Photo Courtesy of Camp Lebanon

Some kids tear up when their parents drop them off at camp, unsure about saying goodbye, only to cry again at pickup because they don’t want to leave. Your child may seem different when you come to pick them up from camp. During their week at camp, your camper likely grew in their self-confidence, created new friendships and made tons of memories.

The camp experience can be indescribable for your kids and they might struggle to tell you exactly what it was like. Here’s what your kid may wish you knew about their time at camp.

• I was nervous, but it was worth it.
  While your camper may have been reluctant for you to leave, they likely found that camp soon felt like a second home. They probably made friends faster than expected and quickly became comfortable with their cabinmates.
• I miss my friends from camp.
  While campers may have started the week as strangers, spending all day and night together with cabinmates creates deep, lasting bonds. Leaving these friendships can be tough, so think about ways to help your child stay connected whether it’s arranging a meetup, becoming pen pals, or setting up a FaceTime call.
• It wasn’t as hard as you might think for me to be without my phone.
  Campers likely find that when their day is full of canoeing, ropes course, arts and crafts, campfire time and swimming, they don’t even miss their phone.
• My counselors were really cool.
  Camp counselors work hard to make sure that each camper feels included and is having fun. For this reason, kids look up to them and even hope to become a counselor themselves one day.
• I had some hard moments, but I got through them.
  Whether it was spending the night in a new place, conquering the high ropes course, or having a disagreement with another camper, campers get to grow and learn through these hard moments.
• I wish you could have seen it all.
  The camp experience leaves campers with a lot to process. Gain a deeper understanding of what your child’s time was like and help them process the experience through intentional questions. Check out the post Following Up With Your Kids About Camp.

Thank you for sending your kid to camp! The memories they made and the growth they experienced will benefit them for a lifetime.