Mitigating Homesickness for the Sleep-Away Camper
I started writing about this week’s topic before the flash flood in Texas.
First, let me say, I am heartbroken for all the young children that died in this flood. (Heartbroken for all that died, but especially the children and their heartbroken parents.)
The loss of a child is especially grievous. Our children are supposed to outlive parents in the normal course of events.
As a parent that has lost a child to a tragic death, this event has been especially heartrending in this past week of horrible events.
Second, I am impressed by the parents I know who have taken their child or children to camp this past Sunday despite this tragedy. I’m not sure I would have been as strong.
Be tender with those who have faced a recent loss.
Pray for the parents who must bury their children and say an extra pray for the ones who have no firm answers about the fate of their child.
If you are not someone that prays, bless the families, send healing thoughts, vibrations or white light. Thinking kindly of and tenderly caring about others never goes amiss.
As a follow up to last week’s, “It’s Summertime but I Still Need to Feed My Kids,” essay, I decided to do a deeper dive into camp nursing. https://handsonnursinginagermfactory.substack.com/p/its-summertime-but-i-still-need-to?r=em6bd
What is a camp nurse’s role?
It is one of monitoring children with known chronic illnesses, such as asthma and seizure disorders, but not limited to the aforementioned.
It is to take care of minor incidents, and injuries; to recognize emergencies requiring a trip to a medical center or if there are doctors and NPs on staff, involving them first.
The camp nurse also gives children their medication (for younger children), supervises children not quite ready for self-carry and administration of medications, and to make sure older campers are ready to self-administer—if that is allowed at your camp.
Is it the camp nurse’s job to “cure” homesickness?
No, it’s not really an illness. However, as part of a teamwide approach they might be involved. Many school and camp nurses just have a warm, motherly approach to children and some children respond almost immediately to them.
Any staff member a child quickly forms a bond with may become their “port in the storm” of homesickness.
However, mitigating homesickness really starts at home.
What can Parents do?
The first thing I did was to match my girls camp prospects with their interests. They both enjoyed singing and they played instruments. At the time they were ready to go to camp, the church camp I used to attend had a “Music Camp” week.
They also had a horseback riding week, a canoeing week, a hiking in the mountains’ week (this camp setting was on a lake in the Adirondack Mountains) among other special offerings.
There is another nearby church camp that also offered sailing, along with the other hiking, kayaking, canoeing week. No matter where you live there are both religious and secular camps within driving distance.
Later on, we would match one daughter with French immersion camps and other brainiac camps that were further afield but still within half-a-days drive one-way. So…
*Match the camp to your child’s interests. This will give them a sense of ownership.
*Talk in advance about homesickness happen to some children but then emphasize the positive—it’s normal and temporary.
*Do sleepovers with your child inviting friends to your house and accepting invites at their friends’ houses.
When my girls were young, they started receiving sleepover invites in 1st grade. This see seemed early to me, but knowing the families, I acquiesced to inevitability.
*Inquire regarding camp communication guidelines. Some camps restrict frequent calls to mom and dad as that can prolong homesickness. So, make sure communication possibilities you establish with your child aligns with camp guidelines.
*For a one-week camp, we did not send a care package or letters, as they would have arrived after our children came home. For longer periods of time at camp, again, seek guidance from camp expectations.
I did send a letter per child about 5-days ahead of their week addressed to Camp Name, Music Week, Attention: my child’s name, rest of address… So, there would be a letter for them their first full day.
What can Staff do?
Staff does include the camp nurse. Young teenage camp counselors, especially first year counselors, may not have much experience dealing with homesickness, but not all counselors on staff are teens or first timers.
Camp directors and a senior leadership positions frequently older adults, often with children of their own. They are in a unique position of being, “go to” folks for the homesick child.
Nurses often fall into that group. And sometimes, in some camps, they may be looked to for guidance with assisting in developing a unified approach to handling homesickness.
It is just important to for everyone to understand that executing the plan really needs to start at cabin level.
