Redefining Success at Camp
September 8, 2026
As we begin the school year, we continue to reflect on what was a truly remarkable first summer at Eastwood. From our very first Arrival Day to our final Casino Night, the moments we shared and the memories we made will carry us through the winter.
This is also the time of year when we are fortunate to hear from so many families and receive their reflections on the summer. We hear stories of campers conquering fears, trying new activities, building confidence and independence, and forming meaningful friendships and connections.
These are the moments that make Eastwood and summer camp so special.
At the same time, not every moment of camp was perfect. Campers faced all the typical challenges of being away from home: missing family, navigating new friendships, learning to be more independent, trying unfamiliar activities, and figuring out how to live in a community.
While those moments can be hard, they are also an important part of why camp matters. Every challenge, even the little ones, creates an opportunity for growth. They remind us why in our values we place such an emphasis on empathy, respect, kindness, and creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive community where kids can work through the hard moments alongside the really great ones.
Now, as families begin thinking about next summer, Lauren and I find ourselves helping them navigate several different paths:
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They loved Eastwood and have already enrolled for next summer. YAY! We can’t wait to have them back.
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They loved Eastwood, but their family isn’t quite sure what next summer holds yet. We understand. Summer plans are complicated!
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They loved Eastwood, and now they’re ready for something longer. We’re helping those families figure out what that next step might look like.
That third path has made Lauren and me think a lot about how we define success at Eastwood. We have come to realize that if we have done our job well, it might not always mean a camper returns.
In fact, sometimes success may mean exactly the opposite. For some campers, after a week at Eastwood, they might enroll for two weeks next summer. But for another camper, two weeks at Eastwood this summer may have given them the confidence to say, I’m ready for more. And if their next step is a longer-session camp, we want to celebrate that. We want to help families find the experience that is right for their child.
That’s one of the things we’re learning about the shorter-session camp world: loving camp doesn’t always equal re-enrollment.
So perhaps we need to think differently about what success looks like.
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Success is a camper who was nervous on Arrival Day and didn’t want to leave on Closing Day and is ready for another summer at Eastwood.
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Success is a child trying something they were convinced they couldn’t do.
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Success is learning how to navigate a disagreement with a bunkmate.
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Success is building independence and confidence away from home.
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Success is a family telling us their child came home a little more capable than when they arrived.
And sometimes, success is a camper leaving Eastwood ready for whatever comes next.
Of course, we hope many of our campers come back year after year. There is nothing we’d love more than to watch them grow up at Eastwood.
But our bigger goal has always been to give kids the experience of camp to help them play, grow, connect, take risks, build skills, and discover what they’re capable of.
If we can do that, whether they spend one summer with us or many, then we’ve done something pretty special.
We wish all of our Eastwood families a safe, happy, and successful school year. We can’t wait to see where the next adventure takes you.
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 enjoys bringing this experience she shares with Lauren, as a Director at Camp Eastwood.