Penpals: What to Include in Your First Letter and a Video
It’s time for one of our favorite camp traditions: Penpals! Each spring, campers get paired up with a friend in their grade to write letters to each other before the session starts. 2024 Penpals are in the mail, campers, so go ahead and start preparing to write your first letter!
Our biggest Penpal tip is simple: write your Penpal, and write her a lot! It is so disappointing when a Penpal doesn’t write back, so be the Penpal you would want yourself. If you don’t hear from her, write again (and again)!
Not sure what to write in your first letter? Try one of these suggestions! She will be so excited to hear from you no matter what.
- Cover the basics. Tell her about your family, your life at home, your school, your pets, or your favorite foods. Introduce yourself to her!
- Share your camp story. How did you first hear about Greystone? What sessions have you gone to before (or is this your first one)? What classes are “must-takes” in your opinion? What camp food can you not wait to have?
- Ask her lots of questions. For each thing you tell her about you, ask her a question about herself! It’s easy to write back when you have questions to answer.
- Try a silly icebreaker. We love these at camp! Break out your funniest, silliest icebreaker question and send it her way. You can also tell her a joke!
- Tell her why you’re excited to meet her. Do you hope you guys can take a class together? Do you want to figure out all of the things you have in common? Are you hoping she’ll be your Tetherball buddy?
- Start a game for her to help you finish. Start a round of tic-tac-toe for her to finish. Send it back and forth to see who wins!
- Most of all, just be yourself! Do you love to draw? Sketch her a picture. Do you love your dog more than anything? Attach a photograph to your letter. Whoever you are, show that to her in your letter, and she can do the same!