Protecting Our Children from Bullying at Summer Camp

As parents, we face enough challenges getting our kids to summer camp on time, equipped with all their gear, snacks, lunch, and water. The last thing we want is a call from camp in the middle of the day telling us that our child is not having fun. Summer camp should be about fun, making new friends, developing new skills, and simply being a kid. Unfortunately, sometimes that call comes because our child has been bullied.
So, how do we protect our kids from bullying at camp? Here are a few steps to help:
  1. Choose the Right Camp: Research thoroughly to ensure the camp has strong anti-bullying policies and a supportive environment.
  2. Communicate with Camp Management: Before registering, talk to the camp director about their policies on bullying and how they handle such situations.
  3. Educate Your Child: Teach your child about bullying and encourage them to speak up if they experience or witness it.
  4. Stay Involved: Regularly check in with your child about their camp experience and be alert for signs of bullying.
  5. Encourage Friendships: Help your child build connections before camp starts, as having friends can provide a support system.
Ignoring teasing, bullying, or negative behavior never creates a sustainable situation. The mental health of a child can be severely affected by being treated negatively, being teased, or being bullied, and it can leave lasting damage to their self-confidence or self-image.
If bullying does occur, advocate for your child by communicating with the camp staff—not on social media—and seek to understand the details to ensure the situation is addressed promptly and effectively.
At the National Academy of Athletics, we take child safety and bullying seriously. We have a zero-tolerance policy. However, there is much more than just a policy that makes our programs safe and enjoyable for the kids under our care.
We train our coaches to learn each camper’s name. We believe that it is important for the kids’ self-confidence that our staff do their best to call the kids by their names. We address the kids as campers, players, or participants rather than by gender, to create an environment that helps them feel included, engaged, and encouraged.
Creating a bullying-free environment at camp requires a collective effort where every camp director, coach, staff member, and camper actively participates in learning and practicing effective skills and strategies. It’s essential for everyone involved to understand the importance of fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive atmosphere.
This means educating coaches and staff on how to recognize and address bullying behavior, equipping campers with the tools to stand up against bullying, and promoting a culture of respect and kindness. Every team member at the National Academy of Athletics completes our certification, which includes comprehensive bully prevention training. During this training, we role model and work through various scenarios to ensure that everyone is prepared to create and maintain a safe, inclusive environment.
By working together, we can ensure that camp is a positive and enriching experience for all children, where they can focus on having fun, making friends, and growing as individuals without the fear of being bullied.