• NSDC t-shirts…  Check!
• Bathing suit…  Check!
• Sun Screen… Check!
• Water Shoes… Check!

What am I forgetting?!?  Ugh….. Yes, the panic of “What am I forgetting?” settles in as you ready your child for camp while you go over all the various things that he or she will need this summer.

But I can tell you that probably the most important thing you can pack for your child is a sense of confidence and reassurance that your child will have an amazing time while at camp this summer.  Remind them that although you will not be there during the day, Paula, Richie, Brian, Judi and the rest of the NSDC team of counselors, group leaders & support staff will be there for them and that they are not alone.

Camp will provide your child with the added self-confidence, self-esteem and resilience that comes from doing things that sometimes takes them out of their comfort zone. You can’t over-estimate the benefit for a child that comes from getting through a challenge without mom or dad.  Paula, Richie, Brian, Judi and the rest of the NSDC team are there to help them to do just that, and to do it successfully!

So, as you go over your list of various camp necessities and pack them up in your child’s camp backpack, don’t forget to pack your child up with a bit of “can do” attitude and a dose of positive spirit!  The positive changes in your child of having spent a summer of fun and adventure, and making new friends, will make it clear – It was all well worth it!

Every summer, we make any excuse to get dressed up and throw on some face-paint as our favorite princesses and pirates, superheros, rockstars or storybook characters – you can see campers and staff in different costumes at any given time throughout the summer!

However, for those of you who will be donning your costumes this weekend for Halloween, the TLC Family of Camps wants to ensure that all of our children are safe. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and SafeKids.org each published press releases on their websites this month listing some important tips to help keep our kids safe over Halloween. And while some of the things may just be mere reminders of what may seem to be the obvious, others may be something you haven’t ever thought about… Please take a look and remember to have a safe & fun Halloween!

(Pssssssst!  And if you’re looking for a way to get yourself ready for trick or treating, stop by on Sunday for our Halloween Fall Festival!  Click HERE to let us know you’ll be stopping by!)