Spreading Their Wings: 5 Strategies for Parents Coping with the Camp Transition

As your son prepares to plunge into his Maine adventure, it is natural for you to experience your own “jolt” of emotion. A child’s growing independence can leave a parent feeling both proud and wistful. At Birch Rock, we strive to partner with you during this new chapter. Here are five strategies to help you navigate your own feelings while supporting your son’s journey toward self-reliance.

1. Reframe Homesickness as a Reflection of Love

It helps to understand that almost all children spending at least two weeks at overnight camp feel some degree of homesickness. Rather than a problem to be fixed, view these pangs as a reflection of the fact that he loves his home—and that’s a wonderful thing. Understanding this concept can make both you and your camper feel better about the temporary discomfort.

2. Celebrate the Path to Resilience

Remind yourself that this is the first of countless steps your boy will take on his path toward self-confidence. Camp is an excellent place for him to learn that “roughing it” brings big rewards in terms of adventure and excitement. By allowing him to navigate a little discomfort now, you are helping him discover his inner strength.

3. Trust the Tight-Knit Community

Rest easy knowing that Birch Rock is a small, dedicated community where every boy is well-known. Each staff member is highly trained to nurture campers and keep them safe. Our mottos—Help the Other Fellow and Shake a Hand, Make a Friend—ensure that your son is entering an environment built on empathy and mutual respect.

4. Encourage Him to Use His Voice

One of the best ways to ease your own mind is to empower your son to speak up. Help him understand that while his counselor is there to “make things right,” they might not always be able to guess if something is the matter. Remind him that it is the counselor’s most important job to take care of a camper’s concerns—your son just needs to ask.

5. Feeling Better is Just a Click or a Phone Call Away

If you’re feeling a little blue and missing your child, go to the Birch Rock Blog and enjoy tales of the campers’ rollicking adventures. Encourage your son to get into the picture when he spots the camera around Camp. Seeing his smiling face on the Blog and on the Campanion App will make your day! (Be sure to load a photo of your son on Campanion so the facial recognition feature will include him).

If you want to share non-urgent information with Camp, email [email protected].

But call Director Mike Mattson directly if you get a sad letter or sense that your son has an issue. Parents are encouraged to reach out so that Birch Rock can do the best job possible partnering with you.

Was this article helpful? View the full summer camp homesickness guide.