Greetings from a 15-passenger van, northbound on I-5. It doesn’t have the romance of “greetings from Hilltop,” but sometimes that’s part of it too. Our last campers have boarded their planes, completing a relatively smooth travel day. At least one parent has texted me a photo of their son crashed out on the couch at home. All is as it should be on the day campers return to home to their families.
It was a wonderful session. Last night in the Lodge, the bittersweet feelings were palpable. I sometimes tell the staff that the beginning of First Session and the end of Second Session can be a little easier to pull off, because the staff are in the same emotional place as the campers. At the end of First Session, the staff are in the middle of their experience, and the campers are at the end of theirs, so there’s a mismatch we need to correct for. But last night, it didn’t feel like there was any emotional mismatch to correct for. The group was feeling exactly the right mix of feelings you hope for at the end of a session. Pride at accomplishments, happiness at new and renewed friendships and sadness that those friendships may not be enjoyed in person for quite a while, excitement at seeing family again, and a good dose of physical tiredness.
You may see from your camper a bit of homesickness’ lesser known cousin, campsickness. Camp is an immersive experience, and needing a little bit of time for decompression is common. Sometimes campers are effusive with their parents right away with songs and stories. Other times campers can need a little more time. It’s not uncommon to see campers want to spend lots of time on devices communicating with camp friends (frustrating for family and friends who might think, “you’ve just had a month with those people!”), or just wanting to sleep a lot for a day or two. Don’t worry, the decompression period is temporary, but the independence and friendships gained at camp are long-lasting. I did hear from one parent that the instinct to clear the table was temporary, but enjoy it while it lasts.
Thank you for sharing your children with us this month. I know I write that at the end of almost every post, but it feels right to point out this evening that the gratitude is not perfunctory. We know what a sacrifice it is to create space in a family’s life for a four-week camp session. There’s a financial cost, an emotional one, an opportunity cost of other things that could be done. Four weeks of a child’s summer is a long time, especially when it’s many summers in a row, as it usually is with Four Winds. We are deeply grateful that families are willing to make that commitment. We know that the campers benefit from it, but it’s also a joy and an honor to be part of providing that experience. Thank you.
Now, a few days of rest, and we’ll get ready to do it all again for the Second Sessioners. We look forward to seeing the First Sessioners back next year!