Our Approach to Homesickness at Camp: Helping Your Child Thrive

It’s common for children to feel homesick at camp. After all, being away from home and family can be a big adjustment. However, homesickness is a natural part of the development process, and with the right support, can be managed effectively. At Camp Kupugani, we’ve developed strategies to help campers navigate these feelings and emerge stronger.

The Reality of Homesickness

Missing home is normal. Most kiddos at overnight camp at some point feel some degree of homesickness, which is typically mild. Nearly everyone misses something about home when they’re away, be it their parents, home cooking, a sibling, or the family pet. However, homesickness has a silver lining; if there’s something that children miss about home, that means there’s something about home that they love–and that’s a wonderful thing. Whatever they miss, the vast majority of children have a great time at camp and mild homesickness doesn’t bother them.

Why Homesickness Happens

Homesickness occurs when a child feels disconnected from their familiar environment. This emotional reaction is completely natural and signals that your child is adapting to new experiences and forming connections with the world outside their home.

Why Camp Matters

Summer camp isn’t just about fun (though there’s plenty of that!). Most of child and adolescent learning occurs outside the classroom. Camp provides a unique environment for personal growth and self-discovery.

Overcoming a bout of homesickness and enjoying time away from home nurtures children’s independence and prepares them for the future; the fact that second-year campers are less homesick than first-year campers shows powerful growth from camp. We train our caring staff members to help campers deal with homesickness should it arise.

Our Approach to Supporting Campers

At Camp Kupugani, we treat homesickness as an opportunity for growth. We train our counselors to recognize the signs early and provide comfort and reassurance. We emphasize the importance of building relationships with peers, participating in activities, and connecting with nature.

Supporting your child’s independence, we create a proactive, balanced approach that promotes personal development. 

• Pre-camp preparation: We work with families to prepare kids mentally for their time away, ensuring they feel informed and confident about the upcoming camp experience.
• Creating an intentional community: We train our staff to create an environment that encourages growth and independence.
• Positive messaging: We teach campers that missing home is okay and doesn’t prevent them from having fun.
• Stay busy during the first few days of camp: With all of our activities and program structure, no child stays homesick for long. 

What You Can Do as a Parent

While camp offers plenty of support, your advance role as an intentional parent is vital in easing your child’s transition. Encourage your child to embrace the camp experience, and let them know that homesickness is temporary. Remind them that everyone experiences it and that it’s part of growing. Children who receive positive encouragement from home are better equipped to handle emotional challenges like homesickness. When parents are involved in their child’s camp life (without over-managing), it reduces the intensity of homesickness. Here are some specific tips:

• Make camp decisions together.
• Arrange lots of practice time away from home.
• Acknowledge your child’s feelings without amplifying them.
• Express confidence in their ability to handle the challenge.
• Share your optimism, not your anxiety.
• NEVER EVER make a “pick-up deal”; these can undermine their resolve when challenges occur.

Transitioning to a New Environment

At Camp Kupugani, our activities are designed to foster engagement and emotional resilience. When children immerse themselves in fun, purposeful activities, they quickly develop confidence and a sense of belonging. This is part of how camp helps intentional parents raise children who are independent and resilient.

The Long-Term Benefits

Studies suggest that kids who attend sleepaway camp may experience less homesickness in college. It’s all about building those independence muscles early!

Embracing Growth

Remember, homesickness is a normal part of growth and development. With the right strategies, it leads to increased resilience, personal growth, and emotional strength. At Camp Kupugani, we help children navigate homesickness and thrive in a developmentally beneficial environment. By supporting your child through this experience, you’re helping them develop crucial life skills. We’re committed to partnering with you in this journey of personal development.

So, are you ready to help your child spread their wings and soar?