Coping with First-Time Camp Experiences by Peg Smith For thousands, the camp experience has been a long-standing family tradition. For others, the camp experience seems almost counterintuitive. Send your child off to camp for maybe weeks at a time? “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,” states Peg Smith, former chief executive officer of the American Camp Association (ACA)*. Following are helpful tips to consider as you ask yourself, “Who’s going through separation anxiety, me or my child?” Separation…