Camp for our elementary students comes at the end of April through early May. For the upper elementary, camp lasts a week and for the lower elementary it starts on Wednesday and ends on Friday.  At camp, they will feel: empowered, motivated, frustrated, concerned, lonely. When they return, they will feel valued, accepted, accomplished and TIRED.

You may be asking why we start talking about camp now – a few months in advance? Maybe you have a student that is in toddler or primary and camp seems a long way off in your child’s future. However, it is never too early to start thinking about Camp Miniwanca and its importance for your child. 

I am nostalgic when I think about Camp Miniwanca. It is beautiful and the camp culture is a force of positivity and inclusivity that invites the child to be “my own self, at my very best, all the time.”

The counselors at Camp Miniwanca are phenomenal mentors, cheerleaders, and motivators for the children.

I remember being excited for Catherine and Brady, my own children, to have this camp experience.

I was also nervous the first time I sent my oldest to camp. Although she had had many sleepovers with friends and family, this was the first time she would be going to a sleep away camp. I was excited when my son went, because by then I had had a few years of experience!  My children, now adults, still talk about their time at camp and how much they loved it. 

When students come back from camp, I see resilience and independence. There is a new camaraderie among the students and new friendships built upon challenges experienced together.

The camp counselors set up experiences for the children that are safe, yet allow our students to really step out of their comfort zones. There are also simple, reflective and pleasant moments shared between students, Radmoor staff, parent chaperones and Miniwanca staff.

I am hoping for every one of our students that they will have the opportunity to go to camp. Look for links to more camp related blogs through the course of the year in your Tuesday Emails. 

By Christine Russel