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andrew vincent, twin lakes summer
camp
?much of the way twin lakes helps
camp
er
s
integrate into our program happens behind the scenes. we select and train a high-quality staff of counselors who invest in each
camp
er and focus on their individual needs. our desire is to get every
camp
er involved as quickly as possible. in order to give
camp
ers the best opportunity to meet and make new friends, we pay attention to the way we assign
camp
ers to cabins. we do not, knowingly, assign large groups of
camp
ers who already know one another to the same cabin so that other
camp
ers can more easily be included into the group, rather than excluded. once
camp
ers arrive, meet one another, and get started with all of the fun activities and programs offered at twin lakes, the rest just happens on its own.? q. what are ways you help
camp
ers who are experiencing homesickness? how do you help them overcome it? ta'lynn "goofy" belle ?as girl scout
camp
counselors, we always try to offer as many comforts from home as possible in the
camp
environment. i always bring a stuffed animal from home, and i will lend it to a
camp
er who is struggling with homesickness. you would think something so small wouldn't make a difference, but it always seems to brighten their day.? steven peacock ?the easiest way to help a
camp
er who is homesick is to not let him dwell upon the fact that he is homesick. this comes in a variety of ways, including distracting him with events, engaging the child with other kids, and encouraging the child to immerse himself in the
camp
atmosphere. if this doesn?t work, the next step is to remind him how short a week is: today is monday, tomorrow is tuesday, and basically, it?s saturday, etc.? from the experts
camp
q & a q. how do you help
camp
ers integrate into the
camp
community? susan hooks, riverview
camp
for girls ?most of the
camp
ers watch our website and youtube videos, and they already feel a connection when they arrive. they choose a
camp
team during check in, so that is exciting for them. once in their cabins, they set up their beds and spaces, and with girls, that meets the ?nesting instinct? and is another level of self-comfort. after parents leave, each cabin will have a cabin meeting and get to know their cabin mates, and then, the entire
camp
has lunch (cabins sit together). there is just immediate integration into the
camp
community throughout the day?s activities. of course, a
camp
tour of their ?new
camp
home? is always included. we want new
camp
ers to feel like they are coming home, too, just like prior year
camp
ers. every
camp
er in our
camp
community feels important!? after compiling your most commonly asked questions, we reached out to
camp
directors,
camp
counselors,
camp
ers, and local parents who know a thing or two about
camp
to get the answers you're looking for. director counselor 5 2 b r p a r e n t s . c o m | 2 0 1 9
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