Camp Woodland 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!