Summertime is a beautiful time to be in New Hampshire. Whether it’s navigating the rocky shore of tide pooling at local beaches or hiking some of the most challenging trails in the world in the White Mountains, there’s so much to do here in the summer. And let’s not forget amusement parks, community recreation spaces,…
Camp is a powerful place for children, but making the decision to send your child to overnight camp for the first time can seem overwhelming. It’s important that your child (and you) are prepared. Here are some tips to make sure you’re both ready. Review policies and procedures. Make sure your child knows how things…
When parents send a child to residential summer camp, they picture their child looking like the kids in the camp brochure — suntanned, laughing, with an arm wrapped around a new best friend. While this scenario could be true for many children, it’s not always the case for children who struggle with coping or self-care…
In recent years, the term “grit” has become a buzzword in youth development. It’s considered a highly desirable characteristic, one necessary for young people to truly excel at school, sports and in life. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines grit as “a firmness of mind or spirit, unyielding courage in the face of hardship.” Grit is shorthand…
As schools turn more attention to test preparation and meeting complex curriculum goals, teachers have limited time to work on character and social-skill development. Recess, social time and interactions that do not directly relate to curriculum standards take a back seat to reading, writing, math and STEM. This focus on academics means that parents should…
If you’re reading this, you’re most likely somewhere in the process of sending a child to camp. Maybe you went to camp and are thinking of sending your own kids. Maybe you didn’t, and the prospect is a bit scary. Perhaps you have a parent or grandparent lovingly nudging you toward a particular camp. No…
When you hear the phrase, “summer slide,” you might think about fun times at the water park. But the phrase refers to the documented loss of learning that occurs during summer vacation. Studies show that many youths experience a setback in their education when school takes a pause and they are away from structured learning…
It’s hard to be a parent and not worry about something. When my children were younger, I refused to buy popular “blood and guts” video games because I worried it would give them a cavalier attitude towards violence. If you’re the parent of a toddler, you may worry that watching Blippi YouTube videos is destroying…
When it comes to day camp, it’s a win-win for parents and teens. Day camp provides a platform for teens to learn life lessons they don’t learn in school. Teens who actively participate can improve their physical, social and mental health. Healthy social interaction occurs in age-appropriate group settings and through engaging activities. Also, day…
Picture this. Your camper is starting her first summer at camp — games, swimming, new friends and camp songs. The camp songs start making the rounds in the car a few days into camp. It could be the super-catchy Yogi Bear: I know someone you don’t know, Yogi. Yogi. I know someone you don’t know,…