New first time campers ages 12 and younger will be paired up with an older camper who has been with us before.  This is our Big Brother,Little Brother/ Big Sister, Little Sister Program.  in May, we will email parents of the younger ones and email the older campers with a copy of the emails to their parents. Each Little Brother/Little Sister will receive a phone call/ email or text from their Big Brother or Big Sister before camp begins to introduce themselves and to talk about camp and all the excitement that’s soon to come. We have a number of exciting events scheduled during the summer, including a BBQ at the pool.

HOMESICKNESS...Many first year campers have never been away from home for an extended period of time. Homesickness is a natural result of the changes in a child’s environment. Parents can take courage from the fact that many campers do not experience this, and those that do recover swiftly. All of the camp staff, from the director down, are prepared to help the youngster with the adjustment, expedited with the cooperation of the parent. Both parents and children are anxious for camp to resume after having been at home for more than a year. Yet, we understand and are preparing for a few more homesick nuances resulting from the pandemic.

These suggestions are designed to help you prepare your child for camp.

At Home...If your camper exhibits concern about going to camp, encourage them to talk to you about it. It is helpful to tell your child that such concerns are normal and that many other campers feel the same way. If there are specific worries about 2021 protocols, bunkmates, clothes, or anything else, let your child call the camp office and speak with me. Often specific answers are not necessary after the child has had the opportunity to express themselves to a receptive ear.

Don’t be ambivalent about the length of your child’s stay at camp. There should be no trial periods. They are there for a full session and should understand this. A “try-out” approach is a sure loser, certain to create a serious homesickness problem at camp. Send a note or care package (Remember-No Food) ahead of time to arrive the first day of camp. Acknowledge, in a positive way, that you will miss your child. For example, you can say “I am going to miss you, but I know that you will have a good time at camp.”  Reassure your child that everything at home will be the same as when they left; that pets will be cared for, possessions protected, etc. If, for some reason, this is not possible, let me know so that we can be effectively supportive. Don’t bribe. Linking a successful stay at camp to a material object sends the wrong message. The reward should be your child’s new found confidence and independence and being able to connect and/or reconnect with camp friends.

Please notify me of any upsetting event that may have occurred prior to camp, or is to occur during the summer. This might include illness or death in the family, poor school grades, divorce or moving to a new house or city or exceptional anxiety during the last year +.

Departures either at camp, the bus or airport will be necessarily brief this summer. Prepare your child for that.  No long goodbyes. 

Remember, our staff will always be there to help make you and your child feel comfortable.
Be sure that you complete the online health history, confidential camper form and activity profile forms as completely and as soon as possible. Don’t forget to include a photo! While the camp is designed to provide instruction and recreation in many areas, certain campers may have a more rewarding time if encouraged in specific activities. The camp staff’s knowledge of your child’s interests (and phobias!) can be helpful in arranging the most appropriate program from the wide variety of activities that French Woods offers.

At Camp...Your cooperation is needed to ensure a successful summer for your child. Most children are resilient and adapt successfully to new situations. Parents, however, sometimes find it difficult to adjust to their children being away from home. To prevent any negative effects on your campers, write or email frequently with good news and a cheerful tone - chatty and pleasant. Try not to telephone except in an emergency. Contact me if you have a special concern. Be assured we will contact you if your child is experiencing difficulties. Remember children can call you after the first week of each session.

If a “rescue call” comes from the child, offer calm reassurance and put the time frame into perspective. Above all, avoid the temptation to take the child home early. Should you receive an upsetting call or email, telephone me immediately. My staff and I will help. MAKE NO PROMISES. This is a sure route to failure.

Talk candidly with me or your child’s head counselor to obtain our perspective on your child’s adjustment. Don’t feel guilty about encouraging your child to stay at camp. For many children, camp is a first step toward independence and plays an important role in their growth and development, especially now.

Conclusion...Camp is an experience that cannot be replicated in any other environment. It offers the opportunity for your child to achieve the poise and confidence that comes with the mastery of skills and the sociability developed as a vital participant in a structured and democratic community of their peers. French Woods works diligently to assemble the best staff possible. Countless hours throughout the year go into preparation and evaluation of the camp program and of course to keep everyone safe. 

Rose and I, along with our furry family members, Bella and Shelby, will be driving up to camp in 2 short weeks. We miss you all terribly and look forward to our reunion with all of you. Just remember it's 47 days till Session 1 and 66  days till Session 2.

Won't be long now,

Isaac

There is a strong feeling by camp professionals that summer camp is the perfect antidote to pandemic living for our kids and we at French Woods whole-heartedly agree.  Children will have spent more than a year at home tethered to parents, to a screen, a cell phone and social media.  All of us long for 'normalcy.' But at the same time, the limits we have  grown accustomed to whether it be only getting half dressed for work, logging on to school while under the covers, being allowed to lunge for our cell phones to text and check our texts - all have become unnatural comforts. 

The last few months, our winter office phones at French Woods have been very busy, which is great. Parents are realizing that after two compromised school years and everything that’s gone along with it, that their childrens' needs for the benefits of French Woods camp will be vitally important. The emotional and physical well-being of our campers is not just on the forefront of parent's minds though. Carolyn, Jade and I have been holding Zoom sessions with our teen campers and I am reporting back that this is a primary concern of our teens. They very much long to get back to camp, with all the hope of returning to real, human connection, but they feel that the kids at camp will still need some coping mechanisms. What was exciting is that through thoughts of being at French Woods, they brainstormed and came up with so many suggestions and ideas of what they could do to help each other and the other campers. It was heartwarming. We want our kids to grow up "...with the kind of courage and “can-do” attitude that our health care, essential workers, and superhero school teachers have learned and cultivated." 

This summer will get back to confidence, self-advocation, creativity and social interaction with no internet connection or mute button needed. At French Woods we support one another without judgment.

Workshops this weekend will feature Carolyn doing some in-the-bunk training for our Supers about homesickness and conflict resolution with a separate session for our 1st and 2nd year CIT's also including the topic of homesickness during a pandemic era.

Carolyn will also talk about the idea of a camp library (remember no wifi at camp) and a service project of our CITs and Supers bringing a book to camp to donate to the library!

We would like all our first and second CIT's to be a part of the Big Brother, Little Brother/ Big Sister, Little Sister Program at camp.
New first time campers ages 12 and younger will be paired up with an older camper who has been with us before.  These newbie campers will be assigned a Big Brother or Big Sister in May.  We  email parents of the younger ones and email the older campers with a copy to their parents.  Your charge is to call/ email or text your Little Brother /Little Sister when you get my email. Ideally you will get to talk and/or facetime - introducing yourself and talking about camp and all the excitement that’s soon to come. During the summer, we  have a number of exciting events scheduled including a BBQ at the pool. 

And remember...We want our CITs to want to be empowered by offering them the opportunity to BE the change by BEING an Impact Artist™ and amplifying their youth voices. 

Please email cit@frenchwoods.com for all questions, comments or concerns.

We have a new vendor for official French Woods gear at Frenchwoods.jollyquill.com check them out and take advantage of their opening days sale with some limited availability items for up to 50% off.

It’s mid-April and I am more than ready to get to camp. I am so looking forward to seeing all of you and working with you on the four shows I’ll be directing. Life has become so complicated here in Florida, I am waiting to see my friends in Hancock. Louie has sent me pictures of the new bunks and I can’t wait to see them in person. Right now, Barbara and I are planning to arrive in camp in mid-May. My gator is ready for use. Climb on.

Ron