Girl Scouts Offer Advice on Preparing Kids for Camp

For Immediate Release
June 21, 2010
Contact: Sarah Parillo, 202-534-3787, sparillo@gscnc.org

Girl Scouts Offer Advice on Preparing Kids for Camp

Recommends tips to ease child's anxiety and encourage new experiences

WASHINGTON- With nearly ten million American kids attending camp each summer, the Girl Scouts Council of the Nation's Capital (GSCNC) offers tips to help prepare your child for an exciting summer camp experience. Camping is an integral part of Girl Scouting and an exciting way for girls to get out and experience nature, play, hike, fish and swim.

This year an estimated 11,000 girls from our region will attend Girl Scout day and sleep-away camps. "The camp experience helps build character, develop leadership and strengthen girls' self esteem," said Lidia Soto-Harmon, Acting Executive Director of GSCNC. "Girls learn to use resources wisely and enjoy connecting with new and old friends while developing skills that will last a lifetime." According to GSCNC, parents play a critical role in preparing their child for a successful camping experience.

GSCNC offers the following tips to help prepare your child for summer camp:

Talk about the upcoming experience and express confidence in your child's ability to handle being away from home. Remind them of a time that you or another family member successfully stayed away from home for the first time.
Practice separation, such as sleepovers at a friend's house, prior to camp.
Let the child feel that they are a part of the decision-making process when choosing what to pack. Avoid packing too much or not enough. Check with the camp for a specific packing list.
Have your child bring a favorite item from home such as a stuffed animal to ease homesickness.
Send a care package or letter early so that it arrives on your child's first day.
Don't feel guilty about encouraging your child to stay at camp. For many children, camp is an important first step toward independence.

(Source: ACA)

To learn more about Girl Scout camps visit our website at http://www.gscnc.org/.

About Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital

Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital (GSCNC) is a non-profit organization with over 90,000 members, including 63,000 girls in 4,900 troops throughout the District of Columbia, eight counties in Maryland, ten counties in Virginia and seven counties in West Virginia. With the help of more than 27,000 dedicated volunteers, the generosity of corporations and foundations, and our popular Girl Scout cookie program, GSCNC helps girls from kindergarten to 12^th grade become leaders through a wide range of fun and educational activities. GSCNC is headquartered in Washington DC, with offices in Frederick and Waldorf, Maryland; Lorton, Leesburg and Manassas, Virginia; and Martinsburg, West Virginia. To get involved, visit our website at http://www.gscnc.org/.

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