Summer Prep: Homesickness
WORRIED YOUR CAMPER MAY GET HOMESICK?
The American Camp Association reports that nearly 96% of all boys and girls spending time at overnight camps reported some homesickness on at least one day. Homesickness is not just common, it’s nearly universal, and it is also a rare opportunity for growth. A wonderful home and family deserves to be missed. But we are also made to engage the world we live in and to not be afraid to move toward opportunity, even when it means leaving behind things that are more familiar. A great camp for kids provides a safe and controlled environment to begin the adventure of healthy independence.
THE LETTER
Homesickness is most acutely felt when campers have the least to do, which is of course the exact moment that they are able to write a letter home! Keep in mind, that if you receive a letter at home, the moment has passed - it took several days for the letter to arrive to you.
If you do receive a sad letter in the mail, please respond by doing two things quickly. First, write them an email letting them know that you understand they miss home but that you are also proud of them for their growth at camp. Next, please call us and let us know. Chances are that we will be aware that they have missed home, but we can also speak with their cabin leader and give you more information.
THE BARGAIN
The fastest way for a camper to remain homesick is for you to say you will come get them if they remain homesick. It’s a circular promise that builds momentum in a camper’s planning so that they then find it very difficult to become a camper.
Parents make “the bargain” for a number of reasons. It is often because they are just as concerned about time away from their camper as their camper is about time away from home. Just like our children need to develop a sense of adventurous independence, we as parents sometimes need to be stretched a little too. If this is true of you, it’s okay, you’re in good company. Instead of making “the bargain” with your camper give us a call and let us update you about how they are doing.
EMAIL MESSAGES
As a camper parent, you have the ability to send your camper one-way emails via our Camp Greenville Live app (we’ll be sending more info about this in June). You can help reduce homesickness by focusing on the positive in your messages. Instead of focusing on how much you miss your camper or things happening at home, focus instead on how proud you are of your camper, how much fun you imagine they are having, and which camp activities you think they’re probably looking forward to most!
THE GROWTH
Camp Greenville’s overall return rate is high but we believe the return rate of campers who struggle with homesickness is even higher. We believe it is higher because these are the children who grew tremendously, who committed to something that was a little more of a stretch for them and who were, in the end, richly rewarded and then profoundly proud of themselves. We are proud of them too, and we tell them every year they return.
