The latest Camp Akeela newsletter is here!
Check Out The Spring 2026 Newsletter
As we finish up with the camp forms for our younger daughter, who will be going to her 7-week sleepaway camp for her 5th time this summer, we want to acknowledge that sending your child away to camp is a lot of work. Of course, there are the doctors’ appointments, the prescriptions that need to be called in, the shopping, packing and organizing. And, we can’t underestimate the emotional work that goes into it!
Preparing your child for camp takes time and energy – a positive energy. Pushing through our own fears and worries about sending our camper away needs to be a priority so we can meet our child with a “clean slate”. Our children need to feel our optimism and confidence that going to camp will be a life-changing experience – one that will enable them to become more independent and more confident, and an experience that will lead to meaningful friendships that will last a long time. All of our campers are intuitive and if they sense that we’re afraid about this very big transition, they will take on that worry themselves.
Some advice for those of you who are worried about camp this summer:
- Write down your concerns! Take some time during the day (not right before bed or you’ll never be able to fall asleep!) to jot down your worries. That act of acknowledgment is important, and then you can revisit each concern and decide to either address it, or let it go!
- Call us. We’re here to help and sometimes more information is all we need to minimize our fears.
- Breathe! Go for a walk or take 10 minutes with a cup of tea to just relax.
- Read Homesick and Happy by Michael Thompson. It’s a really great book that will help remind you what an amazing gift you’re giving your child by giving them a sleepaway camp experience.
By the way, much of this advice will work great for your anxious camper, too.
Your camper’s Head Counselor will be emailing you prior to your camper’s session to chat about anything that’s on your mind so feel free to start a list now that you communicate with them about once our team is all up in VT after June 13th. Enjoy the rest of spring and we’ll see you soon!
— Debbie and Eric
In this edition of the Akeela newsletter, you’ll also find:
- What to Expect On the First Day of Camp
- Meet David, Our New Associate Director
- From The Blog: D&D As an Executive Function Workout
- A Note About Bunk Counselors Assignments
- Our Annual Geography Update: Where Akeela Campers & Staff Come From
- Welcome New Campers!
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