Families (and Campers!) are sometimes surprised by the emotion of seeing family during Visitors’ Weekend. Even the most settled camper can find herself missing home when she sees her family. Should your camper be feeling these emotions this weekend, here are a few suggestions that might help:
Acknowledge her feelings. Let your camper know that it's normal to miss home and that it doesn't mean camp isn't fun.
Talk about expectations. Encourage your camper to focus on what is next for her and to remember that she will soon be welcoming new campers and friends.
Help her cope. Come up with strategies together, like journaling, reading, or hugging a stuffed animal.
Remind her to get involved and stay busy. Our camp programming inherently makes campers
too busy to be homesick. That said, downtime can be a challenge for the introspective camper. Encourage your camper to make connections with other Full Season campers and to be ready to welcome our Session II campers. The more she can stay busy and jump into the fun activities at camp, the more quickly the feelings of missing home will pass.
Do not remind you camper what she is missing at home. Instead, opt to make you camper feel like you are the one missing out on the great experience she having. Ask your camper to tell you about the successes she had had to date, and ask her what she is excited to do during the second half of the summer.
Help her be mindful. Teach your camper to live in the moment and appreciate her surroundings. For example, she can try breathing in deeply, looking at the beauty around her, smelling the woods, and enjoy her friends here and now.
Campers also share their days alongside others. Friendship and connection with others is an antidote for homesickness.
Reflect to her that you are proud of her and believe in her resilience and bravery and are excited to see what she will continue to do this summer in camp.
Our staff training includes discussions on dealing with homesickness, emotional intelligence training, methods for preventing homesickness, and more. Trust that our staff is tuned in to your camper’s needs and want to support her in conquering any big feelings.
Remember that you sent your daughter to camp so that she may develop confidence, independence, and experience personal growth. Only through challenges may we experience rewards – and subsequent growth. Missing home and family is a transitional phase that will ultimately stimulate your camper’s growth.
Your camper will play an important role in welcoming our Session II Campers on Sunday. As our regular camp routines resume, she will be busy and we will encourage her to embrace each moment this summer at ALC has to offer.
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