Camp Life

Many parents and first-time campers worry terribly about the very real separation of adult and child; this is called separation anxiety (homesickness). The problem is that it’s most often seen as a problem—and it’s not! It’s a blessing that tells me, the camp director, that this child has a healthy, normal, loving bond with the parents/guardians and that camp has slightly disrupted the bond.

I take every bus from the city to camp (one hour away) and I can tell you: it’s often more difficult on the parents who are left behind than on the camper who’s going up to experience something different and, likely, fantastic! Before boarding the bus, everyone is a little nervous; as the bus pulls away, the parents look utterly distraught at their young treasures being taken away! What they don’t know is that we have a plan, and that we’re successful in the people-pleasing and people-growing business.

The campers are singing songs by the time they arrive at camp; lunch is ready and they go on a tour right away; no rest hour or campfire the first day; a full-camp game right after supper; a swim for the entire camp in our heated swimming pool; exhausted, campers are at the flagpole for taps at 9:30 p.m. Then the counsellors take over and they have a plan! Some play classical music, some read stories, some play the guitar and some talk together with the cabin group. The campers drop off to sleep one by one; when they wake up, I announce that it’s "day 2" and we’re really busy again.

By the next day ("day 3"), practically all campers are settled into a routine; a few need extra time, sometimes up to another day or two, to deal with their feelings, but we deal with their feelings. I field calls from parents every day, but I don’t connect the camper with his or her parent during the first eight days for fear of a setback—however, I’m honest with parents about their child’s progress. With the homesick camper, we talk honestly to him/her about their feelings, what they miss specifically, why they came to camp and how they can make their camp stay a success.

Over the years, so many campers, before climbing back on that bus after two weeks, have hugged me through their sobs, thanking me and, of course, the camp staff because we had faith in them and saw them through a difficult situation. We allowed them to succeed! With a plan.

Plan on making Camp Bellaleo your child's home away from home this summer. Learn more about Camp Bellaleo.