Homesickness is natural and may strike any age, but it's generally not a problem. What works best is to keep our campers so busy having fun that they forget about themselves and "home." During staff orientation, we conduct specific role playing exercises with the guidance of psychologists and other trained professionals in an effort to provide our leaders with professional tools to use with homesick campers. We do not take homesickness lightly and our experience indicates phone calls to or from family members are not a remedy. If your camper does become homesick and it is serious or detrimental to his or her camp experience, we will contact you. Campers enjoy receiving messages from home, and we suggest and encourage you to be positive and upbeat in your letters.
A great time at camp starts at home...
As parents, you play a critical role and can support your children even before they arrive at camp, as well as during their stay. Please consider these suggestions and tips for a "homesick free" camping experience.
- Emphasize that your child is being provided a great opportunity to go to camp rather than being "sent" to camp.
- Heighten your child's enthusiasm by enthusiastically talking about Geneva Glen's special events or your own adventures as a camper. Speak positively about how exciting it was for you to be away from Mom and Dad, and that the time flew by!
- Be realistic! Mention some of the not-so-glamorous realities of rustic outdoor living: spiders in the dorm, up-hill hikes to the bathroom, showers every other day and good at mealtime is not always exactly what they want.
- Let your campers know:
- When they will arrive at Geneva Glen and when they will head back home
- There is only one-half-hour from the wake up bell to breakfast
- Bathrooms are not luxurious
- They may write home daily
- Counselors are the campers' friends and may be nervous and excited too
- All campers go on an overnight campout!
- Discuss homesickness with your campers, especially if it's the first time away from home. Let your camper know that homesickness is natural, and everyone experiences it at some time (adults too!) Once campers understand homesickness, they may accept it with less anxiety and be able to adjust quickly to camp life. Of course, it's entirely possible that your camper may not even consider being homesick! Be glad and rejoice!
- Keep comments about camp upbeat. Comments such as, "I'm going to miss you terribly" and "If you don't like camp, you can come home" work against allowing your camper to adjust to the idea of going away to camp. Consider telling your child that you're excited that they get to go to camp - you wish you could go, too!
- Send a family snapshot along for reassurance that your child's primary place is in your family...and, that he or she will be coming home soon.
- Write often and include positive statements such as "I bet you're having a blast!" or "You're lucky to be able to make a lot of new friends!" or, "Be sure to say hello to that old paint horse we saw!" or, "I wish I got to have a rest hour every day!" Ask your child to tell you about fun activities such as pool, horseback riding, campfires and new friends. Avoid sharing news from home that will make your child sad or depressed.
- Try to send a post card the Friday before camp check-in that way your child gets a letter the first day!
- Telephone calls are NOT a cure for homesickness - in fact, they almost always have the opposite effect. If your camper hears your voice he or she may feel further isolated from camp surroundings. If a case of homesickness persists and becomes serious, we will intervene and call home to discuss the situation. Cell phones are common for most children (please leave cell phones at home, except if your child is coming from out-of-state).
Geneva Glen provides memorable camp experiences! We know the vast majority of campers adapt quickly to the camp environment and we don't anticipate bouts of homesickness. We treat them seriously, though, and we invite parents to partner with us in recognizing symptoms and avoiding preventable complications. Feel free to talk with the Directors if you have any questions or concerns.
You may find additional information and resources, as well as numerous articles and links, on the American Camp Association's web site. We recommend it! The address is http://www.acacamps.org - click on "search" and type in "homesickness."
