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Article on this Page: Camper Preparedness & Emotions by Chris Chisholm. Also check out our other articles available in the Ethnobotany series, Survival series, Wildlife series, and Earth Skills Education series.

Camper Preparedness & Emotions

Essay on Preparation, Homesickness, Elation and Integration by Chris Chisholm.

Some children actually relish every moment they are away from home, exercising their independence. But for many, homesickness is an issue whether they admit to it or not. I remember never admitting to homesickness as a child, because that didn't describe what I was feeling. I was just plain lonely, and unable to connect emotionally with people away from home, probably because my family didn't operate on that level and so I was uncomfortable with it, too.

But with the help of people I met, going away from home helped me learn how to express my true self and how to let others get emotionally close to me. In my experience, seeing children grow emotionally, as well as on all other levels, is the beauty of summer camp. All the games, art, and outdoor skills that the children learn are super, yet the essence of the camp experience is the maturity that the children gain through comraderies with other campers and counselors who are committed to the same challenging situations they are.

To find the best camp for your children, and to prepare them for the emotional challenges that they should find there, research the many choices which are available and take care to ensure that the camp activities are appropriate. Think whether your children are ready for the physical, social, mental, and emotional challenges they need to face, and find out if the camp counselors are confident that your children will be successful, based on their experience with children like yours.

If your children aren't comfortable staying overnight with a friend, or if they haven't spent a few nights away from home before, don't have them start with a week-long overnight camp unless you have planned in advance to come spend the night with them if necessary. Discuss with your children what the sleeping arrangements will be like, with whom they will be sleeping, what the daily schedule is, and what happens if they get sick or injured. Discuss homesickness and loneliness with your children, and assure them that it is natural.

As you know, the location, cost, and length of stay also must be appropriate. Make sure you are comfortable with the spiritual motivation behind a camp, and investigate its conditions, supervision and safety procedures. Make sure you read the brochure and preparatory materials from beginning to end.

Once you've chosen your camp, go do an activity with your children which is similar to what they might experience at camp. Tell them lovingly but briefly that you will miss them when they are gone, but that you have 100% confidence in them and in the counselors at camp. Show your excitement for what they are going to learn and experience, and have them make a list of concerns or curiosities about camp. Contact the camp and ask for any answers you don't know.

Ask the camp director what kind of training they give their counselors around the issue of "boundaries". Ask how successful the camp is in nurturing the children while maintaining healthy individual boundaries, and providing a balance between challenge and rest. Ask what kind of jokes and stories are told at camp, and how such things are monitored.

In How To Talk With Your Kids About Really Important Things, Charles Schaefer and Theresa Foy DiGeronimo advise that you tell your children that they are "allowed" to go to camp instead of being "sent". They suggest packing an item of comfort to take along, like a stuffed animal or photo, and when they call home during camp, don't get into problems at home, nor mention fun activities the child may be missing. Instead, I suggest relating your daily home routine, and then ask what the schedule at camp was that day and will be for the next day.

An important, and often overlooked, aspect to camp is a healthy form of integration after returning home. Students may be shocked at how they look in the mirror -- usually more vibrant if they've spent a lot of time outdoors, especially in a wilderness setting. They may not know what to do with themselves after the many days packed-full of constant scheduled activities and continual learning. And they will probably be extremely tired, both physically and emotionally from the demands of camp.

Have their favorite meal prepared the day after they return home, and plan extra sleep-in time. Then provide an activity on the day after camp that will help them transition from the constant stimulation of camp, to something active but familiar, such as a sport they enjoy. And most important, give them time to tell you and as many people as possible the stories from their camp experience. Storytelling is the ultimate form of integration, and it is key to a health camp experience.

Finally, sit down with your children to journal about what it was like coming back from camp, or have them create an art project about it, such as composing a song, writing a poem, or painting a "before and after" picture of themselves. If they want, prominently display any certificates, photos, ribbons, or other memorabilia they received from camp. And above all, tell them how happy you are that you are together again, hug them and say “I love you”.

Chris Chisholm leads WOLF Camps every summer where you and your children can experience nurturing stories and expert skills of the Naturalist, Tracker, Herbalist, Scout, Hunter and Artisan.

© 2003 WOLF Camps and Curricula

Employment: We only need instructors with experience running camps and teaching in the field of Earth Skills Education, including skills of the Naturalist, Tracker, Herbalist, Survival Scout, Primitive Artisan and Sustainable Pioneer. Apply to become an instructor through our Earth Skills Teaching Apprenticeship.