How to manage re-entry from summer camp
There are no shortages of articles preparing you and your child to go away to overnight camp. But what about coming home? When the kids come home from camp, you are likely to see a change. A little swagger. A touch of ‘I don’t need you.’ Perhaps even some sass. But don’t worry. What you are likely seeing is growth in disguise. The transition home from camp can be tricky, but the adjustment period is proof that the benefits of overnight camp are real.
Coming Home is an Adjustment
When your child is away at camp, they are also away from parents, older siblings, house rules, expected roles. It is possible they have found a new version of themselves at camp. Coming home is going to be a time where your child will have to reconcile these changes.
At Camp Jeanne d’Arc, your daughter, who may have never held a bow and arrow before, may have earned a few archery pins. Not a theater buff at home, your daughter might have starred in (and crushed) the lead role in the play. Perhaps your daughter is more reserved among her friends at home but at camp stepped into a role as a leader and earned the Eclaireuses Award or Camper’s Cup.
Rules are different at camp too. There’s no one watching over your shoulder to see if you ate your broccoli. Chores are a group effort at camp and cleaning your bunk is more about not letting your cabin down as opposed to doing what you’re told.
But these things are all growth. And navigating this growth will have its ups and downs as your kids adjust to life at home.
What to Expect When Your Campers Come Home
As your daughter experiences her own transition home from camp, you may see some of the following behaviors:
- Reluctance to follow rules. A week after getting home and your daughter is still not remembering to ask you when she wants to play in the backyard. She always asked before, what’s the deal? It is possible that she simply keeps forgetting. But she might also be showing you that she is ready for a new level of independence. Be curious about why she’s rebelling against certain rules and think about whether it might be time for you to make some adjustments.
- Campsick. You have heard about kids being homesick at camp, but campsick at home? It happens more often than you think. She just left friends and a comfortable routine and nature and FUN! Try not to get your feelings hurt as your child seems gloomy as she transitions back to life at home. Offer ways to keep the memories alive, like making a scrapbook or entering her camp friends’ birthdays in a calendar.
- Changes in preferred foods. As you pour your daughter her favorite bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, you might be surprised to find that she doesn’t like them anymore. She wants Captain Crunch instead. And also, she can pour it herself! While some of the changes in food preferences will be welcome (a veggie kid now?), some might not. Either way, this is a sign of growth, so lean into it. Your daughter has been exposed to new foods and wants to start making her own decisions. So, invite her to the grocery store or have her take part in preparing dinner!
- Strong desire to stay connected with camp friends. It seems like your daughter just left and she already wants to be on a two-hour facetime with her camp buddies? Campers often form very close bonds with their camp friends. Without technology as a crutch or distraction, these bonds that were formed only weeks ago might be the strongest friendships your daughters have. Leaving this behind can be hard. Try to resist the urge to suggest she calls her home friends and let her unwind with her camp besties.
- Sass level is high. The talking back seems worse, doesn’t it? The retorts might even send a chill up your spine. And while disrespect is not cool, it might be worth getting curious as to why you’re seeing this behavior. My advice, try ignoring the sass. Praise your daughter often – catch her being kind and funny and resourceful. Maybe attribute the positives to her camp experience. Slowly, you are likely to see this behavior swing back to pre-camp norms.
So What Should Parents do?
Some of the challenges to the transition home from overnight camp are unavoidable. But most of these challenges are growth in disguise. Keep a positive mindset and be curious about your daughter. Here are some tips for welcoming a camper home.
Listen. The camp stories are long. The songs are loud! The funny anecdotes are … well… you “kinda had to be there.” But if there is one surefire way to support your campers’ transition home from overnight camp, it is to be a listening ear.
Let them sleep. Camp is tiring. Activities after activities and long treks from the waterfront to the cabin back to the Hearth definitely tired your campers out. The bugle woke them up early and they may have quietly chatted late into the night. And now they are home. Sleeping all the time! Take it slow and let them catch up on the physical and mental rest they need!
That’s right, take it slow. Try not to plan big family gatherings or trips or all-day outings right when your campers get home. It might be tempting to serve up a hearty welcome home with friends and relatives, but my advice is to take it slow. Set aside a few chill days before anything big. A healthy dose of unwinding is healthy and needed!
Don’t stress about unpacking and laundry. Yes, the towels are nasty. And the white socks are now some shade of brownish green. But try not to exude stress. Chip away at the laundry while allowing the camp stories and catching up to flow. Take breaks from unpacking to look at photos or admire a bracelet your daughter made. Trust me, it’s better for everyone this way!
Curiosity Equals Love
In the transition home from overnight camp your camper may toggle between a joyful chatty kid and a moody curmudgeon. But if I can impart anything in your journey back to normal life, it is this: be curious about all things camp. Be curious about her stories, her friends, her struggles, her behaviors, her victories, her interests. Be curious about this kid who hopped off the camp bus a slightly different version than the kid who hopped on it a few weeks ago. She’s grown up, and you’ve got some catching up to do!