Camp Woodland Blog

As the amount of time left at camp is coming to an end this weekend, I am reminded of an interesting phenomenon that happened just recently when my husband and I were out on the water enjoying a sunset cruise and an epic evening of dolphin watching. At some point close to the time we were about to head for the marina, we both noticed that we were “in irons” (to borrow a sailing term). We had just turned the engine off to give the dolphins some “space” and, for a brief period of time, the boat held steady.

Slack Tide

Our position is normally affected by tide, wind, current and the speed and direction of the boat. We could tell by several landmarks on either side that we were not moving at all. We were caught perfectly between the transition of an outgoing and incoming tide (known as slack tide). The water needs a moment to switch directions if you will. Thus, we were living in the space between where we were and where we were going.

In many ways, this perfectly sums up the last few days of camp. The girls will be living in that space between camp (where they have been for the past 6 weeks) and home (where they are going for the next 10 months). I have to admit, staying in the same position when things were moving around us, felt kind of strange. It felt as if we were “caught” in limbo and had little to no control over the span of those few minutes. It was almost like being in slow motion. Things felt “right” again when the tide finally fully switched directions, and we were clearly headed in one of them.

Be Where Your Feet Are

This is all to give you a little heads up and to prepare you for what you may experience this coming weekend when you arrive to pick up your daughter at camp or at the destination airport of where she lands to meet you. The last few days of camp always feel a little strange, even for those of us who know what is coming. Every year it hits differently for each individual.

The best advice I can give is to let the transition happen naturally. To borrow the words I hear often from a good friend, let your daughter/s “be where their feet are.” Not a bad idea for all of us! Time will vanish in the blink of an eye. She will appreciate your understanding even if she doesn’t voice it out loud.

Opposing Tides

Your daughter/s will feel the pull of two opposing “tides” – the outgoing tide is the incredible experience that she has been part of independently of her family and the incoming tide from that same family who has missed her and has lots of questions to ask and stories to tell from home. You may notice that she will feel “caught” between the two. She will have spurts when she is super happy to see you and any other family members along for the ride, and then she may retreat at other times to savor every last moment with her cabin mates and camp friends.

YAY Emotions!

FYI – emotions will be all over the place this weekend! In fact, one of our counselors shared earlier this week that she is very emotional already partly because she has to tear away for a period of time to the office to register for classes for the upcoming school year. It’s hard to think about what’s next when all you want to do is stay right here. We will have had several nights go later than our normal bedtime due to Coed Show (Thursday) and Banquet & Candlelight (Friday). Deviating from our set routines will also play into any “moodiness” that may come across.

It’s 100% Normal

Trust me – it is 100% normal. Please don’t take it personally if you get a quick hug and then she runs off. She may go to the other extreme and talk your ear off and want to show you everything. You will hear about every adventure she had over the course of the 6 weeks as you walk around camp and be introduced to every person she knows (which will be the entire camp community including the horses, bunnies, chickens, ducks, and camp dogs!).

Please know that as you read this, your daughter/s love you very much! They can’t wait to see you – 6 weeks is a long time to be separated. They are just a little nervous in anticipation of what this coming weekend means. It is hard to understand from your point of view, and it is hard to explain from their perspective. One of our campers from a few years ago gave me the idea to write a blog about the “closing of camp and the opening of home.” She was describing in her own words the “slack tide” that I am writing about here.

The Space Between Where We Are And Where We Are Going

At some point when she is ready, the tide will naturally change directions. Things will feel right again. Your daughter/s will move out of the space where she is now to the place where she is going. She/they will get in the car and start the (long) drive home. You will hear about camp A LOT in the upcoming days, and then as things return to “normal” at home with the start of school and activities, you may not hear about it as much. Or, it will pop into a conversation out of the blue because something or someone will remind her of those glorious 6 weeks at Camp Woodland.

We hope that you recognize the wonderful gift you gave your daughter/s by sending them to camp. Often material gifts are novel for a short period of time and then they go unused or forgotten. You gave your child the VERY. BEST. GIFT. OF. ALL. TIME. You will see the effects of the Woodland experience all year long (and beyond!). We THANK YOU for sharing your most precious gift with us and hope you will consider having her return for 2026 (click HERE to register)!

p.s. The CIT’s are SUPER excited for you to see the Co-Ed Show on Saturday night at 7:30 pm at Towering Pines!