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Call! Write! E-mail!
Going to sleep-away camp may make you a bit homesick, but staying in touch with your family can help.
By ALLY SIKORA
© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 23, 2001
[Times art: Octavio Perez]
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Lots of you are going to camp this summer, maybe through your school, your church, to the neighborhood rec center or a million different sports camps. If you're an experienced camper, you might have sleep-away camp on your agenda.
Since sleep-away camps can be far away and last for a while, missing your family and friends while you are there can be a problem.
"I felt homesick the first time I went to sleep-away camp but got over it," says Rachael Jelnicky, 11, of Palm Harbor, who is going to Camp Wewa, a YMCA camp in Apopka, for two weeks this summer. "I wrote letters to my family to keep in touch," says Rachael, and "I plan to write letters back to my family again."
Rachael also brings her stuffed animal to camp to make her feel good. Her favorite activity at camp, called Color Wars, helps her chase away homesick feelings. "The whole camp is divided into color groups," Rachael explains. "Then, we play capture the flag around trees and rocks, great hiding places! In another game the counselors are judges and pick a category, like who can do the best backbend. Then each color group picks the best person for the category, and those people compete against each other." Rachael's advice to sleep-away campers: "Be yourself, and you'll make friends who like you for who you are, and have fun!"
Rachael's 13-year-old brother, Michael, also is going to Camp Wewa. "I wrote a few letters to my family last time at camp; this time I plan to write more," Michael says. The counselors at sleep-away camp are nice, he says, and will help make you feel better if you're homesick. He also counts on making new friends.
Michael likes playing basketball at camp and admits Color Wars is cool, too.
Janie Hoffman, 10, of Tarpon Springs also is a sleep-away camper. This summer, Janie is going for one week to Wekiva Youth Camp in Wekiva Springs State Park north of Orlando. This nature camp is a favorite among community garden clubs and associations across the state, with many providing scholarships to Camp Wekiva.
"I was very homesick the first time I went to camp. I wrote a bunch of letters back home! This time around, my mom is going to be the nature counselor, but I'll still write to my brother and dad."
Janie says she, too, packs her stuffed animals for comfort, and she relies on another trick. "When you felt homesick, you could go to the nurse and she'd give you a handful of Skittles "medicine.' "
Janie agrees that there are plenty of cool things at camp to keep the spirits up. "My favorite thing about camp was when my cabin won first place in the cabin cleanup, so my friends and I got to swim in the springs. We also got to spend the night in a trailer and watch all the night animals. I'm looking forward to swimming in the pool and doing arts and crafts," says Janie.
Patrick Farnham, 16, of Palm Harbor has been to many sleep-away camps, including Winn-Dixie Scout Reservation in northeast Lake County. Winn-Dixie Reservation is a tent-only Boy Scout camp, with outdoor challenges such as nature trails, archery, canoeing, snorkeling, river treks, backpacking and caving. "I call my family when I go to sleep-away camp to keep in touch," says Patrick. "This year I'll keep in touch but don't think I'll be homesick because I've done this many times."
One of Patrick's favorite things about camp is making lots of new friends. His least favorite thing is that sometimes camp is too long. Patrick has also been a counselor. "To be a counselor, you first have to be a participant. Then you get recommended for staff and interviewed. Sometimes being a counselor is better than being a participant," says Patrick.
Tips for keeping your cool at sleep-away camp
- Remember that it's natural to feel homesick when you're adjusting to a new place.
- Get to know your new surroundings.
- It's a good idea to bring familiar things with you when you go to a new place to help you feel better.
- Be open to all the new activities and new people you'll meet.
- Getting involved and making new friends can make you feel less alone. Invite them to explore the new places with you.
- Keep in touch with your family and friends back home. Write them a letter, e-mail them or call them.
- Try to make plans to visit home if you're going to be away for a really long time.
- Talk to someone! Chances are he or she is homesick, too, and then you'll both feel better.
Ally Sikora, 10, will be in the sixth grade at Coachman Fundamental Middle School in Clearwater.
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