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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Budgeting For Your Kids’ Summer Camp

Summer camp is a great experience for kids - one that offers many benefits that will last them through to adulthood. The investment you are making in your child’s development is important but it can take a bite of your household budget. But don’t worry. Luckily, there are ways you can fit it in without doing too much damage to your bank account.

Here are some tips on how you can budget for your kids’ summer camp experience:

1. Let your kids chip in - If your child has been bugging you about letting them to go away to camp, let them help out with the expenses. Whether it’s by having them donate a portion of their allowance to a ‘summer camp fund’ or by babysitting for neighbors, not only will it help you out financially, but it will teach them the value of money and hard-work.

2. Cut out other luxury expenses - If your family goes to the movies or eats out regularly, refrain from doing these activities for a couple of months until you’ve saved enough to afford summer camp. Switch to home movie night by renting videos or by cooking a big family meal with all members chipping in. Not only will you be able to save but you’ll bring the family closer together as well.

3. Focus on the goal – As summer camp may not fall under the “necessities” category of your household budget, it would be best to set-up a separate account for it. Most summer camps release their schedules and rates several seasons ahead, so you can better prepare for it by setting the target financial goal and the timeline for reaching it.

4. Be early - A great incentive for doing your research well before summer camp season starts is that most camps offer a 5 to 10 percent discount for early registration. This could mean potentially hundreds of dollars in savings. Take note that early registration means signing up early, but not necessarily paying for it yet.

5. Find out about discounts – Some summer camps like Camp Tamarack appreciate camper loyalty. Some discounts may apply to your child if he has been a camper in the past. This is also true for families that have more than one child enrolled in camp. Check out sibling discounts or alumni discounts (for parents who also joined the camp in their younger years).

6. Refer other campers – If you already know that you are enrolling your child in a good summer camp, it literally pays to spread the word. Some camps have referral programs that can take off a few hundred off your rate.

7. Pay by cheque or cash instead of credit card – Check out if your chosen camp offers discounts if you pay by cash instead of swiping the cost on your card. Most merchants who use credit card facilities are charged by the card company between 2% to 3.5% in transaction costs. As such, some of them prefer cash or cheque payments and pass the savings on to their customers.

8. Understand the cost of camp extensions and enrollment in specialized programs – If your chosen summer camp allows extension of stay or offers a specialized program, find out if there is an additional cost for it before signing up your kid for such activities.

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Packing Toiletries for Summer Camp

If you’re packing clothes, toiletries and medical supplies for your child who’s going to summer camp, always remember the essentials. If this is the first time your child is going away, talk to the camp coordinator about what kinds of activities they’ll be participating in. This will give you a better understanding of what kinds of clothes and toiletries your child will need.

It’s important to bring the right toiletries to camp, especially when they’ve got full days of fun and games ahead of them. Camp activities range from hiking and swimming to competitive sports and group games playing. Chances are, they’ll be out all day, under the sun, sweating and getting dirty, which is why having the right toiletries are essential for campers.

Here’s a run-down of essential toiletries your child will need at camp:

1. Toothbrush and toothbrush holder
2. Toothpaste - A fresh tube, enough for twice a day brushing for the duration of their stay.
3. Facial wash/scrub
4. Soap bars or liquid soap for showers
5. Bath scrub - To rub off the grime and dirt from playing all day.
6. Shampoo
7. Conditioner
8. Sunblock - Having sunblock with the right SPF is essential for kids at camp, especially since they’ll be exposed to large amounts of sun and UV rays.
9. After-sun spray or aloe vera - Sometimes, the occasional sunburn can happen. Your child can sooth their skin with some aloe vera or after-sun play.
10. For girls: sanitary napkins or tampons - Even if she still hasn’t gotten her period, there may be a chance she gets it at camp. She needs to be ready.
11. Bath towel - Bath towel should be different from her beach/swimming towel.
12. Insect repellant
13. Deodorant
14. Tissue
15. Wet wipes
16. Nail clippers
17. Shaving gear, if needed
18. Lip balm - To protect from wind and UV rays.

Remember, you won’t be there to remind them to take a bath or brush their teeth, so before your child goes to camp, it’s crucial that you impress on them the importance of regular hygiene care.

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Packing Medical Supplies for Summer Camp

Going away to summer camp is a milestone in a kid’s life. It’s where they’ll create memories that will last a lifetime. From days spent making new friends, learning new skills, swimming, playing games, and building their self-confidence; it’s a rite of passage no child should go without.

