• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

304.645.1316

Contact Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Vimeo
Camp Alleghany for Girls

Camp Alleghany for Girls

A Summer Camp for Girls in Lewisburg, WV

  • About Us
    • Empowering Girls
    • Our Directors
    • Camp Videos
    • Testimonials
    • Alumnae Hub
    • COVID & Camp
  • Parents
    • General Info for Parents
    • Dates and Rates
    • Parent Resources
    • Request Information
    • Forms and Info
    • Apply for the Lantern Scholarship
    • Camp Store
    • Visiting Alleghany
    • Parent Log In
  • Campers
    • Mother Daughter Weekend
    • Mini Camp
    • Term Camp
    • Leaders-In-Training
    • Is Camp Alleghany Right For You?
    • Family Camp
    • For Campers
      • A Day at ‘Ghany
      • Activities
      • Programs
      • Hear Our Songs
      • Apply for the Lantern Scholarship
  • Staff
  • Blog
Register for Camp

A Camp Parent Night Helps Get me Ready for My Son’s First Sleepaway Summer Camp

Post # 2 in my series on my son's first experience at a sleepaway summer camp that isn't OUR sleepaway summer camp. He's only 6 so this series is great for parents of younger campers.

May 11, 2017 By Elizabeth Shreckhise

Mason gears up for rain or shine at camp in gear that can double as “Wacky Wednesday” costuming!

Editor’s Note:  From Camp Director to Camp Parent is my new blog series chronicling my (and my son’s) experience(s) as a  first-time camp parent and a first-time camper. I envisioned this series as a way to empathize with first-time camp parents now that I find myself on the other side of camp registration and awaiting a coming camp experience. I hope you’ll follow along with me and my son as we take this first step into the (not entirely unknown) camp world. My first post in this series detailed how we came to decide for him to attend a short one-week sleepaway camp (that is similar in duration and in age-group to Camp Alleghany’s Mini Camp for Girls): Booking My Son’s First Sleepaway Camp Session. Throughout the spring and into the summer I’ll update you with all those first-time camp parent issues and concerns that I experience along with how my son, Mason, is taking it all. Please subscribe to the blog and follow along. Here is the second post:

Camp Parent Night

Last week, the summer camp my son Mason is attending this year held a Parent Night in the Washington, DC-area and of course I wanted to be there!  So, I strategically planned the ice cream social I held for current and would-be Bethesda ‘Ghany Girls to be held just one day prior to that parent night, and stayed with a best camp buddy of mine who lives up there so I could attend. And it was so worth it!

I feel confident in sending Mason off to camp, but I thought it couldn’t hurt to explore the camp further, and also, as a camp director myself, the concept of a Parent Night intrigued me — so I wanted to check it out from that perspective as well! Also, I just love the directors of his camp, so a chance to see them is always welcomed.

The event was held in a hotel, and several parents were there to get the scoop along with me.

The director started off by talking about their mission statement — which essentially encompasses engaging the whole family for the child’s sleepaway camp experience and focuses on relationship building, personal development, and the importance of the natural world. The directors explained with passion that this is why they do what they do. I loved it!

I find it very meaningful when camps are driven by a mission because that’s also how we view — and run — the ‘Ghany camp experience (see our mission statement). For me it grounds camp in something larger than just three weeks away from home and it also allows for more individualized development over the years as the camper comes back summer after summer.

In addition to the director, a few different administrative staff members spoke about what they love about camp, and then their camp nurse spoke about her role in camp and her own children’s experience there.

The Important Things

After that, it was time for the questions. Because I feel so good about sending Mason, and checked out the camp thoroughly, I didn’t have a ton of questions. But my husband Matt had asked Mason what questions he had, so I asked them for him:

  1. What do they eat for breakfast?
  2. How many people sleep in my cabin?
  3. Who is my counselor?
  4. Can 6-year olds play baseball?

I got good answers that I’m sure other parents appreciated hearing about and all of our inquiries were treated with respect and very positive interaction.

The event was also streamed on Facebook Live (what a great idea!) so Matt and Mason were watching it for a bit. But by the time I asked Mason’s questions Matt had turned it off to get Mason ready for bed. But that’s okay because I was able to get his questions answered and he was excited when I got home and told him.

Overall I loved the event and would love to start thinking about planning our own parent nights. What a great way to have some face time with parents and start connecting personally with the families. It’s also a good reminder of what everyone needs to do to prepare. We send out several reminder emails, but you can’t beat a personal conversation!

Next Up

So what do I need to do now?

Well, we have Mason’s physical coming up, so his health form will be completed. I need to start labeling all his clothing! I might ask my mom to help me — haha.

And finally, a big takeaway from the parent night was certain packing items. For one, they don’t need a trunk because they live in cabins and have shelves, although it’s fine if campers bring trunks. It was also good to hear about specific bedding requirements. And then the fact that they recommend two pairs of sneakers….Matt and I better get shopping!

Other than that, Mason should be pretty well covered with camp clothes, considering he’s spent every summer of his life at camp already!

Stay tuned for my next installment, which will likely be adventures in labeling and packing. And all this while I’m preparing the whole family to be down at our camp — see, you can do it all!

— Elizabeth Dawson Shreckhise, Assistant Director, Camp Alleghany for Girls

Filed Under: Directors Tagged With: family, Mini Camp, Mini Camp Journeys, new campers, planning

About Elizabeth Shreckhise

Elizabeth is the Director of Camp Alleghany for Girls, the third generation member in her family to hold this position. But she also spent her childhood (ages 7-16) as 'Ghany camper, then held various counselor positions, and spent a decade here as the Assistant Director. She has a Masters in Education and Human Development and is a former School Counselor. Elizabeth lives in Staunton, Virginia during the "off-season" with her husband Matt and sons Mason, Ellis, and Noah. In addition to staffing, enrollment, program planning, outreach, and camp management duties, she helps keep the website current, writes and updates camp literature, and oversees the blog.

Primary Sidebar

Download Our FREE E-Book

Is your daughter ready for sleepaway summer camp? Our E-book offers insight into this and more!
3 Reasons to Send Your Child to Camp.

Recent Blog Posts

  • TBT: The Alleghany Rattler, July 1945: Horse, Men on A Par With New Counselors
  • TBT: The Alleghany Rattler, July 1943: Grays “Take It” and “Leave” the Blues
  • What’s Happening At The 100th Summer Camp Store

Get Our Blog Updates

Get our latest news. No spam -- Your e-mail is safe with us.

Footer

Contact Us

304.645.1316

304.362.0134 (fax)

Info@campalleghany.com

Camp Alleghany for Girls
428 Camp Alleghany Road
Caldwell, WV 24925

Main Pages

  • About Us
    • Empowering Girls
    • Our Directors
    • Camp Videos
    • Testimonials
    • Alumnae Hub
    • COVID & Camp
  • Parents
    • General Info for Parents
    • Dates and Rates
    • Parent Resources
    • Request Information
    • Forms and Info
    • Apply for the Lantern Scholarship
    • Camp Store
    • Visiting Alleghany
    • Parent Log In
  • Campers
    • Mother Daughter Weekend
    • Mini Camp
    • Term Camp
    • Leaders-In-Training
    • Is Camp Alleghany Right For You?
    • Family Camp
    • For Campers
      • A Day at ‘Ghany
      • Activities
      • Programs
      • Hear Our Songs
      • Apply for the Lantern Scholarship
  • Staff
  • Blog

Other Pages

  • Alumni Hub
  • Request Info
  • Job Openings
  • Families Log In
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Vimeo

Copyright © 2022 Camp Alleghany for Girls. Website by Curren Media Group.