Is Homesickness Bad?

Homesickness certainly CAN be a bad experience, but homesickness at camp usually leads to a very positive growth experience… it builds resilience (one the most useful character traits in life).

We all know that circumstances in life always change (sometimes drastically). When change occurs, we often draw upon coping skills learned in our youth. We use those skills to successfully adapt with a positive attitude or we pull back into our shell because we don’t know how to push through that negative feeling in our heart. A person who has experience adapting to change is resilient: equipped to positively engage in changing circumstances to live a life of contentment. Camp is a great place to build this character trait.

At Greystone, we welcome the uncomfortable feeling that comes when a camper thinks of home in a wistful way. She has a sad thought, experiences a sad feeling in her heart, works through it (often by writing a letter to mom), and moves on the the next fun thing in the day. This process of self “adjustment” is a component of any good camp experience.

I bring it up because of the dreaded homesick letters that some of you (perhaps many of you) will get in the next few days. If you want to check out our take on the homesick theme, read this blog on Resilience from 2016. It more fully fleshes out what homesickness looks like at camp and explains how we determine what course of action to follow. There are very few girls who will get homesick (literally 3 or 4) so don’t get too worried… know that we always call and get you involved if your camper is not adjusting to camp in a healthy way. You can always reach out if you have a concern (our Group Leaders are happy to help!).

The weather continues to be delightful. Sweatshirts are worn to breakfast, by 2nd period everyone is in short sleeves and wearing sunscreen as they run to class. Evening Program is a time marked by golden sunlight as the sun sinks toward the western mountains and languid conversations on the pagent court rock wall. After the program the campers run toward the lake catching fireflies and rolling down the hill with squeels of delight. Many go straight back to their cabin (after grabbing a cookie at the kitchen) to enjoy cabin Dance Parties or start getting ready for bed.

Camp has a very good feeling… a feeling of joy that is evident in every corner of the community. We couldn’t be more pleased.

Breakfast Club continues fleshing out the theme of Social Growth and today we talked about “Shop Dates” (when you arrange to meet someone at “shop” for a talk)… encouraging the girls to be intentional about having good conversations with specific people while at camp. The joke was “It’s not a pony, it’s just a little horse” (a pun joke… they smiled… progress!).

The Food Today:

• BREAKFAST: scrambled eggs, grits, sausage, home made toast, and all the normal stuff (cereal, oatmaal, fruit bar, Berries, Greek yogurt, homemade granola).
• LUNCH: Chicken Enchaladas and our big salad bar.
• DINNER: Beef Stroganoff, fresh berry cobbler hot out of the oven!

EP will be a super active and fun outside program centered around team spriit… we build bonfires for the odds and the evens on different sides of the lake and the girls whip themselves into a frenzy as they learn the traditional songs and cheers that will be featured in Saturday’s new and improved Challenge Day. The girls will love being outside on such a beautiful evening.

Thank you for checking in. We are grateful!

By the way, today’s devotion is on the website (yesterday we had technical difficulties and didn’t record the message).