Sleepaway Camps: Go with a Friend or Go Alone?
As kids consider the prospect of a sleepaway experience, many hope to attend with a friend from home. Setting aside the fact that finding a friend with the same interests and coordinating summer schedules is difficult enough, is it a good idea to go with a friend or is it better to go alone?
Is an experience enhanced or hindered by having a friend in tow? What are the potential effects on the friendship itself from a shared sleepaway program? Does the decision to go or not go with a friend differ for camp vs. travel vs. an academic immersion program?
With a friend – the upside:
- Having a familiar face during the first couple days of a new sleepaway experience can ease the transition from home.
- There is a feeling of security from having a friend right away.
- A friend to sit with on the bus to camp or the plane can be fun and a welcome distraction.
- Friends who don’t see much of each other during the school year can reconnect with a shared summer experience.
With a friend – the downside:
- Having a friend from home can limit a child’s ability or desire to make new friends and seek out new experiences.
- Going together can backfire on a friendship; differing interests in activities, new friends, and diverging expectations for the camp or program can all have a negative impact.
- The group dynamic can be affected negatively by pods of kids who know each other. Travel programs in particular work very hard to create a group that works well together and is a supportive, welcoming community.
- Homesickness is contagious. One homesick friend can bring the other down quickly.
Go it alone – the upside:
- Attending alone builds confidence, independence, resilience and grit.
- Parents can encourage a child in his or her future challenges with a reminder of success at camp.
- Kids who go alone are keenly interested in making friends right away; they will bond with others and make lasting friendships with kids from other places and backgrounds.
- Counselors and staff are trained and focused on facilitating friendships, particularly for kids who come by themselves.
Go it alone – the downside:
- For those kids who struggle to make friends or shy away from new experiences, the absence of an immediate friend may make the transition a bit longer.
Whether your child attends a camp or program by him or herself or with a friend, it’s key to find the right match (hint: contact your Tips on Trips and Camps advisor!) to ensure the best chance for a positive experience.
If your child goes with a friend, have a conversation with the parents to make sure interests and expectations align, and then speak to program directors. Whether you go with a friend or go it alone, the most important thing is to GO!
Jen Cippoletti,
Director, Tips on Trips and Camps
A FREE advisory service connecting families to overnight camps, trips and academic experiences.
www.TipsonTripsandCamps.com
JC@TipsonTripsandCamps.com