Camp Woodland Blog

Hello! I am the proud father of a Woodland camper. Like many of you, we are counting down the days till camp (and have been for quite some time!). I’d like to share a random smattering of miscellaneous thoughts with you about having a daughter go to Camp Woodland as you may have some questions or thoughts you are wrestling with.

A Quick Drop Off is Key

For the past few years I have made the drive with our daughter from Chicago to Eagle River. We stay at a hotel the night before and go out for a special dinner together. We rise early in the morning, grab breakfast at one of the local restaurants, make a stop at Cathy’s Ice Cream, and head to camp. Drop offs are better when they are short and sweet. A hug and a kiss, the reassurance of our love for her, and off she goes. Now is not the time for an extended goodbye. Send her off with your full confidence. You can get emotional all you want when you get back in the car, eat your feelings with more ice cream at Cathy’s, and drive home.

On Writing Letters/Emails

I personally find writing to our daughter to be a confusing and frustrating experience. I want to shower her with love so she knows I am thinking about her, but what do I say? I want to ask her all the questions: What did you do today? Did anything surprise you? What did you learn? Who did you sit with? But one-way conversations tend to be challenging. Also – do I tell her how much I love her and miss her? Do I tell her the fun things that are happening back at home? Will that trigger an unintended homesickness? It’s tough. And while this is not the magic solution, here’s what I’ve done for her time at camp.

• I try to write a hand-written letter once a week. And an email every 2-3 days.
• I ask some questions. Not a ton. Just enough to show her that I care about her experience there and that I’m curious about it.
• I share with her some relevant things that are happening back home. Nothing that I think might create unnecessary longing in her. But just the normal stuff: Our dog did something silly the other day. Your brother had a piano recital yesterday and crushed it. I pulled my back out from sleeping weird.
• I tell her that I love her, I am thinking about her, and that I’m proud of her.
• I also include silly poems and drawings. I make little puzzles and riddles for her to do in her free time. I share with her a list of jokes.

Looking at Photos

I love to sit down and look through the pics when they get posted every few days. It becomes a bit of a ritual for us. When you do see a picture of your daughter, don’t overanalyze it. She isn’t smiling in that one, do you think she’s unhappy? She’s next to that one girl in lots of pics, who is that and is that girl her new best friend? Just enjoy getting to see what she is doing. Let it fill your heart, and then close your computer.

Enjoy the Break

You’re getting some time away from your daughter/s. Don’t feel guilty about enjoying a little break. It’s good for every relationship to experience some periodic separation. Of course you miss her. We all know that. Just enjoy having a quieter house for several weeks. After all, she is having way more fun than you are anyway.

Post-Camp Data Dump

When your daughter finally returns home, carve out some special time for an initial data dump. Hear all the stories. Let her show you the arts and crafts projects she has made. Have her walk you through her schedule. Go through the website pics with her, and have her share with you what was happening in each. Her re-entry will require many of these types of conversations, but we like to do an initial download and data dump while things are fresh. Also, don’t be surprised if her emotions are all over the place. You don’t have canteen or goodnight singers at home, and leaving a world without technology can be a shock to the system.

Be Grateful

Camp Woodland for Girls is an extraordinary gift. Our daughter comes home and is noticeably different in the best of ways  – more mature, more free, more confident, more self-aware, more caring. Camp Woodland is helping her grow into an extraordinary young woman. Don’t miss the opportunity to be grateful for the gift that is a summer experience at Camp Woodland!