Hi St Mary's,

I thought this week that I would share an article I came across about getting both students and parents ready for camp. For our younger students camp might still be some years away, but after going on many camps with both Primary and Secondary aged children I think that prepartation can not start too soon. Grade 4, 5 and 6 will be going on camp in week 3 of Term 2.

Camp is such a rewarding expereince for all involved for so many reasons. Some early preperation can help though. Some of the common issues faced are not being familiar with sleeping at places other than home and trying to go to sleep without a light or music/sounds on.

The following article made some good points, particularly about building resilience and independance in students and how to let go as a parent. Both very tricky things to do. Personally, I can't wait for camp and as always if you have any concerns about this or need to have a chat about anything please contact me at school.

Have a great weekend.

Mark O'Sullivan

How to make the first school camp a positive experience for kids and parents

ABC Everyday /

By Emma Siossian

As I write this I am home alone, experiencing a rare moment of solitude.

My eight-year-old son, an only child, is away at his first school camp, and while some peace and quiet is nice, I admit I am feeling a bit lost without him.

It also feels odd having no contact at all and wondering how he's coping. Did he remember to put his rain jacket on? Was he able to go to sleep OK? Does he feel included and happy?

I reach out to another mum, also with an only child at the camp, and discover she is feeling the same way, also desperately stalking the school's Facebook page, for a photo update and sign our children are safe and having fun.

Another mum posts a comment on our school parents' group: "Is anyone else wondering what our kids are up to?"

A rush of responses follows, mostly from mothers.

School camps are a part of the Australian school experience, and the first one, especially if it occurs very early in primary school, can be quite a big deal.

Recognising what camps can do for your child can help you manage your own feelings. And there are some concrete things you can do to prepare them too, so they have the best possible experience.

Our fears of letting go vs our kids learning independence

The mother of an eight-year-old girl, Alana Luke, tells me having her only child go away at this age is a challenge.

"I feel very nervous … I didn't go away on school camp until I was in Year 5 so it was a bit of an adjustment for me to let her go," she says.

"I find we are so used to them relying on us in everyday life and then all of the sudden they are off being independent, which is great, but it comes on suddenly and you think, 'Oh no, I am not ready for this.'

"[My daughter] was very excited and that helped my nerves a little bit."

Another mum, Christine Neufeld, has both a son and daughter away on their respective year 3 and year 4 camps.

"Let's face it," she tells me, "we are a generation of helicopter parents and probably in dire need of learning to relinquish some control of our kids."

"These experiences remind us how fundamentally important it is to embrace a sense of community in terms of raising children."

School camps show kids their own strength and resilience

Terry Muldoon is the principal of an independent school in NSW.

He says his school has found camps to be so beneficial, in recent years (with the exception of 2020) they expanded their camp program.

"We decided that there were many benefits in taking students slightly out of their comfort zone," he says.

"It shows them they have the strength and resilience to become more independent, to form closer relationships with their peers and teachers.

"It basically broadens their experience of who they are and who they can become … what they might be capable of."

Dr Kimberley O'Brien, a child psychologist at Sydney-based psychology centre, says school camps are important milestones in the incremental path of letting go that stretches on until our children reach adulthood.

"I think it's a good step in the direction of being self-sufficient and independent. I think a lot of kids come back from camp feeling really confident.

"They have achieved something they might not have done before, being away from their primary carers, and packing their bags, putting themselves to bed, those sort of things that they probably usually get a lot of support with.

"They get to go on things like giant swings, or kayaking or abseiling, and get the opportunity to learn those things in the company of same-age peers."

Preparation the key to reducing anxiety – here's how:

1. Find out what your school is doing

A good starting point in your own preparation is checking what the school is doing to get kids ready for the camp experience.

Mr Muldoon says at his school, preparation starts in year 2 ,when students have an overnight sleepover on the school grounds, and continues through to the first camp.

"We don't just stick them on a bus and say good luck," he says."We [talk] about what's going to happen, where they are going to be, what they are going to do, what they can expect and how they can deal with anything that comes up."

Year 3 students prepare to board buses to head off on their first school camp. (Supplied: St Columba Anglican School)

2. Practise with sleepovers

Dr O'Brien says school camps come more easily to some children than others, and anxiety can be a big issue.

"There could be things that aren't really public, there could be bed wetting occasionally, or maybe they do some co-sleeping and aren't comfortable with self settling.

"There's a lot of different routines and rituals that families have to make kids comfortable enough to fall asleep, and the idea of lying awake for hours can make kids overtired and very emotional the next day. And all of those fears can be triggered when the idea of going away on school camp comes up.

"I think it's really good to give children a lot of opportunity to practice for camps by doing sleepovers. You could start with a grandparent's house.

"If they can manage to sleep the night there it gives them a sense of confidence that they can do it. And if the camp goes for two nights, try and prepare them by having a two-night sleepover at a cousin's or best friend's place, where they feel really comfortable.

3. Visit the camp site if you can

If you live close enough to drive by or visit the camp, Dr O'Brien says that can help.

"Go up to the gate and have a look at the activities, then the young person thinks, 'I've been there, I know what it's like' and they feel more in charge when they are on the bus on the way to the camp."

4. Talk through concerns and make action plans with teachers

She says teachers and parents also need to talk openly.

"I think it's really important for parents and teachers to have good communication, so if there are issues, have clear discussions about what kids will do … so you have a support team away from home."

School camp success, the start of letting go

It's now been a couple of days since I started to write this article, and today my son arrives home.

When the camp bus pulls up at the school, I watch the kids tumble out, a bit muddy, tired and clearly still buzzing from their exciting new experiences and independence.

The sight of my son's familiar and beautiful smile as he runs up to me triggers a rush of emotion and I cherish the feel of his strong little arms wrapped firmly around me.

He loved the most adventurous outdoor activities and survived the bits that weren't so great. He asked for help when he needed to, wore his rain jacket and got at least some sleep.

When the next school camp rolls around, I know I will feel more relaxed and release my son into the care of others with a little more composure and a little less anxiety.

I confess though, as I tuck him in at night and he tells me he loves me, I am thankful the real letting go is still years away.

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