Packing for Overnight Camp: Why I Will Never Outsource It

​It is hard to believe that the school year is already over. In so many ways it went by very quickly, but during those harsh winter months, it felt like these warm temperatures would never arrive.
For many of us, this time of year comes with many mixed emotions.

Our children have completed yet another year of school and another year of growth, achievements and experiences. It is a period of transition.

A period, which for many, brings about a lot of anxiety and uncertainty as to what is coming next.

For many of us, this is a busy time where it seems there is too much to do, and never enough time in the day. All good things, mind you. End of the year recitals, tournaments, graduation ceremonies. Organizing for the summer, and the dreaded task of getting our children ready for overnight camp.

Now I say dreaded with quite a bit of sarcasm, actually. I do not hate the process. Quite the opposite. What I do not like is the feeling of disorganization and complete chaos in my home. The process is in fact one which I enjoy, as I share it with my children. All the shopping, labeling, choosing what stuff is going to camp this year. It is an exciting time, for everyone, despite the mayhem.

But it seems as if not all parents enjoy the process of preparing for overnight camp quite the way I do. I recently came across an advertisement for a company that for a small fee will come into your home and pack your children for overnight camp. For some reason, as tedious as we all know the process can be, it really bothered me that one would choose to have someone else do this type of work for them. Many people have gardeners or housekeepers or hire someone to shovel their snow, to do tasks that they themselves do not wish to do. So I asked myself…how is this any different?

Upon further pondering, I realized why I was so miffed. Getting ready for overnight camp with my children is an extremely important time for everyone in my home. It provides numerous opportunities for quality time, intimate discussions, and for many issues to be addressed.

Why is it important to pack for overnight camp together?

1. It is a time to instill confidence in our children. If our energy is positive, so will theirs be.
2. It is a time where we encourage our children to try new things. As we are packing bathing suits, we can suggest the idea that they try out for swim team, or canoeing, if it is something they have never tried before and are reluctant to do for the first time. Try everything once, is a motto often heard in our home. This applies to camp activities as well.
3. It is a time to review different scenarios with our children, such as homesickness, bullying, or anything else, which might make them uneasy or sad. This is a great time to discuss what if scenarios with our kids and review possible ways to tackle these problems.
4. It is a time for us to provide to our children the ammunition they need to face certain situations head on. Children can be encouraged to keep a daily journal of what they are proud of, what was difficult for them, and how they handled themselves in certain challenging situations.
   
5. It is time to encourage our children to be their own best advocate. Summer camp is a terrific opportunity for children to learn assertiveness and develop their self-esteem. They do not have their parents to vent to at the end of every day. They need to learn to stand up for themselves. This is often a difficult reality for both kids and parents. But while packing for camp, parents can review with their children what their strengths are and discuss who to go to if they are sick or if they need help.

So I suppose given adequate resources, we can hire somebody to do just about anything for us. But I choose to use these resources for the non-emotional, more superficial tasks in my life, which need doing. As a working mom, I crave the opportunities to have these discussions with my children at moments which are real and not contrived. Armed and ready, I send them off. Then I cry a little bit. And then I pray that the only call I ever receive from camp is because my kids are asking to stay longer.