Parents! You drop your child off at camp, say your goodbyes and then you leave that child in the care of these certain amazing individuals we call, camp counselors. Those counselors are going to be the ones on the front lines giving your child the best growing experience of their young lives. You are entrusting your child to us. That’s a big responsibility, but guess what; we are highly trained, compassionate individuals who want nothing more than the safe well-being of your child.
But how do you know this is what your child is getting?
This is when those fancy parent letters come into play. Personalized letters seem like a thing of the past. People seem to turn to social media “stalking” to get information or communicate with other people. The camper letter, however, is a personal and sentimental account of what your child has accomplished over their time at camp. It shows that the counselors are paying attention not to just what your child is doing in activities but how they are growing as a person while at camp.
Although campers send home letters to their parents throughout their camp experience, most of the time they leave out certain details or don’t say much at all (generally a sign they are having too much fun while at camp). The counselor’s letter adds to the amazing experiences your child is having. It adds the friendships that have bonded, the struggles they have overcome, and the mountains they have climbed and then jumped off into new experiences. This certain letter helps bring about a certain peace of mind, and tranquility that might help the parent through the separation. The parents can realize the impact camp has on their children. The impact it has on their physical, mental, and social capabilities. These soothing letters provide that sense of worth that you hope your child is getting while at camp.
The counselors take a great deal of time writing, re-writing, correcting mistakes, and then possibly throwing it away and starting over again on these letters. They want you to feel the pride they feel when these events happen to your child. They want you to know that you might the correct decision of sending your child to camp. They want you to know that even though your child might not realize it, they are growing is the most positive of ways in their youth. These letters do just that. They are not just part of the job description. They are an intricate part of the camp and keeping your relationship with the camp to the highest standards.
So when you as a parent, receive a letter from a counselor, think of it as an outreach of further trust between yourself and the entire camp and what it holds dear to every counselor’s heart. That the true meaning of these amazing, and time-developed letters are to ensure that you know your child is receiving an amazing experience at camp, and these counselors and directors are proud to help partner with you in helping your child grow in every aspect of their lives.