Coming to summer camp is a wonderful adventure! A good camp, with a little time, can become a beautiful home away from home and a supportive force for parents as they raise their children. Sometimes, there is an understandable adjustment period when a camper arrives at camp for the first time. Due to a diversity of life experiences, some campers may be accustomed to sleeping away from home while others may have never been away from home. In either case, we are here and ready to accompany all of our campers into a place of comfort and ownership with their summer camp experience at Kahdalea and Chosatonga!
Homesickness is not uncommon during the first week at camp. It ranges from occasional wistful thoughts of home that no one sees to more obvious struggles. Homesickness is a normal and natural part of the growing process. Children can and do work through it and seeing it through helps them to develop self-confidence, self-reliance and a little bit more maturity. It is a good opportunity for growth for a child, but we must be patient and understand that it is a part of growing up. Homesickness is OK. Usually it is easily taken care of with TLC and lots of new and exciting activities and friends. As children grow in their sense of ownership in their new surroundings, they quickly adjust and get busy with the job of having FUN!
If, at first, the letters you receive are a little sad —or even pitiful(!)— do know that this too shall pass! Be assured that your child’s counselor will keep you abreast of your child’s progress, and you may, of course, email us anytime. As soon as your child has adjusted you should see new and different letters!
There is something that will be sure to get a camper off to a poor start: if parents tell their child that they will come get them if they are unhappy, this will likely set the camper up for failure. We know there are many opportunities that face us in life that are difficult or uncomfortable at first. Quitting has never been a recipe for success. Instead, our goal is to teach our campers healthy coping skills so they can achieve their own milestones which, with time, become building blocks for future independence. Be assured that we are doing everything we can to ensure that your child has a wonderful time, is safe, well cared for and loved! Even if they do experience a little homesickness, having the opportunity to work through it and to succeed at doing so provides a child with a lifetime skill and some new-found independence.
Other things that are rare might show up in a letter home. Please share with us any suggestion that you may get that another camper might be acting unkindly. We can handle that, but we need to know about it. Tell your camper that they are welcomed, better yet begged, to share this with us. We will be discreet and effective. It is important for us to be able to counsel that other camper and make the summer better for everyone by helping that camper grow. If your camper sees any demeaning behavior, ask him or her to privately share this with the directors.
As previously mentioned, we’ll be providing the TLC and a wonderful camp experience. With your support and encouragement, we’ll be a great team in giving your children the summer of a lifetime! And as always, we thank you for entrusting us with your child, your most precious possession. We count it as a privilege to have a hand in shaping young lives.
