Category: New Parent Information

Growing up happens one step at a time. Little by little, kids take on new experiences, stretch beyond what’s familiar, and discover they’re capable of doing more on their own.

Look at the milestones of growing up, and an interesting pattern emerges:

• 3 minutes is the first time you feel comfortable leaving your kid out of your sight (maybe in a crib, playpen, or bouncy thing).
• 3 hours is the first morning they’re with a babysitter or at daycare.
• 3 days is that first long weekend sleepover with the grandparents or the cousins.
• 3 weeks (let’s come back to this one).
• 3 months is the first semester at college or other post-high school experience.
• 3 years is after college, out in the world with a first job and a first apartment.
• 3 decades is settling down, starting a family, and getting into life for the long haul.

Not everyone’s timeline is going to look exactly the same, but these are pretty standard stops along the way.

And then there’s that three week stretch…

Before I get to that, it’s worth saying that the number of steps kids take away from home is shrinking every year. When I was a  kid, I would go play until the street lights came on or my Mom would ring the bell to come home. Now even the playground is full of grown-ups.

And independence is definitely a skill to hone and practice. It’s something you learn how to do, just like anything else. Throw a kid straight into the deep end and it will rightfully be panic time. Keep them in the living room and nothing new happens. There’s got to be blocks of time along the way where you get a little bit of practice at it so the next big thing seems considerably more manageable.

**That 3 Week Thing**

Look at that list again and almost every step kind of just ends up happening in the run of everyday life. Daycare has a start date because everyone’s got to go back to work. Grandma plans out the long weekend. College tells you when move-in day is for that first semester with a dorm room assignment.

But the 3-week thing doesn’t leave us a lot of options out there. Three weeks (or four or six) is different. Nobody mails you an invitation for it and honestly, it could be easy to skip entirely. 

And skipping it leaves a giant gap in the middle of the list: a kid whose longest stay away from home is a weekend at grandma’s, all of a sudden is walking into a dorm for three months.

Camp really is one of the few in-betweens. We hear this from camp families all the time. Because it’s true. They can see it at those first drop-offs with the rest of the freshmen. They’ve gotten a bunch of 3, 4 and 6-week stretches under their belts. The climb up the independence ladder followed a rather simple progression.

I’m not going to list all the ways this happens during a stretch at camp, except to say the days and weeks stack the whole way.

One Question To Ask

Parents ask us how to know if their kid is ready for this rung. We keep it simple: did they do the one before it? A kid who’s done the three days at grandma’s is ready for three (or more!) weeks at camp. A kid who hasn’t should probably do that first.

Woodland and Towering Pines are set up for just that. First-summer campers can come for three weeks, half the summer, then move on to the full six weeks when ready (which could very possibly be the same summer!).

Yes, we want every kid here for the whole summer eventually. The full summer is the full experience. We plan camp to run Day 1 to Day 43, right in that order with the days and weekends building on each other. But for families new to camp, three weeks is often the right-sized rung.

Kids Need Room to Grow

The ladder mostly climbs itself. Minutes turn into hours, hours turn into days, and one day it’s decades, and they’re building a life of their own.

The three weeks is the one rung you have to go get on purpose. We saved you a spot (make your reservation HERE)!

Every once in a while, someone says something that makes you stop and think, “Yep. That’s it.”

That happened this summer during one of the tours we had at both Camp Woodland and Towering Pines. A family was visiting with their son and daughter, walking around, looking at the cabins, checking out the waterfront and getting a feel for camp. They saw a lot in those few hours, but when they left, they summed up what they had noticed in a few simple words:

“You are a friends camp, not a stuff camp.”

Bam. Right on the nose.

Sometimes the idea is right in front of you, and it takes someone seeing camp for the first time to put it into words.

What had caught their attention wasn’t a particular activity or a fancy facility. It was the kids and staff. They noticed that the campers and counselors were just plain nice. They were friendly with one another. They talked to each other. They laughed together. They seemed comfortable being themselves. And the family drove away thinking, “This is where our kids are going to make friends.”

Not just summer friends, either. The kind of friends who know you well. The kind who cheer for you, look out for you, laugh with you and pick up right where they left off the next summer, even when there are hundreds of miles and months in between.

Don’t get us wrong. We have plenty of stuff at Woodland and Towering Pines, and it’s good stuff. We have beautiful lakes, sailboats, canoes, crafts, sports, fields, cabins, dining halls, campfires and all sorts of things to keep kids busy and engaged. We love all of it.

But the stuff has never really been the point.

The lake is better when there is a friend in the next canoe or sitting beside you on the same sailboat. Crafts is better when you can sit around a table and talk with the kids next to you, whether they are your age or five years younger. The dining hall is better when your whole cabin group and counselors are sitting together for three meals a day, telling stories and laughing about whatever happened that morning.

