Guidance for Anxious Campers

For both kids and parents, heading off to camp might feel like a big step. Excitement and nervousness can go hand in hand, and that’s completely normal. If your family is navigating some anxiety about camp, we recommend exploring the work of Lynn Lyons, an anxiety expert and psychotherapist who has spent more than 30 years helping families better understand and manage anxiety. The focus of her work is to empower kids to approach new experiences with confidence, resilience, and a sense of adventure by building practical skills. Lynn reframes anxiety not as something to eliminate, but as something kids can learn to move through.

Camp offers a unique environment where kids practice the skills of independence, problem-solving, and flexibility in a supportive community. By understanding how to respond to anxiety in a steady, encouraging way, you can help your camper arrive feeling prepared, capable, and ready to make the most of everything camp has to offer. 

If you are curious to learn more, you can check out her book, Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous and Independent Children.