Parent “How To” Videos
Watch our series of brief Parent “How To” videos to learn how to:
• View, Save, & Order Photos
• Complete Forms
• Make Payments
• Manage your camper’s Store Account
• Create a Guest Account
• See Camp News
• Send Emails
First Year Family Resources
Kidsickness: Help for First Time Camp Parents
Michael Thompson’s new book about camp, Homesick and Happy, is now available!
“An insightful and powerful look at the magic of summer camp—and why it is so important for children to be away from home . . . if only for a little while.
In an age when it’s the rare child who walks to school on his own, the thought of sending your “little ones” off to sleep-away camp can be overwhelming—for you and for them. But a parent’s first instinct—to shelter their offspring above all else—actually deprives children of the major developmental milestones that occur through letting them go—and watching them come back transformed.”
Coping with First-Time Camp Experiences
“As parents, recognizing that you and your child are growing and learning on a journey together is key to adequately preparing yourself and your child for any type of separation, including going to camp for the first time.”
Children Inside and Out
Information and reassurance for first-year camp parents by camp expert Bob Ditter.
Preparing Children for Summer Camp
“Summer camp is more than a vacation for children,” says Bruce Muchnick, Ed.D., a licensed psychologist who works extensively with day and resident camps. “As a parent, there are a few things to consider to increase the opportunity for a rewarding camp experience for your child.”
Summer Camp Handbook:
“SummerCampHandbook.com is the free online version of the award-winning camp prep book featured on the Today Show, Martha Stewart, NPR, and CBS News.“
Sunshine Parenting Blog
Camp Director Audrey “Sunshine” Monke’s blog about kids, camp, the GAC philosophy, and parenting.
• Get Unplugged! Research being done at Stanford about the impact of time spent online supports our electronics-free philosophy at GAC.
• Friends: Finding Gold in a Plastic Era
Other Parenting Information & Websites
As we come across helpful links to educate our camp families about current parenting topics, we put them here. Some of the sites may change or become outdated.
• Raising Happiness Webinar Link: This is the webinar Gold Arrow Camp sponsored by author Christine Carter, Ph.D. If you have an hour, it’s a great listen!
“The Dark Side of Parental Devotion: How Camp Can Let the Sun Shine”
By Dr. Wendy Mogel (author of The Blessing of a Skinned Knee)
Wendy Mogel’s website also has a lot of great parenting articles and advice.
The Natural Gifts of Camp
Read about the benefits of kids being in nature at camp in an article written by Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder.
Camp Inspirations: Look Who Went to Camp!
Great things happen when youth and mountains meet . . . and when they meet at camp something extraordinary happens
Role Model Relationships: Making healthy human connections
By Peg L. Smith, CEO, American Camp Association
Fishful Thinking website
Great tips for parents regarding raising kids who are resilient and optimistic.
Greater Good Science Center: Christine Carter, Ph.D, is a sociologist and happiness expert at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. This blog is mostly science-based parenting advice. Carter is author of Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents.
Healthy Teens
Written for parents of teens by Stephen Wallace, Chairman and CEO of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), the nation’s preeminent youth peer-to-peer education and prevention organization, these regular columns address issues of critical concern to youth and families, providing research-based insights into the attitudes and behaviors of today’s teens and practical advice for parents intent on keeping their children safe and alive.
“Nature Deficit Disorder”
Those of us who have spent our summers at Gold Arrow know the value of being in nature. Read this article from the San Francisco Chronicle which reinforces the need for our kids to spend time away from electronics and in nature.
Unhealthy Competition
“Young kids are training like professionals, and have the injuries to prove it.” This article is an excerpt from a new book that just hit the stands titled “Revolution in the Bleachers: How Parents Can Take Back Family Life in a World Gone Crazy Over Youth Sports” by Regan McMahon.
“Parents: The Anti-Drug”
Pediatrician, Dr. William Sears, and his sons, Drs. Jim “Bones” and Bob “Hawkeye” Sears (GAC Camp Doctors) offer health advice on many topics at their website, “Ask Dr. Sears.”
Updated May 2, 2012