RESOURCES
Letter for Parents
cjda executive director
Sandy Abbott
Hello Camp Jeanne d’Arc Families,
Greetings! My name is Sandy Abbott, and I am happy to introduce myself as the Director of Camp Jeanne d’Arc. Along with my co-director and husband Randy Abbott, we enthusiastically welcome you to the Camp Jeanne d’Arc family and to our beautiful summer camp, nestled in the picturesque Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York–the perfect environment for building strong girls–all the while having a ton of fun.
As parents of four grown children, we understand the importance of surrounding your child with a positive community that supports their growth into young adulthood. We are honored that you are considering Camp Jeanne d’Arc to be part of your community as you embark on the journey to build a strong, confident daughter.
One of my favorite places on camp is the vegetable garden, where I often find myself with the campers, toes buried in the warm, soft soil as we share moments of connection. Whether it’s teaching about composting or simply enjoying the fresh air, these times spent together in nature create memories that last a lifetime.
Heading into our 10th summer as directors at Camp Jeanne d’Arc, we’ve seen firsthand the power of this incredible program, which began over 103 years ago! Through a magical combination of warmth and nurture, adventure and expectations, immersion in nature, and the building of diverse friendships, we have witnessed remarkable growth and transformation among our campers.
The values and mission of Camp Jeanne d’Arc have stood the test of time, and the need for this kind of confidence-building experience for girls is more valuable today than ever. We encourage you to explore this website to learn more about our mission, values, and what makes Camp Jeanne d’Arc a truly exceptional experience. We hope you can see that everything we do is aimed at helping you raise a confident daughter by nurturing her faith, endurance, courage, and confidence.
And don’t you worry about missing out during the summer—we’ll keep you connected through frequent newsletters, Instagram videos, and exclusive photo albums, so you can share in your daughter’s journey every step of the way.
Once again, welcome to Camp Jeanne d’Arc! If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to an amazing summer together.
Warmest regards,
Sandy Abbott
Director, Camp Jeanne d’Arc
Wife & husband team
Camp Jeanne d’Arc is a welcoming, family-like community where girls from around the world come together to share unique camp experiences that build faith, endurance, courage, and confidence.
Could camp come any sooner?
Frequently asked questions
Of course, you are welcome to send your daughter a package at camp! We request no more than one package a week. We encourage fun packages that include decorations, simple toys, books, stickers, tattoos, games, accessories, etc. Any food received in a package will be confiscated, as it attracts critters to the cabin. If you would like to send a treat for the cabin for a special occasion, please coordinate with the camp directors.
At JDA we believe that campers do best when fully immersed in the camp experience. Generally we do not allow phone calls between campers and home. However, we strongly encourage you to keep in touch with your camper through physical and electronic mail. Feel free to send your camper a care package as well. No more than one care package per week is requested. Your care packages will be opened first by a member of the staff. All food will be disguarded to keep unwanted critters out of cabins.
It is normal for campers to miss their home and family when they arrive, even for veteran campers! It is a healthy, common response. We have had considerable experience dealing with homesick campers and are ready to help. Know that homesickness often disappears as quickly as it arrives, and overcoming homesickness is an opportunity for personal growth. It is not uncommon to receive a letter (or several) during the first few days of camp reporting on feelings of homesickness. In this event, we need help from you:
– Keep in frequent contact, positive encouraging letters are best.
– Tell her that you are proud of her for conquering a challenge and ask her about new friends and skills.
– Encourage her to stick with it. Knowing that you have faith in her will help her get through the initial homesickness.
– Do not give her an out (as hard as that may be)
– Although it’s hard not to bargain with our kids, it’s important to refrain from telling your daughter that you will come and get her “if…” If your daughter knows that you will come at the drop of a hat, she will be less willing to really engage herself and overcome her homesickness. This is a huge life lesson.