Olympics is better because you know the people on your team. You remember who used the most body paint, who kept everyone laughing, and who was cheering louder than anyone else. You find yourself yelling for people you might not have known a few weeks earlier as if you’ve known them forever.

And then there are those last days of camp.

By then, nobody really cares about the stuff anymore. The lake, the crafts, the games and the activities have done their job. They gave us places to go, things to do and reasons to spend time together.

Now we’re sitting next to people we don’t want to say goodbye to.

There are hugs. There are tears. There are promises to write, call, text and see each other again. There are kids and staff who are absolutely certain that summer cannot possibly be over because they aren’t ready to leave their friends.

That’s the good stuff.

So when we think about who we want Woodland and Towering Pines to be, maybe that family’s simple words say it better than we ever could.

A friends camp, not a stuff camp.

We have a lot of wonderful stuff at camp. We always will. But we hope that years from now, when our campers think about Woodland or Towering Pines, they don’t remember just what they did.

We hope they remember who was standing beside them when they did it.

Because that’s the stuff that lasts.

As June quickly approaches (it’s now May!), you may be wondering how your kid/s will spend their summer this year. While part-time jobs, internships, or travel might come to mind, being part of the Woodland CIT (Counselor-in-Training) experience or working at camp should be at the top of your list of considerations! It’s more than just a summer opportunity/job—camp offers real-world experience in leadership, responsibility, and teamwork that will serve them in future careers (and life!).

Yet, some parents hesitate, wondering if working at camp is just goofing off and playing games. The reality? Here are 5 reasons why camp is serious business:

1. We Invest Heavily in Staff Training and Leadership Development

Unlike many traditional summer jobs, the ecosystem at Camp Woodland is intentionally designed to develop future leaders. We invest extensive time and resources into creating structured leadership programs for CIT’s and staff, ensuring they are prepared to take on decision-making, program development, and mentorship roles.

• CIT Leadership Program: focus on individual and team leadership
• Counselor Position: extensive pre-camp and ongoing training covers everything from child development to group dynamics and emergency preparedness (and more!)
• Certification Opportunities – CPR, first aid, and lifeguarding

We aren’t just hiring seasonal workers—we are shaping future professionals. The Woodland mission of youth development doesn’t stop with the campers. We view our CIT’s and staff—often up to people in their 20s—as part of that developmental mission, investing in their growth just as intentionally. Your young adults would be working in an environment that builds character development into its training. Through hands-on experience, mentorship, and leadership training, we foster kindness, resilience, integrity, and gratitude at camp —qualities that will serve them well in any career path. They will feel empowered to make smart choices, try new things, and truly thrive. We can’t think of any other summer job that does this with such intentionality!

2. Summer Camp Experience Stands Out to Future Employers

Camp isn’t just about supervising kids—it’s about managing schedules, leading activities, problem-solving on the fly, and developing emotional intelligence. Employers recognize camp experience as a mark of leadership, adaptability, and strong communication skills.

At camp, emerging leaders gain:

• Responsibility – Being in charge of campers, ensuring their safety and well-being.
• Organizational Skills – Managing activities, keeping schedules on track, and planning engaging programs.
• Creative Thinking – Designing new games, team challenges, and camp-wide initiatives.
• Decision-Making Under Pressure – Handling unexpected situations, from a homesick camper to a change in the day’s schedule.
• Teamwork & Leadership – Learning how to guide a group, resolve conflicts, and inspire others.

Many young people who work at camp go on to successful careers in education, business, healthcare, leadership, and more. The skills gained at camp—initiative, problem-solving, and adaptability—are among the most sought-after traits in today’s job market (and are the very things that robots can’t do!).

3. More Than Just a Job—Camp is a Community

If your child is looking for a meaningful summer experience/job that offers more than just the cost of tuition for CIT’s or a paycheck for staff, camp is a unique opportunity to build lasting friendships, create incredible memories, and be part of a supportive team.

Unlike retail or office jobs, where young workers may have limited opportunities to bond with co-workers, camp is all about community. CIT’s and Counselors work, lead, and laugh together, creating friendships that last a lifetime. They spend their days leading fun activities, developing leadership skills, and having an absolute blast in the process.

Camp is an opportunity to learn all of these essential life skills while playing games, going on an overnight canoe trip, riding horses, or engaging in a rousing game of “Queen of the Court”. Where else can you build leadership, teamwork, and decision-making skills while having so much fun?

