Campers love mail!  Here’s a suggestion that requires some preparation so get started.

Send your camper a manila envelope filled with “Open When Letters”. These are letters in envelopes to be opened in specific situations your child may encounter at sleepaway camp. This can be anything from Open When you’re missing the family dog to Open When the annoying girl in your cabin won’t stop singing “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine…” (Okay true story, that’s a 12 year old camp flashback for me). Write the Open When topic on the front of the envelope and give instructions to only open the envelope when it applies. No peeking ahead!

Here are some ideas: Open when…

• you need help falling asleep
• you wonder what I’m doing right now
• you feel homesick
• you feel like NOT coming home
• there’s a song stuck in your head
• you lose something important
• it’s your last day of camp.

The content can be something original or quotes or poems from the internet. You can also include a blank page with a self-addressed stamped envelope to encourage their response to your letter. The size of your letter is not important. What’s important is to get creative and have a little fun together.