Parent & Caregiver FAQs
One of my favorite parts of my job is talking to parents about their campers. I love the slowness and thoughtfulness of these conversations, and the way parents talk about their kids with wonder and joy. It makes my heart warm. Here are some of the questions I hear most frequently from parents, and how we answer them at Stomping Ground. The three main categories that I will dive into below: food, homesickness, and how we welcome new campers into our community.
Food at camp: What is the food like? What do you do with special diets? What if my kid is picky?
This is a big one for new campers, picky eaters or those with dietary restrictions, or anxiety around food. Personally, I am vegan, gluten-free, and grew up in an unstable food environment, so this topic matters a lot to me. At camp we know that sharing meals together is a way of connecting with each other, building community, and taking care of ourselves. We also know how scary it is to go into a new environment without knowing how your basic needs will be met ahead of time.
At camp, our meals look similar to our programming-meaning we give kids choices and autonomy. We don’t have a “clean plate club” or a “try everything” rule, as we believe in trusting kids to make healthy decisions around the food they consume without arbitrary rules. Logistically, we have a kid-friendly “family style” meal that a table of campers and staff share. We also have an alternative counter with additional veggies and fruit for everyone, and a special diets coordinator each summer who makes alternatives for those with allergies or dietary restrictions. If none of the above options for food are appetizing for your child, a staff member will help them problem solve to make sure they have what they need. We cannot accommodate individual meal plans for each child, but if a camper is struggling to find something that they will eat, staff will step in and help.
Meals at camp are amazing because it’s a chance for staff to connect with campers about the highlights and conflicts of the day. It’s a chance to slow down, be heard, and connect with one another. Sometimes goofy shenanigans happen during meals that make them more memorable for everyone and it’s amazing to share these moments with campers. Enjoying the environment that we consume food can have as much of an impact as enjoying the food itself.
New campers and a new environment: How do you help new campers integrate into the community?
I love talking about this with campers on the first day. I think campers are inherently good at creating welcoming spaces for newcomers when reminded of all the joys that new friends can bring.
I like to ask campers what they imagine our community looking like, and how they would like to be treated by one another. Campers almost always mention things like respecting each other's personal items, space, and boundaries, treating each other with kindness, and inviting others to join activities.
Each day at camp is unlike any other, which makes each session and year at camp special, and that means we are able to bring in new folks to our community and welcome them easily. It’s one of my favorite parts about camp!
On the first day of each session we play a lot of name games, take a tour of camp, and slowly settle into a routine with one another. If staff notice someone struggling to thrive in the community at camp, they will help.
Our counselors are able to connect campers who share interests to be new friends, or even encourage campers to join a new activity to break out of their shell a bit. There are also structured check-ins for all campers in their cabin groups everyday, such as cabin circles after meals, and reflection circles at night.
Homesickness-how do you handle this? Can my kid call me?
Homesickness, It’s real, and it’s normal! Even staff feel this at camp. It has always been a hot topic at camp, but especially now as families were able to spend more uninterrupted time together as schools, day cares, and offices closed during the pandemic. At camp we believe support looks different for everyone and we partner with kids to help them through big feelings like homesickness. We also like to partner with parents in these situations as well, as you know your child better than anyone else, and have the best insight as to what they need.
In short, if your child expresses homesickness, we will validate their concerns and partner with them to help them feel most comfortable. We will also loop you into the conversation as soon as possible and share with you what your child expressed, how staff responded, and brainstorm together how to support your camper moving forward. Sometimes that is a phone call home, writing a letter, or talking it out with a staff member that they trust. Kids have a variety of needs, so we have a variety of ways to support them. It wouldn’t be sustainable on our staff to allow every camper to call home every day, so we don’t automatically hand over a phone every time a kid asks to call. Kids can expect that staff will ask questions to truly understand their needs and what support looks like for them at camp, and help them work through it.
We aim to make camp a place where kids can thrive, build community, and know that they belong. We know that belonging doesn’t just happen by chance and our goal is to welcome all campers with intention, trust, and empathy. How this happens at camp looks different for everyone.
If you have questions or concerns about your child coming to camp this summer, please send me an email or give me a call. I'd love to make a plan with you and your camper before summer begins.
Contact info:
(518) 306-1981
Nicole@campstompingground.org
