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w h a t o n l y t h e c a m p e r s k n o w a b o u t c a m p chris m. will be attending
camp
rockmont for the fifth year this summer and shares that making friends at
camp
isn?t hard because everyone is really friendly. ?i go up to
people
and just say ?hello, my name is chris. where are you from??? for chris, this simple question has led to a lot of friendships at
camp
. it?s as simple as introducing yourself. and don?t worry, the majority of the
camp
ers are in the same exact boat you are. ?ey are all wanting to meet new friends and have a fun experience at
camp
, but they just might need someone else to make the introduction first. there is a lot of support at
camp
whether it is your first time or third time. while being away from home was an adjustment for hap, he felt that the staff helped him transition well. ?being homesick is natural; just know that you are not in it alone,? says hap. ?remember the staff want you to succeed, and your parents are at home cheering you on knowing it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,? says julia. however for chris, he was surprised to find out that he didn?t spend a lot of time thinking about what was
going
on at home. ?by the time i got settled into
camp
and was used to everything, i didn?t miss home as much,? he adds. come prepared. ?i always bring a journal so i can write down really memorable things or funny things that happened and then flip back a year later to get a good laugh,? says julia. also, most
camp
s provide a packing list so you won?t forget important items when packing for
camp
. ?remember to bring books and writing supplies. i bring a lot of chapter books to help last all summer. at
camp
, we have a lot of free time and during that time, we get to write letters to our families. we will also receive letters from our families each day,? chris adds. ?
camp
is just an awesome experience that everyone should get to have. i think the main thing about
going
to
camp
is that even though it seems nerve-racking at first to leave your parents and go somewhere where you do not know many
people
, know that it is
going
to be okay and that you are about to build a relationship that is
going
to last forever with your counselors and fellow
camp
ers. even though you feel like you may be a little homesick at first, it is
going
to be worth it,? julia shares. ? teamwork is emphasized. ??ey have friendly competitions at
camp
like ?lights out? and ?clean cabin? so whichever cabin is the cleanest gets a piece of candy,? says hap. if you prefer to relax, you can do those friendly competitions and are not obligated to participate in too many other activities. the
camp
wants you to be free of distractions. ?you cannot bring iphones and watches or anything with a power cord; it has to all be battery-operated,? he shares. however, julia assures that you do not have to lose touch while away. ?my
camp
let my parents email me, and they would print it out and give it to me, so that is a way that we keep in touch. i also write them letters back,? she adds. ask questions and be open with staff about any questions or concerns. ?a lot of
people
were anxious at first not knowing what to expect because there is always room for curiosity about what is
going
to happen, but
camp
has a warm, open environment and the counselors are really good
people
to talk to,? says julia. you will meet a lot of new
people
.
going
away with a friend can make a difference, too. ?
camp
offers a get together where you can invite friends to watch a video on the
camp
. ?e activities they showed on the video really caught my eye. i thought it was something i wanted to try out, but only one-third of the
people
go with a friend,? says julia. but, you will meet
people
from all over. ?it is a really cool experience with a wide mix of
people
,? she adds. march 2017 | brparents.com 75
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