What to expect when they come home from Camp Foley…
Coming home from Camp Foley can be its own transition. Your camper has spent weeks making decisions, managing friendships, following a schedule, trying new things, and solving problems independently. Returning home means adjusting to a familiar environment, different routines, and being back with family. That adjustment can take time.
If your camper seems emotional, tired, clingy, irritable, withdrawn, or more sensitive than usual, it does not necessarily mean something went wrong at camp. In many cases, it is simply part of reentry.
Don’t Mistake Transition for Regression
A camper who made their own bed, managed their belongings, and handled daily responsibilities at camp may suddenly want more help at home. They may want to be tucked in, need extra reassurance, or rely on you more than they did before camp. This does not mean they lost their independence. Children often return to familiar behaviors when they are tired and adjusting. Give them support while continuing to encourage the independence they developed at camp.
Your Camper May Be “Campsick”
We talk about homesickness at camp, but campers can also miss camp once they return home. They may miss their friends, counselors, activities, routines, or the independence they experienced. Try not to take this personally. Missing Camp Foley does not mean they are unhappy to be home. It means camp became an important place where they felt connected and belonged. Help them maintain those connections by looking through photos, writing to camp friends, saving birthdays on the calendar, or staying connected with their cabin group.
Expect Some Changes
Your camper may return home with new preferences and stronger opinions. They may want more independence with food, activities, schedules, or responsibilities. They may also test rules or have more attitude than usual. Lead with curiousity! Camp may have shown your child that they are ready for more responsibility or more opportunities to make their own choices. Maintain appropriate boundaries while giving them room to practice their growing independence.
Let Them Rest
Camp is physically and mentally tiring. Your camper has likely been active all day, socializing constantly, learning new skills, and staying up later than usual. Give them time to sleep and decompress. If possible, avoid immediately filling the first few days home with family gatherings, travel, or a packed schedule. A slower transition can help them readjust. And don’t stress too much about the laundry. The camp towels and mysterious socks can wait while you hear the stories.
Listen to the Camp Stories
Your camper may tell you everything, or they may not want to talk at all. Either response is normal. When they do want to share, listen. Even if the story involves people you’ve never met, inside jokes you don’t understand, or an event that makes absolutely no sense without being there, those stories are important to them.
A Few Ground Rules for the First Week Home
- Let them rest. Give your camper time to catch up physically and mentally.
- Keep the schedule simple. Avoid packing the first few days with activities and commitments.
- Listen without pushing. Let your camper decide when and how much they want to talk about camp.
- Keep camp connections going. Encourage appropriate contact with camp friends and cabinmates.
- Encourage independence. If your camper wants to make breakfast, help with dinner, organize their things, or make more choices, give them opportunities to do so.
- Don’t overreact to temporary behavior changes. Tiredness, irritability, clinginess, and extra sass can be part of the transition.
- Start looking ahead. Talking about next summer can give your camper something positive to look forward to.
Reentry Is Part of the Camp Experience
Your camper is not supposed to come home exactly the same as when they left. Camp is designed to help young people grow in independence, confidence, resilience, and connection. Sometimes that growth is easy to see. Sometimes it looks like a tired camper who needs to be tucked in after spending weeks taking care of themselves. Give them time to transition, celebrate what they learned, and let the experience continue to shape them at home. Coming home is not the end of the camp experience. It is where your camper gets to bring what they learned at Camp Foley into the rest of their life.