What’s been really instructive about sending my young sons to camp is that each time, and with each child, I get fresh insight into what you’re feeling when you send your daughters to me.
That’s why I started this particular blog series —From Camp Director To Camp Parent — to share that I, too, have a journey of trust and commitment within the camp culture when my kids (at young ages) go off for 2-3 (or more) weeks at sleepaway summer camp.
Ellis Goes to Camp!
The latest happy episode happened last summer, in 2021, when my middle son, Ellis, went off to sleepaway summer camp for the first time. He joined his big brother, Mason, for a two-week session.
With Ellis, we decided to skip the introductory one-week session offered (their version of a “Mini Camp,”) because he was a little older than Mason was when Mason set off for the first time, and Mason would be at the camp with him at the same time. And as the second child, Ellis had that “readiness” that comes from just doing things a bit earlier because he’s already seeing his brother do them and chomping at the bit to do them himself! “I can do it, mom!”
Ellis is a different person from Mason, as is to be expected. Mason is your typical oldest child – responsible, dependable, a rules-follower. Ellis follows a different trajectory in the most fun-loving and sweet way. He’s a dreamer, loves to play, needs nudging to get tasks done, and is always happy and enjoys life so much.
We weren’t really sure what to expect, and just really hoped that he would be okay and thrive in the camp setting. Since he didn’t voice any reservations, and basically was just excited to go, we followed his cues and supported where he was coming from.
At the same time, with every child, as parents, we go through our “wondering” process.
I can relate to other parents here – you know your child is ready, you know they can function independently on their own, but will they really be ok? I mean, he was just seven-years-old when he went, and a new seven at that! (spring birthday baby). And again, he’s not that typical “doing my duty diligently” first-born. Would he actually remember to brush his teeth? Would his counselor make sure to guide him through what he needed to do for that day?
Well, I’m here to tell you that he did thrive! In fact, maybe even better than Mason did his first summer away when Mason was only six.
Is it because Ellis had his big brother? Or that he was a little older? Or just because he is who he is? Probably all of it!
The pictures we saw each day showed him smiling, having fun, and totally rocking the camp life. We also saw lots of pics of the two of them together, building their brotherly bond at camp. Of course as a mom, I loved that!
With Ellis there were no reports of homesickness or any other issues.
And now, not only is he pumped to go back to that camp for two weeks, he’ll be going to another camp for three weeks, making it a full five weeks away from home this coming summer, just like Mason!
The three-week camp he’s going to lets the campers have sweet treats every day, and let me tell you what – that is what Ellis is most excited about (insert crying laughing emoji). When it comes to indulging his sweet tooth, Ellis does not hold back. Time enough for him to learn that sometimes too much of a good thing is too much! But that’s what a little independence at camp can teach kids that all the parent lectures in the world can’t.
Ellis has also developed his own camp director mentality — he recruited a couple of friends from home to join him at one of the camps, which makes the whole thing even more exciting!
We’re On This Journey Together
I love this journey that I am on as a mom and a camp director, being able to see the experience from both sides of the coin. Now that I have multiple children away at camp, I also get to hear double the stories, (hopefully) get double the letters written home, and experience double the joy and love for the summer camp experience.
I still have one more little one who isn’t old enough yet. Noah will have his day soon. And this summer Noah will get me all to himself for five weeks, a rare treat for the baby of the family! (Although at this point, he detests doing anything without his brothers – he really relies on them! So this will be a good growing experience for him).
One thing I’ll never be able to relate to about other camp parents is when all three of my kids are at away camp thus giving me a “vacation.” Overwrought and overworked parents tell me all the time about the trips they take, the date nights they have, the temporary empty-nesting they experience, that chance to just breathe and be and re-connect as a couple when the entire brood is away at camp.
Sounds amazing but, alas…not me.
While I work on camp all year-round, during the summer it’s go time, big time! While my boys fish and paddle and climb and shoot and play ball and roast hot dogs and s’mores and sing and laugh (and write mom letters?) and all that good camp fun, I’ll be at camp here at Alleghany, working round the clock to create moments, memories, and meaning for our campers. It’s something I love and am passionate about, so of course I don’t have any regrets!! It’s just one big difference when you’re a camp parent but also a camp director ;). Fortunately that keeps me in the process of seeing what camp is like for your kids, the director piece of this whole equation.
So please, if you have any questions, worries, concerns, hopes for your child as she embarks on her first (or next) sleepaway summer camp experience, do reach out. I’ve got my mom hat, and my camp director’s hat, each informing the other so that I can help you set the path for your campers — who, by the way, I can’t wait to see at camp this summer!
— Warmly,
Elizabeth Shreckhise, Director, Camp Alleghany for Girls
