Homesick at Camp

Camp Danbee
12.10.20

We’ve all experienced it at some point — you leave the comforts and ease of home to embark on a new adventure and are left missing your once familiar surroundings.

Homesickness is very real and can be a hard feeling to overcome. It can be especially hard for new campers who may find themselves missing their families and hometown comforts. Research shows that 95% of all campers will report having at least one day of homesickness during their stay at camp. That means, that feeling homesick is an expected and very normal feeling that most campers will experience at camp.

Campers will most likely experience homesickness if….

Experience:

  • If they are young
  • Have little separation experience
  • Never have experienced sleepaway camp before

Personality:

  • If a child has low control over emotions
  • Is anxious or depressed in months before camp
  • Insecurely attached to their caregivers

Family:

  • If a child feels forced to come to camp
  • If parents have expressed doubt or anxiety about going
  • Worried about a situation at home

Attitude:

  • If a child has low expectations of camp
  • They believe that their homesickness will be strong
  • If they have a negative first impression of camp

At Danbee, we intentionally create an environment where campers can thrive through creating connections. The more connections and involved a person feels in their new environment, the more likely they are to succeed. When a person feels connected, they feel that they matter. Mattering at camp is what we are all about.

Our job as caregivers here at camp is to make sure that the gap between one’s expectations of camp are very close to the reality of that experience. Getting all of us on the same page is the first step toward a successful transition. Our staff receives extensive psychological training to help them both identify and support a child that is feeling homesick. Through role play, workshops and individual feedback sessions we set the table for success. A homesick child at Danbee is like a “girl magnet” that allows help to laser beam our efforts on to an individual camper. We are all in this together as we help a child navigate their feelings. Read more about the ways in which we welcome New Campers to Danbee.

As a parent, the most helpful thing you can do is to talk with your daughter. A child’s successful transition to camp is made better through intentional planning and collaboration with parents. Knowing what to expect is half the battle. If a child expects to feel homesick at some point at camp then they are less likely to be severely impacted by it. Here are six ways parents can work with us to encourage a smooth transition to camp:

  1. Don’t make “pick up” deals:
    • “If you feel homesick or don’t like camp, I’ll come pick you up.”
  2. Avoid Ambivalent Messages:
    • “Have a great time at camp, I hope I survive without you.”
  3. Practice Time Spent Away:
    • Overnight at a friend’s house
    • Weekend with Grandparents
  4. Teach Techniques for Coping:
    • Do something fun
    • Think about the good side of camp
    • Remind yourself that your stay at camp is not that long and you will be home soon
    • Talk with someone who makes you feel better (Friend, Camp Sister, Counselor, Camp Mom, Director, Nurse, Camp Social Worker)
    • Write a Letter Home
  5. Review How you Will be in Touch:
    • Letter writing, Phone calls, Pics on the web, One-way emails
  6. Inoculate your Child Against Homesickness:
    • Pack a favorite item
    • Involve them in shopping and packing
    • Tell them what to expect

Having this information doesn’t stop homesickness but it sure goes a long way to minimizing it. Together, we can give your child the gift of resilience and grit. Camp is a life changing experience for everyone. Let’s take this journey together with
an eye toward making your daughter the best she can be.

Want to talk more about homesickness? Connect with Jay!

(Source: Dr. Chris Thurber, The Summer Camp Handbook)

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