CHAPTER 14
CLOSING DAY
THE END IS THE BEGINNING
When we each got picked up from camp in the summer of 1980, we had no idea that we would still be returning to the same camp two decades later. Closing day is the end of one camp experience, but it can also be the beginning of something amazing. Perhaps it will be the beginning of a childhood enriched by yearly trips to camp, of ten or eleven months of longing for the next opening day, or, in some cases, of revisiting the process of choosing a camp. Although you will be delighted to be reunited with your son or daughter, jumping back into the car and speeding off may not be the best way to enjoy a smooth closing day. This chapter will guide you through that important final day of camp so you can soak it all in and plan for next year.
PLAN THE PICKUP
“I’m sorry. I thought closing day was tomorrow.” Believe it or not, in our many years as a cabin leader, we have actually witnessed a few parents who didn’t show up on closing day. It was devastating to their kids’ sense of self-worth and trust in their parents. There’s really no excuse for forgetting the date, but it happens. If your camp doesn’t hand out reminders, write your own. If you’ve forgotten to do this, check the camp’s information packet now or call the camp directly.
As with visiting day, getting picked up on time on closing day is a big deal to kids. Your camp will probably give you a time window of several hours. We recommend that you decide what hour in that window works best, and then follow through faithfully. If you agree that pick-up will be between 9:30 and 10:30, don’t show up at noon. Your child had a great time at camp, and now she’s eager to show you.
Now that we’ve restated our point about punctuality, we must also say that you should not show up at camp before the camp’s pick-up time starts. If the camp publishes a pick-up time slot of 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., don’t drive in at 8:00 a.m. Campers and staff are extraordinarily busy before closing day, and have planned to use their closing day time to pack, clean up, say good-bye to friends, and finish projects for parents. If you show up early, you might not even find your child because he’s running around doing something. In that case, you haven’t saved any time at all. Please be respectful of the camp’s published pick-up time.
Plan to spend a little time at camp on closing day. You’ll have administrative chores to complete, such as closing accounts, signing out, talking with the cabin leader, possibly checking with the medical staff, and combing through the lost-and-found. (Don’t worry, staff members will be around to guide you through these steps.) Most important, many kids want to share their positive experiences, give their parents a tour of camp, and introduce new friends. Of course, some kids just want to get in the car and go, even though they had a great time.
Ultimately, it’s difficult to predict how long you’ll spend at camp on closing day, but don’t count on anything less than an hour. Rushing into camp earlier than planned and announcing that you have to check out immediately so that you can make a 1:00 p.m. tee-time can add unnecessary trauma to the day. (Yes, we’ve heard parents use that tacky excuse.) You haven’t spent time together as a family for a while. Plan to do so on closing day, and don’t pack your schedule with other appointments.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM KIDS
Kids’ reactions to being reunited with their parents are tough to predict, as we hinted above. Rather than predict your family’s exact experience, let us share with you some typical reactions that
we’ve seen over the years. These descriptions are a bit abstract. No child will behave exactly like these stereotypes, but it’s helpful to know how widely kids’ reunion behavior varies. Your child may show a combination of these responses.
The Fountain of Youth: Fountain of Youth kids will be very excited about their camp experience and will immediately want to describe everything about camp in two minutes. Parents will be drenched with a steady stream of stories and explanations that they may not completely understand. Not to worry. Fountain of Youth kids know that their parents are the most important people in their lives, so they want to share with them all the great things that happened. Whirlwind tours of important places and people are a common part of this sharing. Parents should just smile and go along for the ride (with a camera, of course!).
The Poker Face. Poker Face kids probably had a great time at camp, but are oddly quiet on closing day. They don’t want to tell their parents much right away, but parents should not assume this is because they disliked camp. It’s just that Poker Face kids have an especially hard time leaving. They may be a little depressed about leaving new friends and wonderful places. However, the stories and experiences, good or bad, will come out in time. Parents who want the scoop right away can spend a few extra minutes talking to the child’s cabin leader.
The Tearful Camper. Tearful Campers are visibly moved by the close of camp. Tears are a real testament to the power of the overnight camp experience. Indeed, a priceless moment for a cabin leader or a parent is witnessing a camper who cried when he arrived (because the separation was so hard) suddenly cry from sadness that he is leaving. Tearful Campers may want to leave quickly to avoid the awkwardness of the moment, or they may wish to linger. Parents should ask their child’s preference or play the day by ear.
The Sensationalist. Sensationalists immediately tell their parents the single most dramatic thing that happened to them during their camp stay. “When we were camping out, the tent stakes broke and it started to rain, and my sleeping bag got muddy, and then we heard thunder, and I thought we were gonna die!” Don’t assume the worst. All campers have a mix of powerful positive and negative experiences at camp. Sensationalists may tell horror stories, but most of them had a great time at camp. Parents should listen carefully to get a balanced account of the session.
