SPECIAL SECTION
CAMP & SCHOOL GUIDE
Tips for a successful
sleepaway camp
experience JODI WOODNICK | GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
A At URJ Camp Newman, each and every
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B2 JANUARY 6, 2023
s holiday decorations come down all
around us and we settle into frigid
mornings and shorter days, most people
are thinking about getting back to “real”
life. Me? I’m thinking about next sum-
mer and the millions of kids who will be
attending sleepaway camp, many for the
first time.

I think (and talk) about camp all year, to
anyone willing to listen. I am a therapist
who works with kids and families, and I
have a front-row seat to the struggles that
kids face today: too anxious to try some-
thing new, struggling with friendships,
with self-confidence, turning into puddles
in the face of adversity… the list goes on.

But don’t worry, there’s good news. I
am also the director of community care
at Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps in
California, and I have a front-row seat to
the myriad ways in which sleepaway camp
has the potential to help children fight
against these struggles… if we allow it.

Allowing a sleepaway camp experi-
ence to work for your child will take
some mental and emotional preparation.

It starts with asking, “What do I want
my child to get out of a sleepaway camp
experience?” Most people say, “gain
independence,” “make friends” and
“have fun.” I am going to challenge you
to hope for more. Camp has the potential
to provide vital social and emotional skills
that can benefit your child for life. My
favorites are practicing problem-solving,
flexibility and empathy, learning how to
fail and discovering what matters in a
friendship. All these things, and more,
are possible.

Here are some things you can do to help:
1. Pick the right camp for your child
Does the camp have a clear mission? Do
the camp’s mission and culture align with
your values? (For example, if the camp
is religious, but your child hasn’t had
much exposure to religion, will they feel
comfortable? If the camp’s programming
is heavily sports oriented but your child
doesn’t like competition, will they find
common ground with other campers?
Will your LGBTQ+ child feel accepted
and valued?) Is the camp team responsive
and communicative? Does the camp have
programming to address your child’s
unique needs? These questions and more
are what you should consider as you
search for the perfect camp.

Also, while it can be helpful to talk
to others to gather information, please
do not base your decision on who else
JEWISH NEWS
Jodi Woodnick at camp last summer with her sons
Adrian, left, and Ean.

COURTESY OF THE JODI WOODNICK
is going. If you can find a program that
meets your child’s needs, they will thrive.

Sending your child to a camp that is not
a good fit just because a specific friend
or neighbor is doing the same is a set-up
for failure.

2. Consider your child’s age
For a typical child, starting camp at age
8-10 is ideal but kids can be successful
starting at any age. If you end up start-
ing your child at age 11 or older, just
prepare for a slightly longer adjustment
period than for that of a younger child.

Also, older children tend to be more self-
conscious about feelings associated with
adjusting to camp and may therefore be
less likely to open up to cabin mates or
counselors. 3. If you want your child to go, just sign
them up
When asked, most of us (especially kids)
will reject the unfamiliar. If sending your
child to sleepaway camp is important
to you, it’s ok to simply tell your child
they’re going. Just like you wouldn’t give
them a choice about going on a family
vacation or to a loved one’s celebration,
you do not have to give them a choice
about camp.

4. Communicate openly and honestly
(and early) with the camp about your
child’s behavioral, emotional and/or
academic challenges
Many parents think that because camp is
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