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CELL PHONES:
Cell phones
have become vital for dealing with changing schedules, security and the necessity of contact anytime anywhere. But these issues
of daily adult life are not part of the everyday life at summer camp. Cell phones only impede the camp experience. Please
Leave cell phones at home.
HOMESICKNESS
Our
Camp Counselors are usually college students that have experience with young children. We carefully select counselors
that are qualified adults which have a sensitive and caring nature and trained to provide a safe and supportive environment.
They undergo an extensive week of staff training which prepares them for recognizing and handling potential homesickness in
our campers. The Camp Director is notified and handles all cases on an individual basis and will notify the parents
or guardian of the situation.
Emotional preparation
and homesick prevention.
95% of all girls and boys miss something about home when they are at camp.
In other words, a homesick feeling is normal.
What kids miss most:
1. parents and other family members.
2. friends.
3. pets.
4. boyfriends
5. home cooking.
6. junk food.
7.
television or other electronics.
Homesick feelings are different for everyone.
THERE
IS GOOD NEWS ABOUT HOMESICKNESS
Even though homesick feelings are common, most kids enjoy themselves at resident
summer camp. Fortunately, severe homesickness is rare. In studies it shows that 1 out of 100 campers have
distressing feelings of homesickness and have to return home early.
Learning to cope with homesickness is a skill
your child can use the next time they are away from home. Once children recognize the feeling, cope with it, and survive a
brief separation, their confidence skyrockets.
CAN I PREDICT
HOMESICKNESS?
You can roughly predict the strength of homesick feelings by looking at a few characteristics.
Remember mild homesickness is normal however, those who are most likely to experience intense homesickness at camp are those
who:
1. Have never spent time away from home before.
2. Feel they can't trust other people.
3.
Worried about spending time away from home.
4. They think camp is going to be a bad experience.
5. Feel
forced to go to camp.
BEST WAYS OF PREVENTING STRONG HOMESICKNESS:
1.
Include your child in camp planning.
2. Talk to your child about homesickness.
3. Use a calendar
to plan for camp, let her know when camp starts and when you pick her up.
4. Put the length of stay in perspective.
5. Keep doubts to yourself.
6. Arrange for practice time away from home.
7. If possible, avoid
moving the weeks before or during camp.
8. Give a letter to the counselor to give your child after the
first day.
Camp care packages are a great way to say "I'm thinking of you".
9. Do not make deals about early pick-up.
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