Welcoming New Campers to Overnight Camp

From the moment your daughter steps off the bus, she will be welcomed with open arms to Camp Danbee! New campers integrate beautifully into our camp family. With the help of our returning campers, our dedicated counselors, and our leadership team, we make sure the transition into camp is as smooth as possible.

It’s not uncommon for children to sometimes struggle with missing home during their first few weeks at camp. Research shows that 95% of all campers will report having at least one day of homesickness during their stay. That means feeling homesick is an expected and very normal feeling that most campers will experience at camp. Our team are experts at dealing with homesickness. Jay, Jackie, and Lauren are dedicated to helping first year campers feel right at home in their first few days. We’re extremely diligent about checking in with first year campers to ensure they feel comfortable at camp, are making new friends, and are participating in camp activities.

Ways We Help You Prepare

New campers quickly feel at home at Danbee and it all starts before the summer even arrives. Here are a few tangible things we do to help set the stage for what’s to come:

Home Visits/Virtual Home Visits – This is the best way to get to know us and learn what Danbee is all about! It will also give you the opportunity to ask specific questions and helps us establish our relationship with you.

Mailings – We communicate with our families often throughout the year. Our mailings allow parents and campers to stay “in the know” regarding all things Danbee.

Phone calls to parents and campers – Danbee Directors firmly believe our parents are our partners in the camp journey. Our relationship begins before camp. Phone calls with parents or campers are part of our every day here at Danbee, and we love working together to create a bond that will carry us through our summers together.

Parent Handbook – The handbook is distributed in January and allows our families to better understand our policies and procedures. We encourage you to share pieces of it with your daughter.

Parent Orientation – Every Spring we talk to our parents about what to expect as first-time parents and we go over policies and procedures on how to prepare for camp in the coming weeks.

Pen Pals – Every new campers will receive a pen pal. Your daughter will have a current camper write to them, introduce themselves, and welcome your daughter to camp! This is a great way to help your daughter feel connected before the summer begins.

Camp Sisters – Every camper, both new and returning, will receive their camp sisters on the second night of camp. The girls participate in special activities together and form a special bond over the summer.

Videos, Yearbooks, Social Media Posts– We love to show off our pride! Capturing the essence of who we are can be felt across all of these platforms in which we share with our families.

Counselor Training - Our staff are trained in dealing with homesickness, fostering friendships, and helping new children feel at home. Bunk counselors are with your child all day and night. They live, eat and travel with your child from activity to activity. New campers immediately feel comfort from the care of our incredible counselors.

At Danbee, we believe camp is a gift that lasts a lifetime and setting your daughter up for success is a top priority. Danbee is a warm and welcoming place and we promise it won’t take long for you and your daughter to feel a part of our family! Danbee is all about the people and our girls form friendships that last a lifetime. It’s these connections and the people within our camp community that make Danbee so special.