The ski trips and snow camps are the first activities of the year where children can sleep away from home.
A few days ago, Junior Fraga went on their snow excursion, last week the Comarca del Bajo/Baix Cinca region organized their ski trip, and this coming weekend, Escultisme Fraga has a weekend in the snow planned. All of these excursions included an overnight stay, and for some children, it was their first experience sleeping on a campsite. Both the regional organization and the youth associations of Fraga have extensive experience in these types of activities and have trained counselors who are accustomed to these outings.
Sleeping away from home for the first time, whether at camps, campuses, or day camps, can be a wonderful experience for young people, but it can also be a stressful situation for both parents and children. At Jovial Adventure , they also have experience with this. They have already organized several camps in Mequinenza, and for 2024 they are working on a new project they would like to carry out in Fraga . One of their members, Álvaro Larroya, told us about the first overnight stay away from home: " Parents worry more than the children, haha. It's normal; we all want the best for our children and, above all, for them to be safe. It's important to know where the children are going, who they will be with, and if it's their first experience, ideally, a nearby camp provides a lot of peace of mind. The proximity of the location—not for picking up the child, because they will surely be fine, but for the security and confidence of being close by—can be very reassuring for a first experience with this type of camp ."
Sleeping away from home at camps or summer programs is a very positive activity for children. They develop social skills, interact with other young people, and learn to work as a team and support each other.
Furthermore, depending on the type of campus, they discover and learn about natural environments safely and learn to respect and care for our environment.
Of course, every child is different, but there are some very simple tips that we can all follow:
- The first thing is to involve him in the process, that is, preparing the bags together, going together if there is material to buy, getting to know the area where they will go,... all this will give him greater knowledge and build confidence.
- If it's your first time out, a nearby campsite might be a good option.
- Have direct contact with the organizers/monitors for any urgent situation.
- But above all, parents shouldn't get overwhelmed, they should trust the children and the instructors and enjoy the experience.
In Fraga and the surrounding area, associations like Junior Fraga and Escultisme Fraga also organize summer camps, usually in the Pyrenees or Pre-Pyrenees. At the local and regional level, Jovial Adventure is preparing its own nearby camp.
