My son, age 10, will be a rising 5th grader when he attends his first sleepaway camp experience at Camp Waziyatah. He is very excited about everything about camp, from having cabin mates, exploring the outdoors, and trying new activities. Along with the excitement come some other emotions like “how do I stay connected with my new friends after camp is finished.” We have been practicing some techniques to help with the different feelings.
Normalizing the change
My son does well with structure in his daily routine and sometimes has challenges when things are not his norm. We have been telling him that change in routine is a good thing, and that changes are always happening. He is used to having his sound machine and star projector as part of his evening ritual, but we been practicing bedtime without them since he will not have them when he is in his cabin. He has prepared himself with a small flashlight in place of his stars as an alternative option.
What to Pack
My son is so excited about going to Camp Waziyatah that he has already started packing! He has put some of the items into a trash bag with his name on it. He packed his sunhat, some of his baseball caps, sunscreen and bug spray, and some of his outdoor equipment. Camp Waziyatah provides a great checklist for what to being and my son will enjoy packing the items and checking them off the list.
Items from Home
We’ll have him pack some familiar items that comfort him, like his favorite stuffed buddies, his blanket, and pictures of our family. We have also told him that we get to see him on Visiting Day. We are all looking forward to that day and hearing about his experiences thus far.
Staying Connected
My son makes friends easily. He is already thinking about how he will miss his new friends and how he will be able to stay connected with them after camp. He has packed a journal to not only write about his adventures, but to also collect contact info of the other campers. He wants to bring his camera to take pictures of them, too.
Time Management
With my son being 10 and having ADHD, time management is a skill that he is still learning. We have been practicing these skills by using a watch and setting time limits for certain tasks. He knows that time management is important to practice since the routine at camp will be structured, similarly to his school days.
For my son, the camp days cannot come soon enough. He talks about it almost daily. As a parent, I am happy that he has an opportunity to learn, grow, and flourish at his Camp Waziyatah experience. I, myself, attended a different sleepaway camp and remember getting home with so much more independence. I think that my son will return from Camp Waziyatah as a kid with new social skills, increased self-confidence and maturity.
