Is Your Child Ready For Camp ?

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r. Paul Jacobs, a licensed
psychologist in Bingham
Farms, offers the following
tips to help make your child's
overnight camping experience
successful:
• If you are thinking of
sending your child to
overnight camp for the first
time, he should be at an age-
appropriate level in terms of
maturity, self care and social
skills.
• Start with a short session
if your child has never been to
overnight camp before.
•Your child will be more
enthusiastic if he has at least
one friend who is also going,
or if the camp specializesin
one of his favorite sports or
activities.
• The more familiar your
child is with the camp, the
more chance there is that the
summer will be a success. Get
as much information as you
can before he goes and, if pos-
sible, make a pre-camp visit.

D

Here are some of the factors
that parents should consider
when choosing a summer
camp, according to Jill Lulkin
of the Camp Experts and Teen
Summers, a free summer
camp and teen program refer-
ral service (www.campex-
perts.com ):
• Is your child outgoing or
reserved? Would going with a
friend (or friends) be to his

advantage or disadvantage?
•What kinds of activities
does your child enjoy? There
are camps that specialize in
sports, art, nature, theater or
academics.
•What kind of environment
is best for your child? There
are many choices, including
co-ed or single sex, competi-
tive vs. non-competitive, reli-
gious or secular camps.
•What level of instruction
does your child need? Is it
important for him to improve
his skills or become proficient
in a particular area, of is par-
ticipation your only concern?
•What kind of amenities
does your child need? Some
camps are more rustic than
others, and every child has a
different level of comfort.
• Do you want to restrict
your search to camps located
within Michigan, or are you
willing to send your child out
of state?
• When is the best time for
your child to go to camp, and
how long do you want him to
stay? Some camps have more
flexibility and variety in terms
of dates and session lengths.
• Is cost an issue? There are
some great values out there,
including scholarships and
early registration discounts.
• Once a decision is made,
make sure you convey a posi-
tive message when discussing
the camp with your child. H

DOOR-TO-DOOR TRANSPORTATION • JUNE 19 -AUG. 18, 2006

Call 248-932-2123 for details
www.willowaydaycamp.com

Pontooning • Fishing
Drama • Basketball
Nature • Fencing
Hockey • Paddleboating
Swimming • Soccer
Water-Skiing • Rocketry
Canoeing • Pony Rides
Go-Karts • Animal Farm
Archery • Photography
Dance • Campfires
Tennis • Overnights
Challenge Course

The Willoway Experience

Pool, Lake, Woods, & Pond

Since 1969

1051910

CAMP YOUNG JUDAEA-MIDWEST

WAUPACA, WISCONSIN

Sponsored by Hadassah

Marlee, a freshman at North
Farmington High School, the co-
ed Maas Specialty Village program
at Camp Tamarack was the ideal
choice.
Each morning is spent partici-
pating in a "special" activity cho-
sen by the camper. Marlee'S choice
was drama, which culminated in a
production called Our Wicked
Specialty Summer, based very
loosely on the Broadway show,
Wicked.
"It was the best summer of my
life said Marlee,"better than I
expected. I made a ton of new
friends:'.

1TN

December 1 . 2005

This summer, Marlee will be
participating in one of the
Western trips sponsored by Camp
Tamarack, while Henry plans to
return to Camp Tavor.
The Shifmans are glad that each
of their children has found a sum-
mer program that suits their indi-
vidual personalities, even if it
means sending them to separate
camps.
"I always had a great time at
camp," said Dina, who attended
Tanuga and Walden in northern
Michigan. "I wanted my children
to have that experience." ❑

An Overnight Camp for JewishYouth, 8-14
Horseback Riding, Water Skiing &Tubing,. Climbing Tower, Ropes Course,
Jewish Programming, Canoeing, Israeli Dancing & Singing, Arts and Crafts,
Red Cross Swim Program, Overnights, Drama, Scouting

Summer 2006 Dates

Session 1
Session 2
`Mini-Session 1
*Mini-Session 2

June 19 - July . 13
July 18 - August 10
June 19 - July 2
July 18 - July 30

*Entering 2nd, 3rd, & 4th graders only. No previous full-time campers,

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