In the United States, overnight camp is a rite of passage for many kids – offering a chance to make new friends, explore the outdoors, challenge themselves, and get a break from technology. Here at Quinebarge in New Hampshire we find that honesty is the best approach – most campers at some point will get homesick, it is completely normal! Luckily, our staff is trained on how to recognize homesickness quickly and help your first time camper move past it. Normally, most campers are over their homesickness in a couple hours engaged in our camp programming and thriving!
For most of our campers, it’s the first night that is the hardest – a new routine, an unfamiliar bed, new people can all spark a bit of homesickness. This is a completely normal part of the summer camp experience and overcoming this can help campers become more resilient and independent! Our well trained staff are on the look-out to spot these campers on the first evening so they can be coached to success.
One of the tricks we use to ‘cure’ homesickness is creating connections and friendships between campers. Our staff are trained to help facilitate these relationships through intentional team building, activities, and unstructured cabin time. Once campers create these bonds they realize homesickness is a normal part of the camp experience! The support these friendships create helps them find a sense of belonging and alleviates some of the anxiety around homesickness. Our small cabin size of 6-10 campers helps them connect, engage, and thrive!
We alway tell campers and families that an engaged camper is a happy camper! We keep our campers busy at Quinebarge – with 10 activities to choose from, campers are never bored. Campers can sign up for boating, high ropes, arts and crafts, horseback riding, and more! Our evenings are filled with Campfire-fires, capture the flag, and cabin bonding. Our campers gain a sense of accomplishment and confidence with these activities, and this new independence helps lessen homesickness dramatically. Campers will leave Quinebarge with a new-found confidence in being able to tackle these new challenges, whether it was the zip-line or homesickness!
A well timed letter from home can really help a camper feel connected and empowered to succeed. We have found in our experience positive and upbeat letters are best – letters with lots of questions will help a camper think about their experience and want to share their successes with you, Campers love receiving physical mail – especially with photos or comics they can hang on their bunk! It gives them something tangible to re-read and helps them stay positive about their experience.
Our Quinebarge staff are here to help your camper navigate this new experience with empathy, support, and empowerment. We will give your campers the tools to succeed and overcome homesickness so that they become confident and independent young people! Our staff act as mentors offering encouragement and comfort when needed so campers know they are not alone. Our inclusive and welcoming environment reminds campers that the are all an integral part of our camp community and we value them as they are – no need to change!
While some campers may struggle initially with homesickness or anxiety about camp, the transformative experience of overnight camp is worth the initial challenge! Campers will come home with stories of new friendships, experiences, and confidence. We hope to instill in our campers a sense of resilience and independence, along with the friendship and fun, that is an integral part of the Quinebarge experience! These life skills will hopefully help campers face other challenges with the knowledge that they can conquer anything
Overnight summer camp is a transformative experience that challenges campers to step out of their comfort zones and embrace the unknown. While homesickness may initially cast a shadow, the stories of those who have faced and conquered it prove that the rewards of camp—lasting friendships, newfound confidence, and unforgettable memories—are well worth the temporary discomfort. As we celebrate the resilience of these young campers, we are reminded that overcoming homesickness is not just a triumph at camp but a valuable life skill that will serve them well in the future.