Friday, January 13, 2012

Are You A First Time Camper?

By Lonnie Lorenz


At long last, parents of children who are going to summer camp for the first time have a choice. A Summer Camp directly tailored to the needs of their child. After listening for years to parents and children expressing what they feel is important for a positive first time summer camp experience, Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz, directors of Swift Nature Camp, have created Discovery Camp, a program designed to meet the specific needs of all new campers and their parents.

This Nature Summer Campsis a twelve-day First Timer's Program offered at the Swift Nature Camp facilities near Minong, Wisconsin. The program utilizes Swift Camp's highly trained staff at a ratio of two staff members for every cabin of eight new campers. The first time at summer camp will quite possibly be a child's first extended time away from home. The program acknowledges this by making sure that every new camper will find a staff member on hand at all times. First time campers need to feel special, and the first priority of this program is to foster the sense that camp is there for them and exists for their benefit.

Days before camp starts, our staff studies each camper profile. We are looking on how to best meet the specific needs. We learn from the parents about the child's wants, needs and fears. Should a camper have medical needs these will discussed by staff in confidence with the camp nurse. By the time a child arrives at camp, the staff will feel as if they already know that new camper. This preparation is immediately beneficial to the first-time camper from the moment he or she steps off the bus and is warmly and personally greeted.

The first day of camp is Orientation Day it is a special day when all New campers get an in-depth tour of Swift Nature Camp. This includes a visit to the Health Center, the Mail Box, and each activity area. Every activity is introduced with a discussion about the importance of safety and the basic safety information for that activity.

Staff members work hard to promote an atmosphere of nurturing and harmonious friendship from the campers' first day of cabin life. There is a Respect List for all to agree to and sign, and each night will end with a bedtime story. The cabin is the place where community begins. First time campers are gently brought into a sense of connection and community with others who begin on equal footing.

One of the things that makes Discovery Camp, so special forFirst Time Campers is it's well rounded variety of camp activities. During morning activities campers are invited to instruction at two activity areas. These activities include Swimming, Canoeing, Nature Center, Arts and Crafts, Archery, and more. Campers are encouraged to try new and different activities, giving each of them the opportunity to discover and explore what activities he or she might enjoy and eventually excel in. This is always done as a challenge by choice. In the afternoon, campers make their choice from the daily activity board.

Swift Nature Camp aims to encourage each child to learn independence in a safe, age appropriate environment. The twelve day first-timer program is set up to run the optimum length of time for a first time camper to leave homesickness behind and gain a comfortable sense of autonomy. For many of these campers the greatest first lesson camp teaches them is that they can leave home, return days later and find out that very few things will have changed, especially their parents' love for them.

The directors of Swift Nature Camp think it's important that parents know that their children's first time away from home is in a safe, nurturing and secure environment. As a part of the Discovery Camp's first timer program, parents are encouraged to visit at any time after the first five days.

References are readily available for parents who would like to find out why this is the Best first-timer camp for their child. Discovery Camp, a special program for the first time summer camp experience, Learn more about this special place for your child!

Need more information? Visit www.summercampadvice.com a FREE reference on How to selecting a Summer Camp.




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