HOW TO ADDRESS

THE FEARS OF

PARENTS

Andy Hust

SpringHill Camps

Exodus 15:22-27

Overnight camping is God’s idea.

And it’s a good one.

Today’s Culture

What has changed in our culture in

the last twenty years?

Focus Group Research

Liz Small

www.smallinsights.net

Focus Group Methodology

• Summer 2012

• 4 Locations in Midwest

• New and veteran day camp moms

• Plus data from our survey

What factors are giving pause to parents

when choosing overnight camp?

BRAIN RULESby John Medina

12 Principles for Surviving and

Thriving at Work, Home, and

School

Stress is subjective

Stress is

different for

different people.

The recipe for stress

Three things happen simultaneously

• Aroused physiological response,

measurable by outside party

• Stressor must be perceived as aversive “if

you had the ability to turn down the

severity of this experience, would you?”

• Person must not feel in control of stressor

Control of stressor

• As loss of control increases, so does

the perceived severity of the stress

• Restoration of control is needed to

reduce stress

In what situations does a parent feel

most helpless? Focus here.

The idea of camp creates worry

The very idea of overnight camp

conjures up much worry for moms of

young children.

Worry and diminished control

• Overnight camp is far away

• Their child is in someone else’s care

for more than one night

• Their control is greatly diminished

• Their worry is greatly amplified

18

WORRY

Physical and Emotional

Wellbeing

Worried about physical wellbeing

just no maturity.... they would probably go without a shower all week. They are still learning basic hygiene.

Whether she can be responsible enough and trustworthy enough to be away from home.

too adventurous for his own good! He'd want to do what he saw bigger kids doing, which isn't always safe - like climbing unsupervised structures, etc.

I would need to see her demonstrate more independence in terms of taking care of herself and feeling confident that she could without mom or dad there.

Hard to even talk about

Fear of them being hurt in some way

(physical mostly) but also there is the

worry about teasing and abuse. although

fairly small, its still there.

My daughter has done an overnight

camp before, but the safety concerns

have changed my mind about allowing it.

Hard to even talk about

That is a long time to be away from home (for the first time) with strangers. With everything in the news these days I think it is hard for parents to trust anyone.

You know, as a mom, we feel no one takes care of our child as well as us. I am also nervous about sexual predators, yikes, I said it.

Worry increases when children have special needs

My daughter has Generalized Anxiety Disorder. She gets worried at nighttime and has a hard time falling asleep away from home.

He still has "sleeping habits" that he does not want other children to know about (he sleeps with a special stuffed animal).

She also has bladder issues at night and I don't want her to be embarrassed.

Worried about emotional wellbeing

Some might call me overprotective, but I

want to ensure that my child is ready to

stand up for himself if needed, be

comfortable making friends with people

he's never met before, be ok in his self-

confidence/faith with God if he doesn't

connect with anyone in his cabin/group.

Worried about emotional wellbeing

I'd say Yes and No. I think he'd really love

it, but would get homesick. I don't think

I'm ready for him to be away for so many

days in a row that I can't ask him every

day how the day went, what he learned,

what was difficult, and be able to process

it all a day at a time.

HOW TO REDUCE

WORRY

Give back the feeling of control

Giving back control

Give Information

Start a Conversation

Instill Confidence

Keep in Touch

Listen to Parents

Give Information

Why is this important?

• Helps moms feel in control

• Takes guesswork out of unfamiliar

• They want details!

Give Information

Tell parents about your camp.

• Communicate your distinctives

• Explain the intentionality behind your

programs, facilities, etc.

Give Information

Tell parents how you do things

• Safety and security

• Typical days

• Show them the camp

• Personalize it

Give Information

In the words of parents…

Detail what activities would be water related and what safety precautions would be taken since she cannot swim

Assurance about being safe with food allergy

Do background checks on all the adults/teens around the kids. CPR training for all of them

Give Information

Tell parents what you’ll do for their

child in their absence

• Dealing with homesickness

• Anti-bullying policies

• Infirmary procedures

• When will you call them?

Small Groups

Rate your camp – how well do you

currently communicate the right

information to parents?

Identify low-hanging fruit – changes

you can make right away.

Start a Conversation

Help parents see that

their child may be

ready for an overnight

experience.

“My child is just not ready…”

• Age

• Responsibility

• Maturity

• Independence

• Overnight experience

• Desire

“My child IS ready…”Spends nights away with friends and relatives.

She is independent and shows responsibility ..... this is something I believe she would love and grow from. She shows a huge interest and excitement for this.

My child is relatively independent and makes friends easily; doesn't shy away from new experiences; has an adventurous spirit.

“My child IS ready…”She is responsible with personal items and able to take being away overnight for consecutive days.

They are able to follow directions and listen to their leaders (in school).

She told me she is ready. She brought it up. I had never mentioned it. She is very independent.

He shows responsibility, lack of fear, and is interested in new things.

Friends make it easier

As a mother of an only child, it is getting harder and harder for me to "let her go." If I knew she was going with a friend or two (the more, the better) I would feel better. I do not want her to be in a cabin full of strangers.

Small Groups

A parent asks if you think their child is

ready for overnight camp.

What questions could you ask to help

them determine this?

Instill confidence

Focus on first impressions

• How will they be greeted at camp?

• Train and equip staff to put kids at

ease

• Be organized

In the words of a parentI'll be honest... I have not sent my son to overnight camp... this summer will be the first. But when I dropped him off at Daycamp last summer I could not believe what I saw. It was pouring down rain and the kids and staff were in the rain at the entrance to the parking lot waving at us, smiling, and saying hello. Then we got to the door to go into the church and the kids were lined up greeting my son and high fiving him as he came in.

In the words of a parentThere was never a scowl, always a smile. Every day was the same thing. But by day two, they were greeting him by name and telling him how glad they were to see him. Growing up I went to church camp and I never felt the feeling I had when I took him in and out of the daycamp. EVERY kid matters at Springhill... EVERY one of them is the most important kid in the world. That is truly how they make you feel. It is no wonder why I am trusting you with him at overnight camp this year!! Thank you!

Keep in touch

Example of daily videos:

http://blog.springhillcamps.com/?cat=6

Keep in touch

Listen to parentsWhat can we do to help you feel more comfortable?

A family day visit would help our comfort level

Put kids and parents in separate areas, but accessible if needed

Offer time and ability to call home once a day

Videos of facility, sleeping areas, activities, counselors to help them feel like they know what it will be like.

Small Groups

What else can be done to put

parents at ease?

Next steps

• Look at your website and communication from the eyes of a mom who’s never been to camp.

• Talk to someone who sent their child to camp last year for first time.

• Take a step this summer to change your opening day experience.

• Add a new way to communicate with parents during the week.