Growing Through It: Helping Campers Build Emotional Resilience

Hi, I’m Tori! I’ve been working with kids since I was a kid—and I’ve loved summer camp since the first time I stepped onto a campground in 2002. My background in education and mental health has prepared me to serve as Jacobs Camp’s Community Care Director and now as Assistant Director.

Jacobs Camp truly has a special kind of magic. It’s a place where campers can grow, stretch, laugh, struggle, connect, and thrive. I’m so excited to welcome your camper this summer and to support them as they build confidence and resilience—skills that will serve them long after camp ends

At Jacobs Camp, we know that summer camp is all about new adventures, lifelong friendships, and a little healthy challenge. For many campers, that challenge includes being away from home — sometimes for the first time.

Missing home is normal. In fact, it’s a healthy part of growing up. But more importantly, it’s an opportunity: a chance for your camper to build emotional resilience—learning how to navigate tough feelings and still find joy, connection, and confidence in the process.

Before Camp: Laying the Groundwork

What you say and do before camp starts helps shape how your camper will approach their time away.

What helps:

• Acknowledge their feelings honestly and calmly, using their words when possible.
• Encourage excitement by asking what they’re looking forward to—offer fun suggestions!
• Share your own positive memories of being away from home or your favorite camp stories.
• Focus on the opportunities camp offers: new friends, fun activities, and a chance to grow.

What to avoid:

• Don’t initiate conversations about “being homesick.”
• Avoid saying things like “I’ll miss you so much” in a way that makes them feel worried.
• Don’t share stories of your own struggles away from home unless they ask.
• Try not to highlight what they’ll be missing out on while they’re gone.

During Camp: Support From a Distance

Once they’re at camp, your encouragement still matters! Letters and emails can go a long way in building their confidence and helping them stay grounded.

What helps:

• Write frequently with short, upbeat messages.
• Ask about their favorite parts of camp or new things they’ve tried.
• Let them know you’re proud of them for being brave and trying something new.

What to avoid:

• Don’t make emotional promises like “If you’re sad, I’ll come pick you up.”
• Try not to focus too much on home, siblings, or what they’re missing.
• Mention how much you miss them in a way that might make them feel guilty.

Emotions Can Coexist—and That’s a Life Skill

One of the most important lessons camp can teach is that kids can feel more than one thing at once.

Your camper might miss home and love camp. They might feel nervous and excited. Learning to sit with these feelings—and still participate, connect, and grow—is a powerful act of resilience.

By helping your camper name and manage those feelings now, you’re giving them skills that will last far beyond one summer.

And remember: we’re in this together. If you need help or have questions, the Jacobs Camp Community Care Team is always here to support you and your camper.