CLOSING DAY
THE END IS THE BEGINNING
When we each got picked up from camp in the summer of 1980, we had no idea that we would still be returning to the same camp two decades later. Closing day is the end of one camp experience, but it can also be the beginning of something amazing. Perhaps it will be the beginning of a childhood enriched by yearly trips to camp, of ten or eleven months of longing for the next opening day, or, in some cases, of revisiting the process of choosing a camp. Although you will be delighted to be reunited with your son or daughter, jumping back into the car and speeding off may not be the best way to enjoy a smooth closing day. This chapter will guide you through that important final day of camp so you can soak it all in and plan for next year.
PLAN THE PICKUP
“I’m sorry. I thought closing day was tomorrow.” Believe it or not, in our many years as a cabin leader, we have actually witnessed a few parents who didn’t show up on closing day. It was devastating to their kids’ sense of self-worth and trust in their parents. There’s really no excuse for forgetting the date, but it happens. If your camp doesn’t hand out reminders, write your own. If you’ve forgotten to do this, check the camp’s information packet now or call the camp directly.
As with visiting day, getting picked up on time on closing day is a big deal to kids. Your camp will probably give you a time window of several hours. We recommend that you decide what hour in that window works best, and then follow through faithfully. If you agree that pick-up will be between 9:30 and 10:30, don’t show up at noon. Your child had a great time at camp, and now she’s eager to show you.
Now that we’ve restated our point about punctuality, we must also say that you should not show up at camp before the camp’s pick-up time starts. If the camp publishes a pick-up time slot of 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., don’t drive in at 8:00 a.m. Campers and staff are extraordinarily busy before closing day, and have planned to use their closing day time to pack, clean up, say good-bye to friends, and finish projects for parents. If you show up early, you might not even find your child because he’s running around doing something. In that case, you haven’t saved any time at all. Please be respectful of the camp’s published pick-up time.
Plan to spend a little time at camp on closing day. You’ll have administrative chores to complete, such as closing accounts, signing out, talking with the cabin leader, possibly checking with the medical staff, and combing through the lost-and-found. (Don’t worry, staff members will be around to guide you through these steps.) Most important, many kids want to share their positive experiences, give their parents a tour of camp, and introduce new friends. Of course, some kids just want to get in the car and go, even though they had a great time.
Ultimately, it’s difficult to predict how long you’ll spend at camp on closing day, but don’t count on anything less than an hour. Rushing into camp earlier than planned and announcing that you have to check out immediately so that you can make a 1:00 p.m. tee-time can add unnecessary trauma to the day. (Yes, we’ve heard parents use that tacky excuse.) You haven’t spent time together as a family for a while. Plan to do so on closing day, and don’t pack your schedule with other appointments.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM KIDS
Kids’ reactions to being reunited with their parents are tough to predict, as we hinted above. Rather than predict your family’s exact experience, let us share with you some typical reactions that
The Fountain of Youth: Fountain of Youth kids will be very excited about their camp experience and will immediately want to describe everything about camp in two minutes. Parents will be drenched with a steady stream of stories and explanations that they may not completely understand. Not to worry. Fountain of Youth kids know that their parents are the most important people in their lives, so they want to share with them all the great things that happened. Whirlwind tours of important places and people are a common part of this sharing. Parents should just smile and go along for the ride (with a camera, of course!).
The Poker Face. Poker Face kids probably had a great time at camp, but are oddly quiet on closing day. They don’t want to tell their parents much right away, but parents should not assume this is because they disliked camp. It’s just that Poker Face kids have an especially hard time leaving. They may be a little depressed about leaving new friends and wonderful places. However, the stories and experiences, good or bad, will come out in time. Parents who want the scoop right away can spend a few extra minutes talking to the child’s cabin leader.
The Tearful Camper. Tearful Campers are visibly moved by the close of camp. Tears are a real testament to the power of the overnight camp experience. Indeed, a priceless moment for a cabin leader or a parent is witnessing a camper who cried when he arrived (because the separation was so hard) suddenly cry from sadness that he is leaving. Tearful Campers may want to leave quickly to avoid the awkwardness of the moment, or they may wish to linger. Parents should ask their child’s preference or play the day by ear.
The Sensationalist. Sensationalists immediately tell their parents the single most dramatic thing that happened to them during their camp stay. “When we were camping out, the tent stakes broke and it started to rain, and my sleeping bag got muddy, and then we heard thunder, and I thought we were gonna die!” Don’t assume the worst. All campers have a mix of powerful positive and negative experiences at camp. Sensationalists may tell horror stories, but most of them had a great time at camp. Parents should listen carefully to get a balanced account of the session.
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