How to Prepare Your Child for Summer Camp

Understanding Resilience

Resilience means bouncing back when things don't go perfectly. At camp, that might mean trying (and failing at) archery, feeling homesick for a moment, or navigating a disagreement with a bunkmate. Kids with resilience don't need everything to be smooth—they can handle the bumps and keep moving forward.

What Resilience Looks Like

Resilient kids can:

• Try new things even when they feel nervous
• Bounce back from disappointment or frustration
• Ask for help when they need it
• Solve problems independently when possible
• Stay flexible when plans change

How to Build It at Home

Give kids small responsibilities at home—solving everyday problems, helping with chores, making age-appropriate decisions. Each win builds the confidence they'll carry to camp.

Practical ways to practice:

• Let them figure out solutions to minor problems (lost homework, forgotten lunch) before jumping in to fix it
• Encourage independent decision-making in low-stakes situations (what to wear, which activity to try)
• Resist the urge to micromanage—let them experience natural consequences
• Celebrate effort and problem-solving, not just success

The goal isn't perfection. It's helping kids develop the confidence that they can handle challenges when you're not there to swoop in and solve everything.

Talking About Homesickness

Nearly all children (about 95%) miss something about home when they're away at camp. Homesickness is the distress people feel when they miss home—usually mild sadness and nervousness combined with preoccupying thoughts of home. In other words, homesick feelings are completely normal.

Keys to Remember About Homesickness

• Mild homesickness is normal. Almost everyone has some homesick feelings when away from home.
• Severe homesickness is rare. Only about 1 in 14 children experiences truly distressing homesickness.

• Talking about homesickness does not cause or worsen it. In fact, discussing it openly helps kids prepare.
• Homesick feelings reflect the love kids have for things at home—that's actually a good thing.
• Learning to cope with homesickness builds independence and self-confidence.

How to Talk About It

Find a quiet time in the months before camp to discuss homesickness with your child. You might start with your own experience: "When I was your age and went to camp, I remember feeling a little homesick the first couple of nights. But I also had so much fun during the day that it didn't bother me much."

Or try this approach:

"Camp is still a few months away, but I wanted to talk with you about what it's going to be like to be away from home for a while. You'll probably have so much fun that you won't think about home except when you're writing or reading letters. Still, there might be some times when you feel a little homesick, even though you're having a great time. The important thing to remember is that there are lots of things you can think or do to feel better if you feel a little homesick. You're in control."

Predict Homesickness Together

Most kids are good at predicting how strong their homesick feelings might be. Try this exercise: Draw a scale from 0 to 10 (where 0 is "not at all strong" and 10 is "very strong"). Ask your child: "On a scale from 0 to 10, how strong do you think your homesick feelings might be at camp?"

If they guess 0-4, reassure them: "Your natural homesick feelings probably won't bother you at all. If you happen to think about home, it will probably make you smile."

If they guess 5-7, say: "Your homesick feelings might bother you once or twice. However, if you try hard to have a good time, these feelings won't bother you as much."

If they guess 8-10, respond: "Your homesick feelings might get in the way on some days. The good news is that learning how to deal with homesickness before you go always makes you feel better."

Coping Strategies to Practice

Teach your child these proven coping strategies:

• Pack comfort items. A journal, stuffed animal, family photo, or special blanket can provide reassurance.
• Write letters home. Creating a narrative of their experience helps kids process thoughts and emotions.
• Talk with counselors. Camp staff are trained to help with homesickness—reaching out isn't weakness, it's smart.
• Stay busy with activities. Doing something fun is the best way to forget about homesick feelings.
• Focus on what they can control. They can't control how long camp lasts, but they can control how much they participate and who they talk to.
• Start a "positivity list." Each night, write down three good things that happened that day.

Arrange Practice Time Away from Home

A long weekend at a friend's house, a stay with grandparents, or a simple sleepover can help your child get used to being away from home. The more familiar they are with the feeling of separation, the less likely they are to experience severe homesickness.

Simulate the Camp Separation

During these "dress rehearsals," simulate the camp experience as much as possible:

• No phone calls. Most camps have a no-phone policy, so practice staying in touch through letters instead.
• Write letters. Have your child practice writing a letter or two during their practice trip. Letter writing helps kids create a narrative of their experience and understand their own thoughts better.
• Make it fun. The goal is building confidence, not creating stress. Keep it positive and celebratory.

Debrief After the Practice Trip

Once your child completes their practice trip, talk through the experience together:

• "What were things about the trip you could change?" (Examples: how many letters you wrote, what activities you chose, who you talked to about your feelings)
• "What were things you couldn't change?" (Examples: how long you were away, house rules, the weather)
• "The best way to deal with any problem, including homesick feelings, is to change the things you can change and adjust to the things you can't change."
• "When you get to camp, one thing you can always control is how much you participate in activities. In fact, doing a fun activity is the best way to forget about homesick feelings."

Developing Social Skills

Camp is a team environment—cabins, meals, and activities all happen in groups. Kids thrive when they've practiced basic social skills at home.