*Normalize homesickness—let them know they are not the only camper missing home.
*Keep them busy—especially the first day they arrive. Have plenty of “getting to know you” games ready to go as soon as campers start arriving.
*Focus on the positives—especially with special interest camps, remind the campers of all the fun activities that will be ahead of them during their camp experience.
*Support and encourage developing friendships—keep in mind some children are extroverts and are ready to jump in and have fun from the get-go. Other children are introverts.
*Create a “Buddy” system—pair a more experienced camper, or an at ease, extroverted camper with the more reluctant camper.
My first year as a camper away from home took place on an island. My oldest sister (a 23-year-old) was at the mainland “sister” camp and my close-in-age older sister was in the next cabin. So, I was not truly alone.
My next year as a camper was at a camp that I had already spent several years at for a weeklong family camp. I had made so many friends already and I knew where all the buildings were, the paths through the woods, the best blueberry patches, that again, I had no fear.
I was paired with a girl from my church that was an introvert and a first timer. She was terrified, and so very homesick. Our camp had a buddy system—so, they paired us.
They gave me the task of keeping her mind on where to find things. This helped her stay focused on the here and now.
How does the Camp Nurse fit into this?
The first few nights may be the roughest moments for some children. Some children will end up at the nurse’s office, either because they have nighttime medications, or because a homesickness plan has not been established at the camp.
*Assist staff leadership and counselors to come up with some type of bedtime support plan. The nurse cannot be the sole support for grieving children.
Make no mistake, homesickness is a form of grief. The child’s routines have been disrupted, and their main emotional support person is not with them.
*Remind the child the homesickness is normal and temporary.
*Keep them focused on the fun things they have already done, and the fun things in store the following day.
*Establish boundaries. Set times for a quick touch base with the nurse and then it’s off to bed.
Many camps will have a “camp buddy system.” Use it. Pair the confident camper with the unsure camper. Comfort and modeling from a peer is often more powerful than words from an adult.
One camp I attended had a quiet time right after lunch. During that quiet time children were encouraged to write letters or postcards home.
One counselor would spend 1-to-1 time with the reluctant camper during the quiet time. This was particularly helpful for my camper buddy friend.
Another counselor found little “assistant” jobs for one of her reluctant campers.
And remember the 3-night rule.
What is that you ask?
It seems it is the magic number when most homesick campers turn a corner. It is their last night of homesickness.
Like scouts, it is the camp nurse’s role to be prepared.
Be ready for what lies ahead.
Know the rules and regulations of the state you live in and know how your camp follows the rules and regulations. It can be a fun and rewarding way to earn money, unwind, and get energized and ready for a new school year.
A human, not an AI text generator, wrote this essay.
I am not a doctor, neither do I play one on TV. This is an information only newsletter.
For specific medical advice please see your primary care provider.
If you like my work, please consider supporting me by subscribing, clicking on the little heart below, commenting, and/or restacking this essay.
Nancy, thank you always for being such a steady and beautiful support in Substack world 💛💉🌿
I used to joke that I only had two seasons:
🌞 Camp Season
and
📆 The Rest of the Year.
That’s how deep the impact of camp nursing runs — in my body, spirit, and memory.
One of the best camp nurse care strategies I ever implemented was bringing a “puppy to camp” 🐶. For those campers with vague somatic complaints — the “my stomach hurts,” “I feel off,” “can I just lie down” kind of visits — time with the puppy reduced nurse trips by over 50%. Especially for homesick or first-time campers, I’d schedule one-on-one time with the pup. It was the most loving diversion tactic ever — and a trauma-informed, joy-based way to regulate and reconnect 🐾💫
Sometimes the best medicine isn’t a diagnosis — it’s connection, warmth, and something soft to hold onto. Just like you always offer me. 💜 Thank you, truly.
Your presence means the world.
A really informative post Nancy, you have such a wealth of experience. I like your observation that homesickness is a form of grief too ❤️