We are just under a month away until our Virginia Summer Camp season gets underway! With the school year coming to an end, your house must be booming with excitement for a summer of fun at sleepaway camp!! Of course it’s perfectly normal for first time campers (and parents) to experience some anxiety as departure for camp gets closer and closer.

It’s just as normal for a parent to worry about missing their child as it is for a child to worry about missing home. This may be the first time your child will not be home at night and there in the morning when you wake up. But, this is what the sleep away camp experience is all about! It’s a learning and growing experience for children and their parents!

Your children will be in a controlled, worry-free, and safe environment. Just because you aren’t there to watch them, doesn’t mean they will be alone! The great camp staff will be there to make sure your children have the best summer of their lives!

And, this of course is why you decided to send your children to summer camp in the first place! You recognize the value and benefits camp has on children. Camp is a place to grow, learn to be independent, and build long lasting friendships with a new group of children.

Of course, this doesn’t make it any easier on you as a first time camp parent! Here are some tips and ideas to remember as this year’s camp season approaches:

• As parents, we run into situations where we tell our kids that it’s okay to be nervous. Remind yourself of this very fact! Assure your nervous kids that camp will be a blast, and remember to practice what you preach!
• Embrace this time away from your children. Focus on a hobby, activity, or project that you’ve been “meaning to get around to”. Maybe there is a class you’ve always wanted to take?
• Your children will someday go away to college, and this is a perfect opportunity to experience what life will be like!
• Just think of the joy you will experience when you see that smiling face on your camper when you go pick them up at the end of their time at camp!

Most importantly remember that you don’t have to worry! Your camper is safe and thriving at summer camp. They are learning to make decisions, learning new skills, and gaining confidence in themselves and their abilities!

If you are still concerned, check out our Parent Resources. And remember, camp is only a phone call away, and Visiting Day is just around the corner!

Artwork submitted by a longtime camper, Spencer Donley.

By the time summer rolls around, kids are in need of a change in scenery, and that’s what summer camp is for! Located between Charlottesville and Richmond Virginia in a town called Palmyra, Camp Friendship is the perfect sleepaway camp for city kids of nearby Washington DC, and Baltimore MD to get out of the city and into the woods!

At Camp Friendship, we have so much to offer your camper that they might not be able to get at home! We offer a variety of Camp Programs for boys and girls of all ages! Here are just some things your camper can look forward to:

• New Friends: At home, children have the comfort of their usual social groups, school friends, and family. But, at camp, kids have the opportunity to experience new people, and make long lasting friendships with other kids from all over the country, and even some International Campers as well.
• Trying New Things: Along with these new friends, campers will also have the opportunity to try activities that might be completely new to them! Along with your every day sports, we also introduce campers to a variety of atypical outdoor activities such as our High and Low Ropes Course and Mountain Boarding. Camp Friendship makes it easy for children to find new interests and hobbies!
• Taking a Break From Technology: Although your camper might not be excited about leaving the video games behind, taking a break from technology can really benefit a young camper! Campers can work on communication skills by writing letters and of course conversing with other campers face-to-face. Campers will also learn to really appreciate the beauty and joy of the great outdoors!

Change can be scary, but at Friendship we make sure all campers feel welcome. Campers of all types spend their summer with us. From the loud and outgoing to the quite and shy. From the athletic to the artistic. Your child will fit in regardless of their personality type!

First time parents can join us for orientation at our Free Camp Webinar on May 11th, 2013 – Register now to hold your spot! Get tips on packing and prep for summer camp. Get your questions and concerns answered by our very own Camp Director

While so many great things come out of a summer camp experience, it’s common for children to feel an uneasiness about going away to camp. Here are some tips to help your child have, not only a great time, but a successful time at camp.

Listen/Talk About Concerns:
As the countdown to camp gets closer and closer, your children may begin to feel an uncertainty about going away to camp. Being away from home for the first time, (and even for return campers), and not having your family right by your side can seem scary! Ask your child how they feel about the summer camp program, and try to communicate your confidence in them to succeed. Remind them that summer camp is about having fun! Addressing any concerns your child may have before they get to camp, can definitely help them to relax and regain that excitement to ensure they have the best camp experience they can!

During Camp:
Communicate via writing! Ask specific questions about activities, camp life, friends, etc. While it’s ok to write that you miss your child, try to steer clear of comments such as “Champ the dog really misses you,” or “The house is so quiet without you here…”, etc.

If you are planning on sending packages, try to send things like postcards, cartoons, game books, puzzles, and other things that can become conversation starters. This can help ease interactions between children, as they have something to show, and/or a group activity to ask others to participate in.

If your child is expressing pleas to come get them, let them know that you love them and are confident in their abilities to get through it, and have a great time! You can always talk to the camp director/counselors, to get their advice on the situation. Camp professionals have been doing this for years, and will have great insight into the situation and tips on how to handle it.

