Camp Mini-Yo-We understands that summer camp is a big step for many families, especially when it’s a child’s first overnight experience away from home. Here’s what we’ve heard from some parents of our first-time campers!
Steph G.: As someone who never went to camp myself, I was initially hesitant about sending my 5- and 7-year-old children, Evelyn and Luke, away for the first time. However, after speaking with other families who have generationally sent their kids to camp, I was fascinated by the lasting impact it had on both the children and their parents. It was clear that camp wasn’t just about fun activities—it was about building confidence, making memories, and fostering independence.
Even so, the thought of sending my young kids off to camp made me nervous. That’s when I learned about the option to volunteer for the week and be on-site. Knowing I was nearby gave me a sense of reassurance. The camp staff were so supportive, and seeing the excitement in Evelyn and Luke as they took part in new adventures made all the difference.
If you’re a first-time camp parent, my advice would be to trust the process and take advantage of opportunities like volunteering if they’re available. Knowing you’re just a short distance away—without being directly involved—can ease your mind and allow your kids to experience camp in their own way. And, of course, seeing how much they grow and enjoy it makes it all worthwhile!
Tania W.: Our daughters were first-time campers in 2024. I was mostly concerned as my youngest daughter has food allergies. When I reached out to the staff while registering and requested a gluten-free menu for Kendall, it was super simple and her needs were met immediately. We were very impressed with the willingness from the staff and the priority to make our daughter’s experience happy and healthy while having fun. Her meal plan was not that different from the rest of the campers and she didn’t feel like she was missing out on the good stuff!
The girls can’t wait for year two! Thanks to all the staff and volunteers for all their awesomeness to make each camper’s experience the best ever! Our daughters will be lifers! 🙂
Brett & Sarah A.: As we prepared for our family’s first time at summer camp, we felt a mix of excitement and nerves. We decided to go “all-in”—with our four kids in the program and both of us volunteering. Camp Mini-Yo-We’s website was extremely helpful as it has videos we could watch that took us on a virtual tour of the camp, revealed themes for each week, had daily schedules, packing lists, and lots of other useful information to help our kids feel more familiar with and ready for the adventure of their first week at camp.
When we arrived, we were instantly impressed with how smooth and organized everything felt. From being greeted and told where to park, to the people helping take luggage to cabins, to the cabin leaders welcoming and engaging with our kids right away, we felt at ease leaving our kids in the care of the staff at camp.
Throughout the week, we checked out the pictures posted each day on the social feeds. We found many pictures of our kids enjoying all the different activities around camp with big smiles on their faces. At the end of the week at pick up, hugs were shared with all their new friends and “see you next summers” as they were already asking to come back next year.
We were encouraged to find a strong faith community teaching values that are important to us. Many amazing memories were made for all 6 of us in our first week at camp—from both of us in our volunteer roles, our 4-year-old in the Grasshopper program, our 2 girls at Jr. Camp, and our son at Boys Camp.
New-to-Camp Resources
Our team is committed to providing the best-in-class summer camp experience. We are so confident that first-time campers will have a positive experience that we guarantee it with a 100% money back guarantee! Learn more about this offer and find other resources on the First-Time Campers page of our website. Not signed up for Summer 2025 yet? View our Dates & Rates page and register today!