Going to youth camp can be an experience of a lifetime.
In later years, you will probably remember it before you remember anything else.
And what will leave a lasting impression? At the top of the list will be the people you met and the friendships that developed.
Hence, this article shows you five ways to get ready for youth camp by preparing to make new friends.
These tips will help you to make the most of this unique experience and to create favorable memories.
Determine what you want to share.
Making new friends requires a certain amount of disclosure.
You share things about yourself and the other person shares some things.
At first, it can feel a little awkward.
So, be clear on what you want to reveal before you go to camp.
Do you want to discuss anything about your family? Do you want to talk about school and future goals? Do you want to talk about your hobbies? The choice is yours.
Determine how to handle sensitive subjects.
Some topics are off limits because they are too personal.
With this in mind, how do you tell a person that you don't want to discuss a particular issue without being offensive? First of all, you can respond in a pleasant manner.
Secondly, you can inform the other person that you also will respect his or her request not to discuss various topics.
Decide what you want to learn about others.
Making new friends involves learning about others.
In fact, this part makes the process more interesting.
If you are shy or uncomfortable being the first to break the ice, prepare a list of questions and memorize them.
After you've done it a few times, it will become natural.
Equally important, listen carefully to what the other person is saying while he or she is talking.
Practice introducing yourself to others.
Someone said, "It's all in the introduction.
" Therefore, give some thought to how you want to introduce yourself to others.
The way you introduce yourself sets the stage for the rest of the conversation.
Do you want to say more or less? For example, you might say, "Hi I'm Susie, and I'm a junior in high school? If you think about what you want to say before hand, you will take the pressure off of yourself and the other person.
Find a way to stay connected.
Staying connected after camp ends is the way to maintain and strengthen a friendship.
Be prepared to collect and store information to stay in touch.
That might include getting a person's phone number, email address, or home address.