Kids Want to Know. . .

What's so great about camp?
Camp is a very special place where grownups help kids feel good about themselves. They encourage you to try new things and teach you new skills. And you make lots of new friends, because at camp you learn how to be a good friend. At camp, everyone is listened to and respected. You get to make choices on your own, but you always feel safe. Camp is like a little community, where everyone's opinion is heard, and kids work and play together. There's just no other place like camp, because camp is a town built just for kids!

Why shouldn't I just stay home and do what I want?
You might think it will be more fun to just stay home and do nothing, but believe us, camp is nonstop fun! There's such a variety of activities that you never get bored. And you always have friends; everyone's always home at camp! It's not like school at all. Even though there may be a schedule to follow, you are doing great things with great people.

What would a day at camp be like?
Camp is filled with different kinds of activities. If you're going to day camp, the fun begins as soon as the bus picks you up! If you're thinking about a resident camp, you'll probably wake up, along with the other kids in your bunk, to the sounds of the bugle (it's called "Reveille" -- pronounced "re-ve-lee"), get dressed, and go to breakfast. Depending on the camp you select, you will spend the day doing activities you really like. Of course you'll stop for lunch - maybe a barbecue or a picnic. Day campers will go home on their buses in the late afternoon, and look forward to returning to camp the next day. Resident campers will keep on going right through the evening with Evening Activities, which are all kinds of fun and special things. Bedtime is often signaled by the bugle playing "Taps" and then it's lights out after some quiet bunk time.

Will I get to choose activities?
The amount of choice you have will depend upon the actual camp you and your family select. At most camps, there is at least some choice. Sometimes you make selections for yourself and sometimes the group or bunk decides together what they want to do. Usually, when you are younger, there are fewer choices because it's good to try new things so you can learn what you like and what you don't. As you get older, you are ready to make more choices and focus on areas that are of special interest to you.

What are some of the activities?
It's probably almost impossible to name every activity at every camp. Here's list of many activities that many camps offer: arts and crafts, archery, baseball, basketball, canoeing, ceramics, computers, confidence course, cooking, dance, dramatics, handball, hockey, fine arts, fishing, Frisbee, football, gymnastics, hiking, horseback riding, kickball, lacrosse, miniature golf, music, nature, petting zoo, ping pong, playgrounds, relay races, rocketry, ropes course, rollerblading, sailing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, woodworking... The list goes on and on. Then there are specialty camps that offer everything from caving to scuba diving and everything in between.

What if I'm not good at sports?
At camp, there are trained, caring counselors to help you learn new skills. Not everyone is good at everything; everyone has strengths. Maybe yours is sports in general, or a particular sport, or no sport. That's okay. There will be people to encourage you and you will succeed at your level. You are never measured at anyone else's performance ability level. And camp is not all sports -- unless you choose a sports specialty camp -- but a combination of athletics, the arts and hobbies. You will be accepted for who you are, so you don't need worry about how you will stack up against others.

What if I don't know anybody and other kids already have friends?
Camp is a great place to make new friends. It's a place to learn how to be a friend, too. The counselors' main job is to help you make new friends. And there are plenty of kids who come to camp without knowing anyone. It's actually great to have winter friends AND summer friends. You get a chance to leave everything behind when you come to camp and start over -- with new friends and new experiences. You get extra practice in making a friend and being a friend! You'll be very comfortable whether you come to camp knowing someone or not.

Will I fit in?
Again, the counselors make sure that everyone gets along together. They teach you to trust that you're a person who's good to know. You don't have to be best friends with everyone, but you're sure to find a few people who share the same interests you do. And these are the people who will be your good friends. At camp, you also learn to respect people's differences and accept them for who they are.
What about the counselors?
This is one of the best parts of camp! Counselors are chosen because they love kids and respect them and listen to them. It's their job to make sure that you are having fun, are making friends, are doing lots of different activities, and that you are safe. They spend a lot of time before camp begins in learning to do all these things for campers. And they love to have fun, too!

What if I have a problem?
There are lots of people at camp, besides your counselors, to help take care of you, depending on what you need. There is a nurse or a doctor if you don't feel well and a special place, sometimes called an Infirmary, to rest until you are better. You can count on the grownups who are at camp to help you with any problem you may have.

© American Camping Association