Why We're "Campsick" for Maine Camps

This week’s MCE blog is inspired by The New York Times article: “ ‘Campsickness’ is Real and a Sign of Something Special” written by Dr. Sandra Fox.

“It’s no surprise that coming home [from camp] is, for many kids, such a painful transition that experts even have a name for it: campsickness,” shares Dr. Sandra Fox in a wonderful, recent New York Times essay. She talks about how advice to ease the transition and even bring a little bit of camp into the home “misses the point” since “Camp is supposed to feel different from – and, frankly, better than – home. That’s what gives its life changing power.”

We at Maine Camp Experience agree! Not that we wish a painful time to any of our campers, but we completely understand the importance of identifying the feeling, living in it for a little while, and then emerging knowing that although camp is over for now - we are thankful for the experience and know it will come again next summer. 

We completely understand why kids would feel sad about finishing a camp summer. It’s truly incredible to be off screens, and connecting with friends and nature. It’s amazing to be learning new skills and gaining confidence, independence, and resilience. It’s really fun to be taking memorable trips and enjoying special events and camp traditions. It’s wonderful to be completely immersed in the camp community and experience living in a “two-month bubble for children that feels transformative, like a trip to Neverland.”

While kids are at camp, it’s a 24/7 experience, so it makes sense that “a three-week [camp] friendship can feel deeper than a three-year one at home.” Living together communally and getting to know each other without distractions definitely provides “an emotional intensity of the experience.” In today’s hectic world full of online and real-world distractions, this opportunity to be fully present and live in the moment is invaluable!

Many campers feel how Dr. Sandra Fox explains the experience of being at sleepaway camp with her peers: “I was not alone in finding sleepaway camp to be an escape, an opportunity for self-reinvention and an invitation to be easier, weirder and just more myself.” We often find that away from the roles and “expectations” of who a child may be at home, he or she may find a different and even better self. We see the athlete from home who tries out for the camp play and loves it! Or a shy child at home who is gregarious at camp. Or kids who are more serious at home may happily don tutus, face paint, wacky wigs, fun glasses and more to get into the camp spirit.

So, we agree … “if your kids come home campsick, don’t worry about curing them.” And, even if campers “can’t replicate camp at home,” they can enjoy the memories, connect with camp friends during the year if they’d like, and look forward to the coming camp summer! 

The full New York Times article, including how camp experiences helped influence Dr. Fox’s career work as a visiting assistant professor of American Jewish history at N.Y.U. and author of the book: “The Jews of Summer: Summer Camp and Jewish Culture in Postwar America,” can be read here: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/20/opinion/camp-summer-campsickness.html

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

You can share your own Maine camps memories & expressions of gratitude on our Memories of Camp section of our website.

_Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child?  Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks).  It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates.  Then you can research these camps in more depth.  _

Next, be sure to  to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.