Parents Play a Vital Role in Camp

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As a parent, you are deciding to send your child to a new environment that is much different than home. There are no couches, no internet, plenty of exercise, and a ton of new people. Your child will need to have 10x more responsibility and keep themselves organized. This is what makes camp an important life experience.

Sending your child to Oswegatchie for our 5 day summer camp prepares them for more life than you realize. Camp prepares them by putting them into a new experiences, while putting safeguards into place.

Why are parents so important in the camp experience? By helping them organize what they need for camp, you are preparing them to be physically ready. By mentally preparing your child to have a week away at camp,you set them up for success. Here are 3 things I would suggest you do to prepare them. They are all part of the mental game of preparing your child to leave the safety of home.
  1. Make sure your child knows that its only 5 days and they can handle it. By not giving them an opportunity to come home mid-week, it forces them to develop the coping skills to excel away from home. This will pay off through the rest of life. (Especially college!)
  2. Demonstrate trust in the camp. The Oswegatchie Camp is a busy place with 4 full time employees and 30 seasonal staff. By calling to talk to your child or telling them keep a "cell phone" with them, tells your child that others aren't to be trusted. Camp is meant to teach your child how to ask for help and to deal with new experiences. The staff is in place to help your child succeed. 
  3. When you say good bye on Sunday, do it firmly and positively. Don't burden your child with your fears. Kids already have enough worries on there own. By not projecting your own fears on your child, it allows them to flourish with less burden. As parents, especially with your first child, its normal to nervous, but they will be OK and so will you. Countless numbers of youth attend camps every year, they are going to be fine and will succeed!
Oswegatchie is going to create an amazing experience for your child. We thank you for trusting us with your child and the developmental milestones they will experience at camp. When you get them back, expect 2 things! Big smiles and a tired teenager!

Oswegatchie is Growing Success!

From all available data, we believe the 2011 summer camp season to have been the biggest and most successful season in our 65 year history. Not only did we have 745 campers, but we also were able to build an entirely new maintenance building adjacent to our sawmill. We hosted conferences for NYAAE and FFA's NLCSO. Every weekend was booked, and were empty for only 1 night out of 95 days. Thank you to all the excellent staff that worked tirelessly to make 2011 the best ever. We also would like to thank the FFA advisors, parents, volunteers, and alumni that work to make what we do possible. Lastly, without a doubt, we have the best campers in the world. Our teens are remarkable individuals and fantastic when they get together. Thank You!

Call us with Questions at (315) 346-1222 or email info@oswegatchie.org!
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