Monthly Archives:August 2025

Like your daughter/s, we are still thinking about our favorite memories from the six weeks at Woodland and Towering Pines. While you may hear about the fun they had with their cabinmates and counselors, going to archery, sailing on the lake, or making a project in arts and crafts, you might only see these activities for what they are. It may just sound like shooting arrows, hanging out with friends on the water, or gluing yarn to a popsicle stick.

The memories we hold onto at the end every summer are the ones that pull the curtain back a little farther, and perhaps go deeper below the surface than what meets the eye. When we think of archery, patience, persistence, and confidence come to mind. Leadership, teamwork, and adaptability are the anchors in sailing. Arts & Crafts brings out creativity, imagination, and self-expression. We could go through each activity, one by one, and come up with quite an impressive list!

We encourage campers to reflect on their experiences by including thoughtful prompts in the letters they write home. These prompts might ask about moments when they showed bravery, qualities they value in a friend, or something they noticed and appreciated in nature. This approach helps campers develop self-awareness and recognize personal growth during their time at camp.

We are sending out one last letter to give you a chance to talk with your camper(s) about their summer experience, now that they’ve had some time to think about it. The responses they gave were collected during the final week of camp, a busy and emotional time, so their answers may reflect the whirlwind of those last days rather than the full scope of their summer. This is a great time to put on your curiosity hat and ask follow-up questions!

When you hear a story from your camper about something that was really, really fun, we hope that you, like us, know that it is much more than that. Over time, they will start to connect the dots and be able to see beyond the activity or event described. It’s part of their development process! The guide below may help you “decode” the fun into what else was happening.

• • Cabin living = independence, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills
  • Activity choices = decision-making, self-exploration, trying again (and again)
  • Evening programs/Special events = social confidence, community building
  • Overnight canoe trips = problem solving, teamwork, and negotiation
  • Camp traditions = leadership development and belonging

While camp is packed with fun and adventure, it’s also a place where your child builds a crazy amount of lifelong skills. Everything we do intentionally helps campers grow in ways that go far beyond what you see and hear in their stories. We hope that you continue to hear snippets of the “enjoy the ride” summer of 2025 in the months ahead!

We are already enrolling campers for 2026 and spots fill up fast! To be part of the FUN (and MORE!) register HERE!

Dear JoAnne, 

Ever since my daughter returned home from camp, she refuses to wear anything that isn’t Woodland blue or tie-dyed and Crocs with an assortment of Jibbitz. All she talks about is the fun she had, stories about her cabin mates, and how many days there are until camp next summer. She claims that she isn’t sure what to do next without the bell ringing throughout the day to mark time. She won’t stop singing camp songs or looking at the online photos on the Woodland website and Instagram. She even makes her bed every morning and asks if she can “hop” during dinner. She insists that I ask you for Brittnie’s Asian bowl recipe and is now putting ketchup on potato chips. Help! Can you please explain to me what is going on with my daughter?

 A Concerned Parent

Dear Woodland Parent,

Thanks for your letter; I can assure you that what your daughter is experiencing right now sounds like a typical case of  “campsickness.” Yes, it’s a thing (see below). It means camp worked its magic and is proof of an unforgettable summer.

I receive calls and emails from parents every year at this time wondering what is happening to their camper(s). Trust me, campsickness is not necessarily a bad thing; it just means that your daughter had an AMAZING summer and is sad to leave her camp friends. It is normal to miss the nonstop activity and fun that camp offers at every turn. Coming home to an empty room can be a bit of a shock after the excitement of constant interaction with a community of girls.

I have every confidence that she will adjust to being at home again; it just takes a little time. You can let her know that we will be corresponding with her (and you!) over the course of the winter via mail, email, and various social media. There are all kinds of ways she can stay connected to our camp family, and before you know it, we will be headed to Woodland (Imagine This in ’26) for another fantastic summer!

Definition: Campsick (adjective)
\’kamp-,sik\ – The opposite of homesick. (Don’t worry, it’s not a real illness.)