Introductions and Conversations

Role-play greetings and conversations before camp. Practice:

• Introducing themselves to new people
• Asking questions to start conversations ("What activities are you excited about?" "Is this your first year at camp?")
• Joining a group that's already formed
• Making eye contact and using friendly body language

Conflict Resolution

Minor conflicts happen at camp—someone takes their seat, disagrees about an activity, or accidentally bumps into them. Practice respectful responses:

• Using "I" statements ("I feel frustrated when..." instead of "You always...")
• Asking for what they need directly and politely
• Knowing when to get help from a counselor
• Letting small things go instead of escalating

Teamwork and Cooperation

Sports, clubs, neighborhood games, and family projects all teach compromise and cooperation. Encourage your child to:

• Take turns and share
• Support teammates even when things don't go their way
• Celebrate others' successes
• Work toward group goals, not just individual ones

Setting Clear Expectations

Kids feel secure when they know what's coming. Walk them through what camp will actually be like—not just the highlights, but the realistic day-to-day experience.

A Day at Camp

Describe a typical day together:

• Wake-up and morning routine
• Breakfast with their cabin
• Morning activities (swimming, arts & crafts, sports)
• Lunch and rest time
• Afternoon activities and free time
• Dinner
• Evening program (campfire, games, cabin time)
• Bedtime routine

If the camp has a detailed schedule on their website, review it together so camp feels familiar before they arrive.

Address Potential Challenges

Don't sugarcoat everything—prepare them for realistic challenges:

• Rainy days when outdoor activities get canceled
• Trying new activities that feel intimidating at first
• Missing home sometimes, even while having fun
• Sharing a cabin with kids they don't know yet
• Following camp rules and routines

Remind them that counselors are there to help navigate all of these situations. They're not alone.

Use a Wall Calendar

Show your child when camp starts, how long it lasts, and when you'll pick them up. Mark "Opening Day" and "Closing Day" boldly on your family calendar. The fewer surprises, the less nervous everyone will be.

Put the length of stay in perspective. Compare it to something familiar: "Camp is about as long as two weeks of school" or "Camp is shorter than our vacation to the beach last year." Reframing time helps make the camp stay feel more manageable.

Communication with Campers

Talk It Out Before Camp

Invite your child to share worries and excitements before camp starts. Listen without dismissing their concerns or letting your own anxieties spill over. Validate their feelings: "It makes sense to feel a little nervous about something new."

Plan How You'll Stay Connected

Set clear expectations about communication early:

• Will you write letters? How often?
• Does the camp allow emails or occasional phone calls?
• What can they expect to hear from you?
• When is it appropriate to reach out to counselors?

Knowing the plan reduces anxiety for everyone. And here's a pro tip: send your child a letter before the first day of camp so it's waiting for them when they arrive. That first piece of mail can work wonders for homesickness.

What NOT to Do

Do not make deals about early pick-ups. Promising "If you hate it, I'll come get you" undermines kids' confidence and sets them up for failure. Every time they encounter a stressful situation, they'll think about The Pick-Up instead of using their own coping skills.

Camp is not a jail—in rare cases, a shortened stay might be necessary—but that decision should be made collaboratively with camp staff after they've worked hard to help your child cope. Don't create an escape hatch before camp even starts.

Encouraging a Positive Mindset

Build Excitement

Share stories, show photos from the camp website, and highlight the fun parts of camp. Talk about the activities they'll try, the new friends they'll make, and the skills they'll learn.

If you went to camp as a child, share your favorite memories. If you didn't, find other parents or campers who can share positive experiences.

Use Visualization

Ask your child to picture specific moments at camp: roasting marshmallows at a campfire, paddling a canoe across the lake, laughing with new friends in the cabin, singing camp songs. The more familiar camp feels in their imagination, the less scary the unknown becomes.

Keep Doubts to Yourself

If you're anxious about sending your child to camp, don't broadcast those fears. Kids pick up on parental anxiety, and it amplifies their own worries. Process your concerns with other adults, not with your child.

Instead, project confidence: "You're going to have an amazing time. I can't wait to hear all your stories when you get back."

When Timing Matters

If possible, avoid major life changes in the weeks immediately before or during camp. Moves, family separations, deaths, or other traumatic events can make it harder for kids to handle the additional separation that camp requires.

Sometimes you can't control timing—life happens. But when you do have a choice, try to leave enough time before camp for kids to begin coping with and processing stressful events.

Be Truthful About Stressful Issues

Never hide major changes from your child and then spring them during camp. Hiding a move or separation and doing it behind their back while they're at camp can be devastating. Kids return home shocked and mistrustful, afraid of what might happen next time they leave home.

If something stressful happens before camp, talk about it openly. Kids who discuss and work through negative events before camp have an easier time concentrating on positive experiences during camp.

If something bad happens during your child's camp stay, wait to tell them when you see them at the end of the session. Writing bad news in a letter upsets kids at a time when you cannot provide comfort.

Building Confidence for the Adventure Ahead

Preparing your child for camp is about more than gear—it's about giving them confidence. Resilience, coping strategies, social skills, and realistic expectations all add up to a camper who doesn't just get through camp but thrives in it.

The good news? Most kids have a wonderful time at camp. On average, campers rate their camp experience an 8 or 9 out of 10. Nearly 10 million kids attend overnight camp each year in North America, and many return to the same camp year after year.

Learning to cope with being away from home is a skill your child will use for the rest of their life—school trips, sleepovers, college, and beyond. Once children recognize homesick feelings, cope with them, and thrive during a brief separation from home, their confidence skyrockets.

With your preparation at home, camp becomes not just an adventure—it becomes their adventure. And that's when the real magic happens.