at home, such as no devices at the dinner table.

2. Show them the fun activities they might miss out on when they are constantly on their devices. Take them to the camp to see the activities they will do. Let them try some of the camp activities to get a taste of what they may miss when they use their gadgets all the time.

3. Limit their smartphone and gadget use to emergency situations and important calls or messages. Limiting their use while at camp helps your child fully engage in the camp’s activities.

4. Some young kids are constantly on their gadget or smartphone because they are homesick and want to constantly talk with their parents. You can limit the homesickness of your child by giving them an item that reminds them of home. Give them handwritten letters to know that they will be missed while they are away or let them take the blanket they always use at home.

5. Expose your child to fun things he or she can do outdoors. Join them when they go biking, trekking, or even just for a morning jog. Exposure to physical activities will help them adjust to life without gadgets at summer camp.

6. Set a good example. If you want your child to limit their reliance on technology, you need to be mindful of your own usage. If you are on your phone more than they are, they won’t really be so open to unplugging from technology.

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Developing Academic Skills at Summer Camp

Summer camp provides participants with all sorts of benefits, one of which is developing academic skills. While they may not exactly be focused on studying math and science during their time at camp, children learn valuable skills that can help them cope with the school work at the end of the summer session.

The rules set in summer camp teach your child discipline, a vital skill to survive the classroom setting. Children who learn this from camp are more focused when they study and are not easily distracted when they have an important academic requirement to submit. The discipline they learn at summer camp also keeps them away from trouble while in school.

The socializing involved at summer camp helps your child develop communication skills that they need when they make presentations. Strong communication skills help your child when they have to go on college admission interviews or apply for a job in the future.

The competitive atmosphere in some of the activities done in summer camp helps your child persevere and develop goals in whatever he or she undertakes. Sports are a good way to develop a sense of achievement in your child. The training sports provides instills discipline and importance of hard work into your child.

Summer camp is also a place where children learn to believe in their own abilities. Whether it’s learning a new sport or improving what they already know, camp provides them with an empowering atmosphere that helps them be more driven. In school, this can be easily applied when they are going through new lessons or unfamiliar subjects. Knowing that they have the ability to learn and succeed at new things can help them be better academic achievers.

On the other end of the spectrum, they also develop resilience in the face of failure. There won’t always be a parent around to cheer them on when they things don’t turn out as expected in camp. Children will learn that they will not always win games or be the best in a particular sport – and it is okay. They will learn what it’s like to be defeated by a stronger player and to rise above that feeling. In the academic set up, they can apply this resilience when they get their first failing grade or the teacher is not as happy with their academic work as they had hoped.

The skills learned at summer camp stretch beyond the classroom. The skills they learn are useful in their daily lives and in whatever they do.

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Communicating with Kids at Summer Camp

When it comes to the summer camp experience, one of the most oft asked questions is with regard to the communications policies. While most parents worry about their child being homesick, the need for contact is usually more for the parents than for the kids.

It is important to remember that campers – especially first-timers -- will need time to adjust to the new environment. The constant communication during the first few days of camp may slow down their progress at developing socialization skills and fully enjoying camp life.

At Camp Tamarack, we count on parents to be partners in camping. First and foremost, we hope you can help by ensuring that our cell phone/PDA policy is properly followed. We understand that campers love receiving mail, so communication lines are still open for this.

Here is a quick guide of what you can expect regarding communication:

• All campers must write a letter home the first day of camp. So set your worries aside, you’ll hear from your kids as soon as they get to camp. Please send stationary and pre-stamped and self-addressed envelopes. At this point, you may be concerned that your child is not having a positive experience in camp. By the time the letter has arrived, they will have adjusted to camp life.

• Letter writing day is part of camp life. All campers are required to write home twice a week. They can also write a letter whenever they wish and place it in the mailbox.

• Personal communication devices such as cell phones and PDAs are not allowed in camp. Any device brought to camp will be confiscated and not returned to the camper until the last day of camp. Any camper who breaches this policy may negatively affect their chances of return to Camp Tamarack in subsequent years.

• Bunk1 email service allows parents to purchase an email plan. This is a great tool for parents to send emails to their kids, which are then downloaded, printed and distributed to campers the following camper mail day.

• Camp Tamarack also offers campers the opportunity to write a letter home and have us fax the letter directly to a fax number provided. This service will take place once a week.

• Parents of new campers will be contacted by Camp Tamarack to let them know how the kids are adjusting to camp life. One of our leadership team members will be in touch with you within 48 hours of their arrival at camp.

• Online photo galleries and newsletters are free to all parents via Bunk1. Pictures are updated several times throughout the week and we try to make sure we get pictures of everyone.

• While receiving packages can be exciting for any camper, it can also be a source of jealously and even disappointment for the recipient. Please do not send food or candy packages. Only flat packages measuring 9 x 12 inches are allowed – you can use this to send comics, newspapers or other reading materials. We will not receive courier envelopes, large packages or boxes at camp. These will be donated to charity.

• Birthdays are a special time at camp. Campers will be allowed to phone parents on their own birthday only. Calls can be made after breakfast.

If you’re not hearing from your child as often as you’d like them to write or email you, you can be at peace with the fact that your child is adjusting well and is probably enjoying himself/herself. For other communication concerns, you can always reach out to our camp staff by phone or email.

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