Camp Woodland Blog

One of the fun things we’ve noticed at shared camp activities, from the Fourth of July campfire and activity exchanges to TP or Woodland Fair and the Coed Show, is how much siblings and cousins enjoy seeing each other. We see those connections at each individual camp, too.

It’s awesome to watch them look for each other, exchange a hello (and sometimes a hug), and check in. We love these family moments, whether it’s between brothers, between sisters, between a brother and sister, or between cousins.

More Than a Summer Thing

We don’t know if it’s something about camp or the families who find their way here, but we’ve noticed something special. Brothers and sisters who come to Towering Pines and Woodland don’t just get along during the summer. They often get along at home, too.

We hear it from our staff, especially those who were campers themselves and have returned to work here. They got along with their siblings at camp. And they still do.

A Shared Language

Each kid comes to camp and builds a world of their own. They make friends, discover new interests, and collect stories that become part of a shared language, a kind of childhood lore that belongs just to them and their siblings or cousins. Friends at home might not understand the inside jokes. Parents only sort of get them.

Each kid has their own friends, activities, and adventures. So when they seek each other out throughout the day or during a combined camp activity, it’s because they want to.

At home, siblings and cousins share family gatherings, traditions, and time together. Camp gives them a different way to connect: looking out for each other, sharing experiences, and creating memories that belong to them.

Never Embarrassing

At school, having your sibling around can be embarrassing. At camp, it’s almost the opposite.

Everyone is excited to meet someone’s brother or sister, whether they’re older or younger. Campers’ friends want to know their friends’ siblings, include them, and help them feel part of the camp community. There’s something special about being known as the sibling who looks out for someone younger. Having a brother or sister here creates a natural connection to other campers across ages and groups.

Cousins have their own special place in this story, too. They get to share camp memories, introduce each other to friends, and enjoy having a familiar face in a place where they’re also building an identity of their own.

Whether they’re siblings or cousins, there’s something special about having family at camp. It means having a familiar face in the crowd, someone who knows your family stories, and a connection that reaches beyond your own group of friends.

Room for One More

If your child comes to camp and their brother, sister, or cousin doesn’t yet, there’s another part of the camp experience waiting to be shared. Imagine the little moments: spotting each other on the way to an activity, sharing a hug at a campfire, cheering each other on, or laughing about a camp story long after summer ends.

Registration for Summer 2027 is open, and we’d love to welcome more siblings and cousins to the Towering Pines and Woodland family! 

If a younger sibling, cousin, or first-timer isn’t quite ready for a full summer, three or four weeks can be a wonderful place to start.

Kids need room to grow. Camp is about making friends, discovering who you are, and growing in independence. And sometimes, along the way, you discover a new kind of friendship with someone who has been part of your life all along.