Visiting Day at Maine Camps

Bag drop and pure elation! It’s time to visit Maine campers! Some camps hosted Visiting Day last week and more are hosting this weekend. Visiting Day is a great time to for parents to see their campers who look bigger, older, and may seem more mature than when they left. They’ve had a few weeks to settle in, and have already experienced many benefits of overnight camp in Maine; they’ve unplugged from their tech devices, connected with nature, made new friends, learned new skills, gained confidence, independence and resilience. Campers feel comfortable in their surroundings and take a sense of pride in “owning” their place and showing it off to parents.

Take it all in, parents! Enjoy time with your camper as you see their cabin, meet friends and counselors, and visit activity areas. Parents may see their campers and even participate, too, in activities ranging from tennis, to ropes courses, to culinary arts, to arts and crafts. A refreshing dip in the camp lake is the cherry on top!

Dr. Tracy Brenner, “The Camp Counselor,” who is an alumna Maine camper and counselor, and a current camp parent shares great thoughts about Visiting Day:

There’s nothing like that first hug on Visiting Day! Although some campers and parents may feel like visiting day disrupts the summer, for many, it is a touchpoint that makes them feel more relaxed afterward. For parents and campers, camp tends to fly by after Visiting Day. 

To prepare yourself and your child: 

- **Be ready for all emotions: ** The morning may be an adrenaline filled-high followed by a slower, more emotional afternoon anticipating goodbyes.  - **Be present with your child and follow their lead** : This is your opportunity to see camp through their eyes. While you may be eager to see them perform certain activities or chat with the parents of their bunkmates, be present with your child and let them dictate the day. - **Plan for goodbye and make it quick: ** At some point in the day, well before departure time, give your child a roadmap for the actual goodbye. For example, say to them  “at 4 p.m. camp is going to announce that it’s time for parents to leave. We are going to give a quick hug, you’re going to run off to your activity, I’m going to walk to the parking lot and not look back.” Then when it’s close to the end of the day, remind them of the plan to make the goodbye quick. If you anticipate your child will have a hard time separating, cue a counselor early on to be near you and have them scoop your child right up to ease the separation.  - **Trust that your camper will recover quickly: ** Camps are very experienced in taking care of your children after visiting goodbyes and will be prepared to nurture, entertain, and distract so those separation pangs don’t last long. And remember, even with these hard moments, your child is learning they can do hard things and becoming more resilient, one of the true rewards of camp.  

After parents leave, camps quickly engage campers in fun activities so kids can get back into camp mode - having fun with their camp friends - with lots to look forward to - the coming weeks are full of great out-of-camp trips, special events, and traditions.

In addition to the “main attraction” (i.e., seeing your child in camp on Visiting Day), parents and younger siblings can also experience and enjoy all that Maine aka “Vacationland” has to offer in the days before and after camp Visiting Day. There are so many beautiful sights, exciting outdoor adventures, and delicious eats throughout the state of Maine. Some great resources for planning include: Visit Maine, Visit Portland, Visit Kennebunkport, Maine Day Ventures, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and more!

So, parents, enjoy time with your campers this weekend. It’s really a wonderful feeling to see your child at their camp through a new lens.

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

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 contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.