Meet Your Best Friend at Sleepaway Camp in California
Sometimes, it can seem hard to make new friends. At school, you’re always busy juggling classes and homework and everything else so it’s nearly impossible to find the time to focus on finding friendship.
Fortunately, there’s an easy way to make friends away from the stresses of school, and that’s by attending a sleepaway summer camp in California.
Keep reading to learn more about why our camp is the perfect place to build lifelong friendships and how you can easily do just that!
Why Sleepaway Camp is Perfect for Making Friends
There are many reasons as to why sleepaway camp will set you up for success in making new friends. Let’s take a closer look at just a few of those reasons.
Close Quarters
When you share a bunk, bathroom, and schedule with someone, you’re bound to get to know them. At camp, you have countless opportunities to get to know the other campers in your cabin because of how much time you spend with them.
There is quite a bit of downtime during which you can focus on building friendships with the other girls or boys in your cabin. Compared to the few minutes here or there you get to have at school, this alone is often enough to make as many new friends as you want.
Fun Activities
One of the ways humans naturally build relationships is through shared experiences. When those experiences are positive and fun, strong bonds are even more likely to be forged.
At camp, you get to enjoy several fun activities every day, creating a myriad of chances for you to have fun with the other campers. This also helps give you something to talk about if you struggle to come up with conversation topics.
Clean Slate
At school and even around your neighborhood, it can be hard to make new friends because of the labels others have put on you. You feel trapped by the expectations other people have for you and it may feel impossible to break free from them.
When you arrive at Pali Adventures, nobody knows who you are, and that’s a good thing! You can feel free to pursue friendships with whoever you want, knowing there’s nobody there to judge you.
Shared Interests
When you go to one of our specialty camps, you instantly have a shared passion with all of the other campers there that week. This makes it easy to jump into conversations since you already have at least one thing to talk about.
How to Make Friends at Camp
Now let’s get into a few of the ways you can make friends during your time at Pali Adventures.
Leave Your Electronics Behind
Making friends at camp starts when you’re packing. Although you are technically allowed to bring some electronic devices with you, one of the reasons we discourage it is because we want you to be able to make friends while you’re here.
If you spend your free time listening to music or playing games by yourself, it’s hard to make new friends.
Bring Some Board Games
Instead of electronics, consider bringing at least one of your favorite board or card games. Pick games that are easy to learn and can be for a number of people. That way, it will be easy to teach others to play and to include as many people as possible.
Just Say, “Hi”
Once you arrive at camp, you may be tempted to wait around for others to talk to you. However, doing that may mean missing out on opportunities to make friends if everyone else is doing the same.
Don’t be afraid to start conversations with other campers. All you have to do to meet someone is say, “Hi” and introduce yourself. It’s the first step to making friends and although it can feel intimidating, once it’s over, you’ll be glad you did it.
Be Yourself
Whether it’s when you’re greeting someone for the first time or during your conversations throughout your week of camp, you should always be yourself. Be genuine and allow people to get to know the real you right from the start.
Honesty is important if you want to build lasting relationships. Those that like the real you will become your best friends by the end of the week and far beyond the summer. Those that don’t like you can easily be left behind once you go home.
Ask Open-ended Questions
If you ask someone if they like dogs, when they answer with a simple, “yes” or, “no,” that will be the end of the conversation unless you keep asking questions. However, that’s a good way to make a conversation feel like an interrogation.
To avoid that, ask questions that require at least a full sentence as an answer. For example, ask someone what their favorite animal is, and then ask why they like that animal or how they came to pick it as their favorite. This allows them to open up and talk more than if you only asked “yes” or “no” questions.
Find Common Ground
As you get to know fellow campers, look for ways to connect with them. Find things you both have in common, like family dynamics, personal preferences, or goals in life. Whatever you find, talk about it with them and soon your friendship will start to blossom.
Share Contact Information
Don’t forget to ensure your friendship can last beyond the summer. The easiest way to do that is to exchange contact information with the other campers.
This is one of the reasons we encourage you to bring a notebook and pen with you to camp. You can share your name, email address, and phone number with your new friends and continue your friendship long after your summer tan lines fade.
Ready to Meet Your Best Friend at a Sleepaway Camp in California?
Now you know why a sleepaway camp in California is a great place to meet your best friend. You also have some tools you can use to get to know the other campers so you can easily make new friends.
If you’re ready for an unforgettable summer experience where you can make new friends, learn new things, and pursue your passions, enroll with Pali Adventures today. Lock in your spot today and then choose a week and specialty when you’re ready.