4. Camp Experiences/Jobs for Various Age Groups

CIT Program: Rising 11th & 12th Graders (16-17 yrs of age)

• First “official” leadership role, guiding younger campers and assisting in activities.
• A stepping stone to becoming a counselor (and just being a really great leader!).
• Develop leadership, communication, and confidence while still enjoying camp activities and cabin life.
• Opportunity to earn community service hours.

Counselor/Support Staff Roles: Rising College Freshman (18+ yrs)

• A paid summer job that builds real leadership, organization, and team management skills.
• Leadership opportunities to run certain aspects of camp program.
• Room, board, and ongoing personal/professional development is provided.

5. Camp is a Summer Job that Prepares Kids for a Lifetime of Success

Unlike retail jobs or internships where young employees may be stuck running errands, camp puts emerging leaders in charge of real responsibilities. They make decisions, solve problems, mentor kids, and create memorable experiences—all while gaining valuable job skills that will set them up for future success.

At Camp Woodland, we’re dedicated to helping children discover their passions, explore endless possibilities, achieve meaningful goals, and navigate the ups & downs of any given day. Our programs are organized into 10 different studios that balance skill-building, character development, and unforgettable fun, with friendship and personal growth at the heart of every experience.

Guided by our experienced and caring counselors and leadership team, we nurture great qualities in our 5 core values of respect, community, growth, safety and responsibility. We empower young people to make smart choices, try new things, and thrive—all while having the time of their lives!

Apply to be a CIT in 2025  (even if your camper has skipped a few summers!)

Apply to be a Counselor in 2025 (limited positions left for this year, and we start hiring for 2026 in the fall!)

Questions? Email: eaglerivercamps@gmail.com

Reference: Thank you DAC for the inspiration found in this blog!

From our respective locations in the non-summer months, we are starting to see signs of spring. Trees are budding, flowers are blooming, birds are chirping more frequently, ducks and geese are having their little ones, turtles are laying their eggs, pollen is covering cars and outside spaces, and yes, interesting cloud formations are seen due to the change of seasons. These are quiet but certainly noticeable signals that summer is near.

**Here is where you may expect to hear seasoned summer camp professionals spout anecdotes focused exclusively on excitement for the camp season appearing on the horizon; however, that wouldn’t be honest, or at least the full picture.**

Alongside the excitement—the anticipation of laughter echoing through camp, of campfires crackling, silly songs, and best friends reuniting or meeting for the first time—there’s something else: nerves.

We hear it from parents every spring, their daughters feeling a mix of eagerness and uncertainty as they count down the days to the start of camp. We feel it, too. Even after many years (100+ if you add them all together) for the Woodland leadership team, we still get that flutter in our stomach as the camp season approaches.

Not because something is wrong, but because something meaningful is about to begin.

Just as we operate in our camp community—navigating homesickness, encouraging growth, and meeting campers right where they are—we lean in to these conversations. By doing so, nerves around new experiences, like camp, which can feel complex and even isolating, become something else: shared, understood, and even simple.

Good news!

If you are feeling a bit nervous about the camp season ahead, that is 100% normal.

First, nerves mean you care about the right things—being seen, heard, and valued. Feeling them is proof that the experience ahead matters to you.

Nerves aren’t a signal to back away; they’re a sign you’re stepping into something important. They’re proof that you’re engaged, you’re growing, and you’re about to do something worth doing.

You’re in Good Company

Nerves have a way of making us feel isolated, like we’re the only ones experiencing them. But the truth? They’re far more common than you might think. That flutter of uncertainty? Nearly everyone feels it—even the most seasoned campers, counselors, and, yes, camp directors and the leadership team.

What’s reassuring is that camp is designed for moments like these. It’s a place where challenges aren’t faced alone, where growth happens in a community setting. From the first handshake at check-in to the final wave good-bye at Parents Weekend, every camper is invited to discover that their nerves aren’t a barrier—they’re a bridge to something bigger.

Nerves are a Welcome to the Work We’re Doing.

Unlike school, clubs, sports teams, or even church, camp is different. There’s no grade to earn, no trophy to chase, no rigid agenda to follow. At Woodland, our focus isn’t on performance—it’s on people. The only metric of success is how well we show up for one another.

That’s why nerves belong here. They’re a signal that we’re stepping into something real—something that asks us to look beyond ourselves and lean into bits of life we may not be able to at home. At Woodland, our entire staff practice noticing who needs a hand, who needs encouragement, and who just needs someone to sit beside.

So if you or your daughter are feeling those pre-camp nerves, take heart—you’re in the right place. They’re not a sign to retreat; they’re a sign you’re stepping into something meaningful.

Step into something meaningful with us and reserve a spot at Camp Woodland for 2025!

Thank you to a WNC camp for the inspiration found in this blog!