But what happens when they accidentally trip on a rock or are exposed to something they didn’t know they was allergic to? The importance of a comprehensive medical kit is absolutely crucial for a camp. When you sign-up your child up for camp, you give your trust and confidence that the staff will take care of your child, and that no harm will come to them. And in the event that it does, that they’ll be able to handle the situation properly and professionally.

Before you send your child off to camp, make sure these essential medical supplies are available. If not, be sure to pack them in your child’s bag.

1. Bandages - Make sure you have many different sizes and shapes for different kinds of wounds.
2. Wound cleanser - To clean and treat wounds before they’re bandaged up.
3. Tape - To keep bandages in place.
4. Ice pack - For mosquito bites, bee stings, or sunburn.
5. Hot pack - To reduce joint stiffness, pain or muscle spasms.
6. Calamine lotion - For skin irritation and itching.
7. Hydrocortisone cream - For bites, bruises and other skin conditions.
8. Aloe vera gel or after-sun cream - For nasty sunburns.
9. Rubbing alcohol - To sterilize needles and general cleaning.
10. Baby wipes - To clean and wipe away dirt or blood.
11. Cotton balls - To use to apply cream, lotion or rubbing alcohol.
12. Cotton swab
13. EpiPen (Epinephrine autoinjector) - For serious allergic reactions.
14. Decongestant
15. Ibuprofen - For kids who are down with the flu.
16. Anti-histamine - For allergic reactions.
17. Cough drops
18. Cough syrup -
19. Insect repellant - To keep pesky mosquitoes and various other insects away.
20. Sunscreen
21. Tweezers - For splinters or other situations
22. Eye drops
22. Contact lens solution - For kids who use contact lenses.

Camp Tamarack is fully equipped to handle health and safety situations. We have a qualified doctor, a registered nurse and a health care provider on staff. The camp staff is also trained in emergency first aid care and a number are certified in Standard First Aid and CPR-C. There is a health centre, first aid kits around camp and access to local Bracebridge hospital just 8 minutes away.

During registration to summer camp, it is important that you ensure that the staff have a record of your child’s medical history. If he has specific medical conditions, dietary restrictions, asthma or allergies, this needs to be discussed. If he takes medication, provide your child with enough supply to last the duration of the camp. If the medication needs to be administered by a medical professional, this also needs to be divulged during registration.

As a good precaution, you may want to take your child to a doctor a week before camp starts for a check-up and to ensure that everything is okay health-wise.

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Packing Clothes for Summer Camp

When going away to summer camp, your kids won’t have the luxury of having heaps of clothing at their disposal, which is why it’s important to pack smart. Coordinate with the staff of the summer camp your child is attending before they go. Ask for a checklist of clothes, toiletries, and medical supplies your child might need.

You should also inquire about laundry services or if they have any at all. If they don’t, a good rule of thumb for packing clothes would be to multiply the number of days, and add a little bit more. Remember, it’s probably better to over-pack than to be left without the essentials.

For a better grasp on what kind of clothes and how much your child will need, ask the camp coordinators for a rundown of activities planned for their stay. That way, you child will be prepared for whatever comes their way - from lake swimming to mountain climbing.

Here’s a handy checklist for packing clothes for summer camp:

1. Underwear - A pair for every day your child is away and additional pairs to take into consideration how active he/she will be. For boys: briefs, boxer shorts, jock-straps; for girls: bras, panties, sports bra.
2. Tank tops
3. T-shirts - Both long and short-sleeved.
4. Pants - Sweatpants, jeans, and pants for lounging.
5. Shorts - Bicycle shorts, denim shorts, hiking shorts.
6. Pajamas - Nightgowns or pajamas.
7. Bathrobe - They’ll need a bathrobe to move from the showers to their bunks if they’re
not located in the same place.
8. Raincoat, light jacket, hoodie - To keep warm and in case of rain.
9. Swim shirt with UV protection - For swimming days when they’ll be out in the sun all day.
10. Swim suit and swim cap
11. Shoes - For rain and hiking, boots, and flip-flops.
12. Socks - For everyday use.
13. Dress clothes and shoes - In case they have a formal event at the end of camp.
14. Towels - Both for bathing and swimming.
15. Laundry bag - To keep all their used clothes in.

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