So camp is now less then 60 days away!!! The excitement and anxiety are setting in for my daughter who is about to embark on her first summer away — especially because she is going it alone.
I asked the camp directors for some names and numbers of a few ‘new’ girls that live locally, so that I could hook her up with some friends before camp starts. This way she will feel comfortable and will have a familiar face or two at the bus stop. Some camps have new camper get togethers or ‘meet-ups’. But my camp does not, so I was on my own here and looking to arrange something for my daughter, a camp blind date of sorts.
I emailed one of the moms that the camp directed me to. After exchanging several emails, we were are all set, until two days before when the mom emailed me to reschedule. Uh-oh! How do I explain this one to my very excited 8 year old ? I scrambled to set something else up because she was disappointed. After all she was looking forward to this and now she has to wait a whole month to meet her new ‘campie’. Through some networking on my part I found another first-timer in the area going to the same camp…phew! So I began emailing with the mom and it turned out she was hosting a little get together for some girls in two weeks. Awesome!
My daughter got dressed that morning and redressed — because of course she wanted to look her best. After all doesn’t everyone want to look good on a ‘first-date? She was nervously optimistic. We got to the girl’s house and after the mom and I chit-chatted for a few minutes, our girls were locked in stares, no words exchanged. Awkward!
The next girl came in and the mood started to loosen up a bit. Then one more girl arrived who was a returning camper. It was time to break out the token camp gifts I brought for the girls (hair bands that say ‘camp’ on them) and some bonding began. A craft project by the hosting mom sealed the deal. Things were really rolling now, so the moms excused themselves so the girls could have lunch and get better acquainted. The hosting mom invited us other moms to leave and to check in later. Breathe!
An hour-and-a-half had gone by when I got a call from the hosting mom telling me things are going great and that the girls would all like to stay another couple of hours, if that’s OK. Of course, I’m delighted! When I came to pick up my daughter, the four ‘campies’ were actually putting on a show. We practically had to drag them out. All hugged good-bye and they were already arranging date number two. The whole ride home my daughter chatted about her new camp friends and how she couldn’t wait for camp to start…’Mommy, 61 days till CAMP’. And she immediately got on the phone with one of the girls when she arrived home, gabbing away. Relief!
I would say that what started out as some butterflies about meeting some new faces quickly turned into sheer anticipation of the next time they meet again… Success! : )
To learn more from a mom who knows about
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAMP FOR YOUR CHILD CONTACT…
Erica Siegmann (Mother & ‘Camp Specialist’)
EricaS@Campspecialists.com or 917-734-8679