Meaning: An intense longing to be back at camp.

Example: Your camper doesn’t want to go to her favorite restaurant or even the pool…she is too campsick to enjoy “normal” life at home.

Symptoms may include:
Melancholy + daydreaming
Nonstop storytelling + “one time at camp…”
Using camp lingo the rest of the family doesn’t understand
Attempts to recreate camp routines, chants, and inside jokes at home

Here are a few things you can do to replicate her Woodland experience during the transition from camp to home:

Limit Screen Time – Yes, she will want her iPhone or iPad back – and that’s okay. But remember, she went 4-6 weeks without screens, and survived (maybe even thrived!). Try to keep some of that screen-free magic alive.

(Gently) Remind Her to Make Her Bed – She did it every day at camp – no complaints. She’s actually good at it! (And hey, maybe she’ll even make yours … just kidding. Probably not happening.)

Let Her Sing At The Table – There is nothing that beats the energy of the lodge after dinner – the cheers, the songs, the banging on tables. It’s pure fun. Don’t be surprised if she brings a little of that spirit to your dining room table (and maybe teach you a few songs in the process!).

Print Out Photos From Camp So That Her “Bunk” Looks Familiar – You sent her to camp with pictures of home. Now flip the script – print out camp photos for her room so it feels like her bunk. All those photos you’ve been scrolling all summer? Time to bring them to life!

Keep the Camp Mail Coming – Best cure for campsickness? Mail from a camp friend. Encourage your camper to keep up the tradition of letter writing with their bunk besties (a friendship list of addresses was included in her memory folder).

Tie Dye Extravaganza – Nothing says camp like tie dye!  Let her rock what she made at camp. Or better yet, set up a craft session at home and have her make something for you!

A Little Canteen Goes A Long Way – S’mores, some candy, or a sweet frozen treat every once in awhile is a little nod to camp that will be appreciated those first few weeks of being home.

Give Her S P A C E – It’s not you … it’s her. She just had a taste of independence and now she’s back under your roof. Adjustment takes time (for both of you!). Let the stories, emotions, and memories come out at their own pace.

Sign Up for Next Summer – Don’t miss Woodland’s early enrollment discount when signing up for 6 weeks by August 31st!

With our 2025 camp season having come to a close, we want to thank everyone who helped make it so wonderful. After all, it’s the people of camp— the counselors and supporting staff, and of course our amazing enthusiastic campers —who create the special experience we all enjoy. It’s the people who are kind and caring, supportive and encouraging. It’s their friendly attitudes, their “peaceful, easy” approach to just about everything, that color our camp days. Together we found a spirit that propels this community to do more, experience more, and enjoy more.

At our closing banquet and candlelight ceremony, we were reminded of how life at camp means so much. It is evident that campers discovered new interests, formed really close friendships, and feel completely at home at Woodland. Staff members also expressed their gratitude for being at camp, and for having the opportunity to know so many great people and impact the young people in our care. It’s remarkable how close we’ve all become over these past six weeks.

Camp reminds us of the good stuff. It helps us see the magic in most things, especially in forming lasting friendships. It encourages us to explore and discover the incredible beauty of the real world, to trust each other, and be courageous even when something may be uncertain. Most clearly, we now know how incredible camp life feels.

Yes, it’s sad that something good is ending… for now. We believe we carry camp with us. We can remember that being kind, and being a little silly, will get us through the fall and winter months. We can bust out a favorite Woodland song anytime. We can stay in touch with camp friends. And we can look forward to returning next summer.

To all our Woodland girls: we miss you already. We’re thinking of you fondly, holding tight the memories of our “Enjoy the Ride” summer of 2025 together. Thank you!

Until we can be together again, show respect to everyone and everything, create community at school, on teams, in activities, etc., continue to grow as a person, take responsibility for your actions, and stay safe until we see you back on County D next summer! Remember: the Camp Woodland spirit is with you always.

The legacy photo below pictures any camper or staff member who had a parent, grandparent, other relative who went to Woodland or Towering Pines for a summer or more. Impressive group!