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Everyone is a little shy on the first few days of camp, even the most outgoing people. However, camp will only last for 2 months or so, so it’s important to start making friends as soon as you can so people don’t break up into social groups and leave you hanging. Just smile, be friendly, say hi to new people and ask them where they’re from. You can also ask kids to join you at a certain activity, whether you’re swimming in a lake or heading to an archery class. The sooner you make an effort to make friends, the sooner you’ll be having a great time at camp.  One way to quickly make new friends is to give people a sincere compliment. Just saying something like, “I like your necklace,” can make a person feel that you’re friendly and approachable. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You don’t have to start looking for your best friend right away or only talk to kids who look like people you’d be friends with in school. Go out on a limb and talk to someone who may not look or act like your “type” of person; you may be pleasantly surprised. Sharing your things is a great way to make new friends. Offer a new friend some of your homemade cookies, a magazine, or an accessory or game, and you’ll be able to bond more quickly. Summer camp is all about going out of your comfort zone and taking risks. While you may be wary of horseback riding or archery, you should sign up for those classes precisely for that reason. Don’t limit yourself and try as many new things as possible so that you can find something you really care about in the process. Even if the activity you choose doesn’t end up being your cup of tea, you may make a new friend — or three — in the process.  If you’re not sure what to pick, try to pick an activity that is the most social, so you’d be likely to make a lot of friends. However, if there’s something you’ve really wanted to try, such as painting or woodworking, and it’s less popular with the kids, don’t let that stop you from exploring something you’re interested in. It’s fun to go outside your area of expertise, though. If you’ve never acted and even feel a bit nervous on stage, try signing up for a theatre class. If the class is going to perform a play towards the end of the camp session, you can aim for a small role or even to work backstage. Though camp is all about the hustle and bustle, you should try to carve out a bit of time for yourself, especially if you’re more of the introverted type who needs his alone time. Whether you get up a few minutes early to do some light stretching or journaling or you read in bed for half an hour before lights out, it’s important to make just a bit of time for yourself so you don’t get too wound up. That said, you shouldn’t miss out on too many social opportunities because of “me time.” If you’re feeling kind of sad and sulky and like being alone, it’s okay to do that for a little while as you regain your energy. However, you’ll be having fun much more quickly if you force yourself to get up and join an activity, whether you’re singing by the campfire or playing Red Rover. Sure, there are annoying things about every summer camp, from pesky mosquitoes to soggy food to counsellors who are less than kind. However, there are also plenty of great things to be happy about, from the nice weather to the beautiful campgrounds, and you should work on talking about the things you love about camp instead of the things you hate. If you start complaining, then your friends will start complaining too, and pretty soon you’ll be headed in a downward spiral of negativity and will find yourself feeling much less happy than you would have been if you had focused on the positive.  Besides, if you get a reputation of being the kid who complains all the time, then people will be less inclined to hang out with you. It’s okay to get something off your chest every once in a while. But if you catch yourself making a negative comment, try to counter it with two positive comments later in the conversation. Though it can be fun to tease and even to taunt your camp counselor, if you want to make the most of your time at camp, then you should try to be as nice and friendly to your counselor as you can, without making it seem like you’re sucking up. If you’re friendly with your counselor, then your time at camp will be easier, and you may even be able to get away with a bit more. You don’t need to stick by your counselor’s side all the time to form a fun, friendly relationship with him or her.  Remember that, however mature they may seem, camp counselors are often just a handful of years older than you. Just like ordinary people, they can get overwhelmed by intense, stressful situations, especially if they have fifteen kids all competing for their attention at once. If you see that your counselor could use a bit of help carrying, cleaning, or organizing something, step up to the plate. Of course, you don’t want to get a reputation for being a suck up and to try so hard to please your counselor that you end up alienating some of the other kids. Just treat him or her with kindness and respect and you’ll be on your way to having a great time at camp. Summer camp can be even more fun if you feel more involved in the action. If your counselor or chief administrators at camp ask for a volunteer to help them clean or carry something, or to take over a small additional responsibility, don’t be afraid to raise your hand. Getting another friend or two to help can make the whole thing even more fun. While you may be reluctant to do something that feels like “extra work,” volunteering can make you feel more involved and active in the daily activities of your camp. Volunteering will also make you feel good for helping others, even if you’re just carrying some boxes over to a different part of the camp or cleaning up an old campfire. Most times, you won’t even realize that the end of camp is creeping up on you. You might have had an amazing time and made some memories you will never forget with new people who have changed your life forever. However, you might be feeling shy about what to do once camp is over and you return to your normal life. Don’t be shy about asking your new friends for their numbers, if they will be your Facebook friends, or even if you can talk on the phone once camp is over. This will make you love your camp experience even more.  If your camp friends happen to live pretty close to you, then you can even make plans to hang out after the fun is over. This can be a great way to grow closer to your new friends and to reminisce about camp memories. If you stay in touch with your new friends at camp, then you’ll be even more excited to return the following summer.
Reach out to new people as soon as you can. Sign up for as many activities as you want. Leave time to decompress. Try to complain as little as possible. Get on your counselor’s good side. Volunteer to help. Stay in touch with your friends when camp is over.