How to Become Popular in Summer Camp

Co-authored by Eric McClure

Last Updated: September 16, 2021 References

Even though it may be intimidating, summer camp is a great place to make new friends. There are lots of opportunities to meet different people, try unique things, and have fun while doing it. Becoming popular at summer camp is easy. All you have to do is introduce yourself to people, find common interests with them, and act like yourself.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Introducing Yourself to People

1
Start by saying hello and introducing yourself. Talking to someone new can be scary. A simple “hello” or “good morning” will go a long way. Everyone wants to be liked, and initiating a conversation will show people that you’re open and interested in talking to them.^{[1]
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- Ask other people what their name is after you say hello to make your conversation more personal. If you tend to forget names quickly, try to use their name naturally in conversation while you talk to them. Saying their name out loud will help you remember it later on.
- Make eye contact when you introduce yourself. It will make you seem confident and open to conversation.^{[2]
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2
Be friendly and supportive when talking to people. Use positive language to reinforce your conversations with positive energy by trying to find something nice to say. Being sarcastic and poking fun at something is easy, but people will grow tired of it quickly. If you’re talking to someone and they start complaining about something, be supportive by actively listening and sympathizing with them. When others notice that you’re generally nice, they’ll be more likely to want to talk to you.
- It may be tempting to try and impress others by being mean, but that will backfire more often than not. Nobody likes a bully!^{[3]
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- Be as kind as possible when talking about others that aren’t around. Word will eventually get around that you are untrustworthy if you gossip about people behind their back.
- Smile. People like it when others smile at them, and there is a good chance they will smile right back.
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3
Ask personal questions to initiate a conversation. Asking people about themselves is an excellent way to get them interested in hanging out with you. When you ask people questions, you’re inviting them to open up towards you. Try bringing up something simple, like what subjects they’re studying in school or what kind of sports they enjoy playing.^{[4]
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- Asking people about what they do for fun is a good place to start. It may turn out that you have something in common. Even if you don’t, you may end up learning something about them!^{[5]
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- Avoid asking questions that may touch on a sore subject. If someone seems sad, asking them why they’re being such a bummer might be a bad idea.
- Some people have soft spots. You could be talking to someone new and ask them about their parents or family. Their parents may be divorced in in a tough spot. Once you feel there is a strong relationship going on, be more open. If you’re unsure what that person’s sensitive about, maybe talk about your life. If you feel that someone might be avoiding all questions about their parents, talk about your parents to show they can open up.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Finding Common Interests

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Express interest in other people’s hobbies when they bring them up. Everyone has things that they enjoy doing in their spare time. Express interest in other people’s hobbies by asking about how they got into it or how they got good at something. People enjoy talking about things that they’re good at. You may even end up finding a new hobby for yourself!
- Be honest about what you’re interested in. If you know that you absolutely hate dancing, don’t lie about wanting to learn a new dance routine.
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Talk about music and movies that you enjoy. Everyone appreciates listening to music and watching movies. Music is a great way to connect with people through shared tastes. Movies provide a great platform to talk about a lot of different topics. If both of you enjoyed the last Star Wars movie, ask if they’d like to see the next one with you!^{[6]
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- When people are talking about music that you’ve never heard before, ask them to show it to you.
- If you’ve never seen a movie that others seem to enjoy, bring up the idea of watching it together one night.
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Bring things you enjoy with you to camp to find people with similar interests. If you enjoy playing cards, bring a deck along and break it out during lunch. If you love playing catch, take a football with you to camp and keep it under your arm. Other people that enjoy the same things you do will notice and ask to join you!
- Try to bring things that are easy to carry. If it won’t fit in your pockets or backpack, it’s probably too big to take with you.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Trying New Things

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Sign up for activities whenever you’re given the chance. While it may be tempting to sit out when given the opportunity, you’d be surprised how important participating can be. Trying something new requires courage, and showing people that you’re open to activities will not only show them that you have confidence, but encourage others to join with you.^{[7]
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- Even if it seems like everyone isn’t interested in doing something, it may be that they simply don’t want to be the first one to volunteer. Break the ice by volunteering first if you’re comfortable with it.
2
Sit with different people on the bus and hang out with them. Bring along some card games, magazines with quizzes, or other multiplayer activities to do on the bus. Unless other people came with a friend, the odds are high that they’re just as bored as you are. The bus can be an excellent place to make new friends.
- Always ask if a seat is taken before sitting down next to someone. Some people prefer to sit by themselves. Don’t take it personally!
3
Volunteer to join games that you’ve never played. Don’t worry if you don’t know the rules. Many people enjoy teaching others. If you let people show you how to do things, they’ll know that you’re open to playing different games with them in the future.
- Be willing to teach other people games that you know. People will appreciate the invitation to play even if they don’t want to.
4
Avoid staring at your phone or you’ll come off as uninterested. If you’re allowed to have your phone at camp, try to stay off of your cell phone during the gaps between activities. People will think that you’re trying to avoid socializing if you’re staring at your screen all day.^{[8]
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- Don’t leave your phone at home if you can bring it with you. You may need it to exchange numbers with the people that you meet!

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Being Yourself

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Express who you are and be as honest as possible. It can be a little scary to express who you are most of the time. Don’t be afraid to dress how you like or talk how you normally do at home. Speak up when you have an opinion on something. Being comfortable with who you are will show others that you are honest and confident.^{[9]
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- There’s a difference between having a strong opinion on something and arguing with others. Always try to be nice, even if you disagree with someone.
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Don’t change who you are to fit in with a crowd. People should like you for who you are. If someone doesn't want to hang out with you, then move on. They may not be the right friend for you.^{[10]
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- If people try to pressure you into doing something that you don’t want to do, be firm when you say no. People should respect your boundaries.
3
Have fun by relaxing and not worrying about becoming popular. You’re at summer camp to meet new people and try new things, but above all else, you’re there to have fun! Having fun will not only reduce any stress you have about becoming popular, but will improve your chances of becoming popular in the first place. If you look like you’re enjoying yourself, others will want to have fun with you!^{[11]
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- Try to relax! It’s hard to enjoy yourself if you’re paying attention to every little thing that you do.^{[12]
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- Choose to spend your time how you want to spend it. If you waste your time doing things you don’t want to do, you’ll end up crabby and miserable. People enjoy being around people that are happy!

Community Q&A

Question

How can I get to know people if I am shy?

Community Answer

That has happened to me. Pretend like you're hanging out with one of your friends. If that doesn't work, be subtle, join conversations you are interested in, and fake confidence until you make confidence.
Question

How should I get acquainted with older girls?

Community Answer

There is nothing wrong with being younger. If they exclude you because of that, don't hang out with them. Just walk up and talk to them, and if you feel you can't, do it anyway. The most important lesson is to fake confidence until you get confidence!
Question

What if I'm really ugly and no one will want to be my friend after seeing my face?

Community Answer

Most people are not so shallow as to discount potential friends on looks alone. Also, there probably isn't anything wrong with your face. Being insecure gets you nowhere. Be yourself and you will make plenty of friends.