Come the end of camp, your child will typically thank you for encouraging them to stay!! And, more importantly they will have gained experience and life skills that will help them as they grow!

We have a first time camper orientation taking place on Tuesday April 30th at 2pm. Contact us for more information. And feel free to contact with any questions/concerns about camp as the countdown to summer camp continues!

Open house is a time for families and friends to come spend a few hours getting to know us. It will give you an opportunity to get an introduction to Camp Friendship, as well as meet our directors, founder, some of the staff that will be with your children during their stay at Camp Friendship, and also some of the other camp families!

Open house is the perfect time to get answers to any sleepaway summer camp questions you may have! You’ll also have the chance to check out the facilities. Visit the dining hall, living areas, program areas, watch camp videos, and have some snacks and refreshments.

If you are unable to make it just give us a call (1-800-873-3223) to schedule a tour, and we will be happy to make the necessary arrangements.

Camp Friendship is located at 573 Friendship Way, Palmyra, VA 22963

The recommended regiment from the CDC, is 1 hr of physical activity at least 5 days a week for children ages 6 – 17 years old. How can you make this happen? Here are some tips to get you started.

Get the whole family involved:
Find fun activities the whole family can participate in, like family walks, family bike rides, frisbee, and basketball. Plan a weekly Saturday morning hike, or other outdoor adventure! Did you know we’ve got a Family Camp? Our summer camp is located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Find out more about our facilities and how to make the most of your summer vacation!

Replace the video games:
Of course the video games don’t have to permanently go, but make sure to also provide your children with bikes, jump ropes, kites, balls, and other fun outdoor games to keep them excited about being outside!

Be an example:
Children look up to their parents, so start by setting a good example. If you are excited to get outside and play, it may help motivate and get your kids excited to go out and play!

Make Time:
Life can get hectic, so why not plan your outdoor schedule. Make it a priority to set aside a few days a week to go outside and play with the kids.

How to handle TV:
Of course you can’t be activity 100% of the time! Relaxation and sleep are also important, but it’s how you integrate it into your life that makes the difference. The days are longer in the Spring and Summer, so get out and enjoy the sunshine for as long as you can, and leave the TV watching, and video games for the evening!

Maybe you can find some activity inspiration by looking at our Programs and Activities we have to offer. Get the kids excited and prepped for summer!

As a first year camper, or maybe even returning camper, many children will have to face the difficulties of homesickness. Being homesick is not abnormal, nor is it incurable. In fact, according to author and psychologist Michael Thompson, PhD, 97 percent of children experience at least some occasional homesick feelings at camp. So, with this statistic in mind, it is important to understand how to handle your child’s homesickness, and the best ways to help them move forward and enjoy the summer.

Most importantly, try to prevent homesickness at all. The best way to go about doing so is to set up a support network for campers before the summer begins. Introduce your child to old campers or workers that you can rely on and trust. These people will help them to feel a connection with someone within their camp community and will eliminate the “I need Mommy” feelings.

Also, try to send a lot of letters and care packages. Do not over do it by sending one every day, for this will get the child overly attached to you. Send just enough letters and packages so that your child feels your support and is connected to you in a happy way. Remember also that constant updates on the events occurring at home may leave them feeling left out. Try to ask a lot about what fun they are having.

You can also use our website, Facebook Page and the Camp Friendship App to your advantage. Print pictures that your child is in and enclose them in the letters. Put fun captions underneath that say things like “This looks great!”, “I’m jealous” or “what fun!” These notes will remind them of the good times they are having when they are not missing home. You can also remind them of this by distracting them from the homesickness. Every time they bring up negative thoughts on camp, change the topic. Only discussing the fun times will help them to realize all they could be participating in. “Camp is like life,” said one camper on an open forum, “The more you get involved, the more you’ll get out of it.”

Handling homesickness is a battle every parent will have to face. By setting your child up for success and ensuring constant engagement in fun activities, you can prevent and eliminate their desires to come home, and kick off their amazing summers! Do not forget to be understanding, but more importantly, show them how wrong they truly are. At Camp Friendship, we’d take camp over home any day!

Get registered for the 2013 Summer Camp Season!

A small study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign looked at how the environment influenced a child’s concentration skills. The researchers evaluated 17 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, who all took part in three 20-minute walks in a park, a residential neighborhood and a downtown area.

After each walk, the children were given a standard test called Digit Span Backwards, in which a series of numbers are said aloud and the child recites them backwards. The test is a useful measure of attention and concentration because practice doesn’t improve the score. The order of the walks varied for all the children, and the tester wasn’t aware of which walk the child had just taken.

The study found that children were able to focus better after the “green” walks compared to walks in other settings. The researchers found that a “dose of nature” worked as well or better than a dose of medication on the child’s ability to concentrate.

