Let Go and Send Them to Camp!

Oftentimes, when I talk to parents, they say some version of: “I just want to spend time with my kids, I don’t want to send them to camp.”

I get it. Truly.

My daughter is heading to high school next year, and I can feel the time slipping away. My fifth-grade son still asks me to tuck him in, and I jump to say yes because I do not think he will ask me to much longer.

But here is the hard truth: even when my kids are always around, we are not always spending meaningful time together. Getting them off their technology to play cards, go for a walk, or just sit and talk? It can feel like a constant uphill battle.

That is where camp comes in.

Just like school, playdates or sleepovers, summer camp gives kids an opportunity to grow. While also giving us, as parents, the chance to actually miss them. And that space? It matters.

Because when they come home from camp, something shifts. We’ve missed each other. We are both more present. We’re both more willing to connect, to play, to just be together.

I see it every year. After the initial rush of reconnecting with friends and catching up, my kids come back… different. In the best way. They’re less attached to their devices. They’re more comfortable leaving their phones behind when we go out to dinner or run errands. They talk more. They engage more. They know how to connect with peers and adults and with a level of ease that’s honestly impressive. And maybe my favorite part? They miss us. They want to hear about our summer. They want to share theirs. The connection feels deeper, richer, more real.

I’ve also noticed it shows up in unexpected ways, like school trips, sleepovers, or traveling with grandparents. Camp kids walk into those experiences with confidence. They’re comfortable being away from home, and because of that, they actually enjoy it more than many of their peers.

Letting go is hard. I struggle with it too. In a world where we’re constantly smoothing the path for our kids (and I’ll admit, I’m often the worst offender), camp is one of the rare opportunities where we step back and let them rise.

And that might be one of the greatest gifts we can give them. Because they come back

• More confident.
• More independent.
• More present.

And really, what parent doesn’t want that?

Stacey spent over 20 years as an educator and coach at every school level. A former three-sport college athlete, she also earned numerous degrees in education and counseling. Her camp director journey began as a Unit Leader at Camp Manitou and evolved into helping with the creation of Camp Somerset in leadership roles, including Head of Athletics, before becoming Associate Director. She is looking forward to bringing this experience she shares with Lauren, as a Director at Camp Eastwood.