Missing Home
Helping Your Camper Prepare for Camp
Attending sleepaway camp is an exciting milestone, but it’s natural for children to feel a mix of emotions leading up to their departure. Many campers, especially first-timers, may feel nervous or anticipate missing home. This is a completely normal part of the transition to camp life.
Living in a shared and open environment can feel different at first, and moments of sadness as campers adjust are entirely natural—not only at the start of their camp session but even at times throughout their stay.
To help your camper prepare for this big step, we’ve compiled tips to navigate the anticipation and emotions of missing home. These strategies are designed to make their summer a positive and memorable experience they’ll cherish for a lifetime.
Tips for Preparing Your Camper
Do... Encourage Your Camper: Tell them you believe they’re capable of being successful at camp.
Do... Praise Their Bravery: Acknowledge that trying new things is hard at any age. Let them know that stepping out of their comfort zone takes courage and inner strength.
Do... Prepare Them
- Name It: Talk openly about what camp will be like, acknowledging their feelings and reassuring them that homesickness is normal. Role-playing situations (like waking up at night or making their bed) can help them feel mentally prepared for greater independence. ** Remind them that you would not send them to camp if you didn’t believe they could succeed.
- Plan for It: Work together to create strategies for handling homesickness, such as writing in a journal or talking to a trusted staff member.
- Pack pre-stamped envelopes or blank Bunk Notes for easy communication.
- Discuss the support network available at camp—counselors, unit heads, and trained staff are there to help when they feel homesick.
- Suggest fun activities like playing cards, reading, or coloring to redirect their feelings. Don’t forget to pack these items!
- Reframe camp as a short, exciting adventure and encourage them to make the most of it.
- Foster Familiarity: Arrange meet-ups or online introductions with other campers and members of the year-round team so they’ll see familiar faces on Opening Day.
Do... Pack Comfort Items: Pack a favorite stuffed animal, photo album, or another small comfort item (but avoid anything irreplaceable). Be mindful not to pack too many, as it can sometimes amplify homesickness.
🚫 Things to Avoid
Don’t... Promise a Pick-Up: Saying, “If you don’t like it, I’ll come get you,” undermines their confidence and encourages them to give up instead of pushing through challenges.
Don’t... Promise a Phone Call: Phone calls tend to intensify homesickness and make it harder for children to adjust.
Don’t... Give Too Much Information About Home: Keep updates about home in your letters simple. Avoid saying, “We miss you so much,” or talking about everything happening while they’re gone, as it might make them feel left out.
Don’t... Pack Too Many Photos: Overloading their space with reminders of home can amplify homesickness. A photo album gives them control over when they want to look at pictures, as opposed to constant reminders on the wall.
💫 Our Methods for Supporting Campers
Our staff is trained during orientation to help campers cope with homesickness and other challenges. Here’s how we support your child:
- Active Listening: Staff are trained to listen to campers, understand their feelings, and provide comfort and solutions.
- Encouraging Engagement: Counselors focus on what activities the camper enjoys and encourage full participation.
- Guiding Emotional Processing: Staff help campers reflect on their feelings, find daily highlights, and look forward to exciting upcoming activities.
- Team Support: Unit heads, staff and the Kehilah Care Team (KCT) discuss camper experiences daily to ensure every child’s needs are met.
- Parent Collaboration: If additional support is needed, we’ll reach out to you for insights to better support your camper.
We know homesickness often surfaces during quieter moments—early mornings, rest time, or before bed. Our structured activities and support systems are designed to help campers navigate these times successfully.
💌 Receiving a Sad Letter
Homesickness typically fades by the third or fourth day of camp, but due to mailing delays, you may receive a sad letter even after your camper has adjusted.
How should you respond?
- Look for up-to-date pictures of your camper in our online galleries or use the Bunk Notes system for faster communication.
- Resist the urge to “rescue” your camper. Resolving homesickness on their own builds resilience and independence.
When writing back, try these tips:
- Share positive things you’ve observed in camp updates, like social media posts, newsletters, or weekly highlight videos.
- Ask open-ended questions about camp activities, friends, or electives to encourage your camper to focus on the positives.
- Acknowledge their feelings and express your love. For example: “I know this feels hard, but I believe in you. You’re so strong and brave, and I’m so proud of you.”
- Encourage them to talk to a counselor about how they’re feeling and to focus on the fun experiences ahead.
Let us know if there’s anything we can do to support you or your camper. Together, we’ll help make this summer a rewarding, unforgettable experience!
Check out in this New York Times article, “Kids Can Be ‘Homesick and Happy’ at Camp.”