Of course, this small study does not prove that nature is the remedy for all ADD problems. However, nature has been long known to be the best and most effective unlimited resource available. This study proves the already sneaking suspicion that nature is a remedy, though for no definite time frame. Camp Friendship is located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains on 520 acres of rolling hills and woods, which makes it the perfect environment for children to get a “dose of nature”. It’s worth a shot, after all a walk in the park never hurt anybody.

Take a look at all our summer camp programs and activities, and get registered for Summer Camp 2013 at Camp Friendship.

Recently, it has been found that colleges are looking for a child who is passionate about something and who shows leadership skills. Children can find these skills in activities done every day at Camp Friendship! Whether playing their favorite sports or interacting with friends, campers will have the opportunity to let their passions shine through! Many overnight summer camps and teen programs fit well with his advice. Children grow emotionally, intellectually and physically. They provide new experiences and exposure to international culture and global awareness. Camp Friendship is one of these camps, taking ordinary summers and making them an extraordinary learning experience. Taking a child outside of his/her comfort zone often help to build confidence and self-esteem, and also help a child come out of their shell.

Certainly there are many factors of the college experience that cannot be helped through camp such as academic workloads and time management. But being homesick and missing parents is a natural thing for a child who goes away from home for the first time, and this often occurs at college. Campers at Camp Friendship are given the opportunity to practice coping with this homesick feeling in a supportive, stress-free environment. Campers also gain independence, and social skills from their summers at camp, by learning how to make decsions on their own, make new friends, and simply be out in the world ‘on their own’!

Learning independence, passion, leadership, and confidence are all parts of the Camp Friendship experience, and are undoubtedly important in the preparedness of going away to college. Think of camp not only as a fun summer pastime, but also as a learning experience and a key to success later in life.

Get registered for a session in this upcoming Summer Season! Find out all the important dates, fees and deadlines!

Does this make my son special?  No!  These experiences provide him with an opportunity to build character, to make choices, and to make mistakes in a safe environment.  With all the changes in today’s education system and the many fears we have in our society our children have lost the sense of wonder many of us grew up with.  Kids don’t care what’s outside their front door anymore and parents are afraid of what’s outside.  As a parent I can relate to that fear.  I’m terrified for my children every single day of my life.  However, I know that these experiences will make them resilient and strong human beings.  They will be able to work through many of lives challenges because they already did it at camp!

Academics are important but if my child can’t communicate or relate to other human beings it will not matter if he or she knows the square root of 527!  Over half of the nations first year college students drop out.  They have the academic knowledge to get into school but they don’t have the socialization, life experiences, and problem solving skills to make it through.  Parents, schools, and camps must partner together to provide our children with the best possible opportunity to succeed.  Will you give your child the best chance at success?

1. Bake – Baking is a fun way to waste a few hours stuck in the house. Whip up your favorite treat such as brownies or cupcakes! Don’t have mix? Use our friend the Internet and look up a recipe from scratch! The process is guaranteed to keep you occupied for at least an hour and you’ll get a delicious reward!! Get creative with it, decorate until your heart is content!
2. Dance Party – Get active! Just because you can’t run around outside, doesn’t mean you can’t be active! Put on your favorite songs and dance, dance, dance! A little rain can’t stop the dance party!
3. Get Smart – No, we don’t mean watch the movie. We mean try some educational yet fun activities, like a puzzle! Challenge yourself to Sudoku or read a good book!
4. Art Time – Make something unique that no one else has. Try a sun catcher for when the rainbow appears after the storm. Make something you can bring with you to camp, or even make a gift for you family members! One of our favorite crafts is the crayon painting. Just hot glue a pack of unwrapped crayons, in rainbow order, to a canvas and blow dry so that the wax melts down. It creates a beautiful piece of art! Crafting will help you keep busy all day (plus, the clean-up will kill some time too…)!
5. Movie Marathon – Get some popcorn popped, dim the lights and create the most theater like atmosphere possible, then sit back and enjoy all your favorites! Try to mix it up, watch a comedy, then a romance, or a horror film!
6. Get Creative – Remember when a cardboard box was the most entertaining object in the house? Take an old box and make a car out of it. Pitch a tent or build a fort out of the sheets in your room! Go on ‘crazy adventures’ in your tent or try pretending you are on a boat. In the land of make believe anything is possible!!
7. Go Outside – Yes, we said it! Brave the great ‘storm’. Bundle up in your rain boots and umbrella and stomp around in the puddles! You can dance in the rain as well! Why not?

Go ahead, give a few of these a try! You’ll be busy all day long, and it may just become the best rainy day you’ve ever had!!! You can also use this time to talk about summer! We are excited about our upcoming summer camp season here at Camp Friendship. So, while you’re planning, spend some time thinking about us here in Virginia. We can’t wait until we get to have rainy day fun with all the campers!! If you haven’t registered for a summer camp session, register now!