Feelings of homesickness are completely normal no matter if your child is a first-time camper or seasoned pro, a young child or an older teen. And while there’s no cure for homesickness at camp, there are some tips and tricks that can help your camper kick the blues to the curb and enjoy their time away from home to the fullest.
Bring a Little Piece of Home
One of the best ways to help your child cure the homesick blues while at camp is to have them bring a little piece of home with them. Whether it’s a picture of your family, a favorite pillow, or their most comfortable T-shirt, bringing something special from your house can help make camp feel like a second home for your child.
Have Consistent Communication
Camp Cody is a technology-free camp, which helps campers bond with each other and excel in their activities. Campers are not in constant contact with their parents, but rather have consistent communication through scheduled calls and daily mail delivery.
Before your child leaves for camp, have them help you create a call schedule and address and stamp envelopes for the letters you will send. This can help them have something to look forward to while they’re at camp and keep the feelings of homesickness away.
Stay Active
Sometimes the best thing for a camper to do to cure homesickness is to take their mind off it. Camp is an opportunity to make new friends, try existing activities, and explore new passions. By staying busy, many campers don’t have the time to even feel homesick!
You can help your child stay active at camp by encouraging them to try new things before and while they’re there. Your excitement can be contagious and inspire your child to soak up the experience while they’re away.
Trust Camp Counselors
Camp counselors are often the best asset for overcoming homesickness. Not only do they know what to look for in campers who may be struggling, but they can often relate to experience at a level adults can’t. You can rest assured that if your child is ever feeling homesick, our camp
counselors will do everything they can to make sure they are being cared for and enjoying their stay.
About Camp Cody
At Camp Cody, our philosophy is intertwined with everything we do. Our counselors are dedicated to making sure your child is at ease even while they’re away from home. We gently challenge them to step out of their comfort zone at their own pace and give them opportunities to share their feelings and join in on activities together.
We understand that homesickness happens at overnight camp, but we actively work to ensure every camper feels at home at Camp Cody.