Summer Camp Tips

A wonderful collection of tips from other campers, camp parents, and staff members from camps across the country.

 

Share your summer camp tip here.

 

Homesickness is a big thing about going away for camp whether its a few days or a few weeks. Bringing photos of family and friends definitely help and writing letters home. Sometimes doing activities can take your mind off of it. Another trick is to think that when you do get home your going to miss camp a lot, maybe more than you missed home, so go out have fun and make some friends!

Kate W.
Camper, 4 years
Arbutis Hayo-Went-Ha

 

 

Don’t be afraid to try new things, because they could end up being your favorite. For example, I tried riflery and I loved it!

Listen when they explain the activities you are about to do, because then you’ll have more fun.

Gigi S.
Camper, 2 years
Camp Highlander

 

 

 

 

Communicate occasionally with your cabin mates after camp is over. I email but texting is good too. Use major holidays and school breaks to send a quick note back & forth. Even though we don’t live in the same town it will make camp feel like I’m showing up around old friends. And that’s a great feeling!

Andrew S.
Camper, 1 year
Camp Longhorn

 

 

 

My daughter loved that I kept a few items out of her trunk and sent them in a care package so she had fun mail to open: sunglasses, twinkle lights, playing cards. Just fun things for her to receive.

Sandra M.
Camp Parent, 1 year
Camp Nokomis

 

 

Pre-address your envelopes! This will make sending letters quicker and less confusing! Parents can help to avoid errors in writing the address and format.

Jezabel L.
Camp Staff Member, 6 years
Camp Foss

 

For packing your trunk, use packing cubes! They keep things need and tidy and it's easy to find what you need in a pinch.

Chelsea S.
Camp Parent, 1 year
Camp Takodah

 

Have a plan where you are going to put everything you are taking in your trunk and bags before you actually pack. It saves time when it’s time to truly pack, and uses space efficiently.

Gabe F.
Camp Parent, 1 year
Camp DeSoto

 

At Bay Shore, it’s really easy to make friends. But for people like me, it’s more hard. Introverts aren’t bad people, we’re just different. Instead of making a bunch of friends, It is usually better to make a few close friends. If you feel so inclined, I would suggest going up to someone that you would like to make friends with and saying hello. Maybe ask them a few questions about themselves, such as favorite food, favorite color, favorite season? Just talk to them like you would talk to any of your other friends. What’s the worst they could say? If they say no, try again. Our failures are what make us human and they only lead to success.

Sarah W.
Camp Staff Member, 10 years
Bay Shore Camp

 

If you’re struggling with homesickness, the best thing to do is talk to your counselor about it. She can help you find things in common with other campers in your cabin, and other campers to be around at activities. She’s so much more than just a counselor, she’s a friend, a confidant, and family.

Anna F.
Camper, 1 year, Camp DeSoto

 

Bring noise canceling headphones in case you have a noisy bunkmate like me! (And don’t be loud like me!)

Gigi S.
Camper, 2 years
Camp Highlander

 

Preparing for camp can be chaotic at some points i had so much packed i might as well take my whole room. Limit yourself to the number of bags you bring. most of the time you wont use half the activities you bring and you might not be in the cabin much. clothing wise bring 1-2 extra outfits and maybe a pair of warmer clothes incase of cold weather. Myself I am definitely an overpacker but I like to make lists in advance of what I am going to bring and throughout the week eliminate things from my list I realize I won’t need. Lastly when it comes to things to do there are so many camp activities I only bring a book a pen or pencil markers notebook and my bracelet stuff with me because thats stuff I know I will use, and if your camp allows it a camera is always fun!

Kate W.
Camper, 4 years
Arbutis Hayo-Went-Ha

 

To help campers with homesickness, mail letters before they go to camp so they can get them right away. I never realized how much they could mean in helping my daughter adjust to camp!

Callie F.
Camp Parent, 1 year
Camp DeSoto