One of the things I love most about summer camp is the long-lost art of letter writing. We live in a busy world. We seek out convenience, speed and efficiency with everything we do. Email, texting, computers…How can I do it faster? Where is the EASY button? At camp, we encourage doing things the long way, which tend to be the hard way, because it leads to great reward and lasting impact – walking to activities, communicating face to face with peers and hand-writing letters home.

I clearly remember sitting on my bunk as a child during rest hour, composing a letter home to my parents about the latest and greatest from camp. I remember hearing “mail call” after lunch and rushing to the post to get my mail. I would wait patiently as they would call out the camper names one by one, crossing my fingers and holding my breath that they would say my name. These letters were bragging rights at camp, and they told everyone that you were loved.

As we addressed camper postcards that will be mailed home tomorrow, one of our office moms, and former Camp Highlander alumni, shared that she still has a trunk of camp things from her childhood with stacks of letters that are one of her greatest treasures. She said that from time to time she pulls them out because they remind her of all her blessings. Parents, I am here to tell you (in case your children don’t), the letters you send them mean more than you will ever know.

We have had a lot of calls about Bunk Notes and Bunk1. The campers are LOVING the emails and hearing of all that is going on at home. This is our first year using Bunk1, and something I never considered before camp was how the quick response could alarm parents. The first few days of camp require an adjustment for most campers, even returning campers. In previous years, the postcards that went out midweek would come after those nerves and emotions would settle down. With the immediacy of bunk notes, we realize there could be some concern over your camper’s integration to camp life. You will be hearing from your child’s counselor by phone this week, which will help to ease your mind. As always, we are partnering with you to ensure the success of the camp experience, so Bryan or I will call you if we have any concerns.

When sending your bunk note, consider attaching a bunk reply for your camper to respond. We print bunk notes from you once a day, and we scan their letters to you twice a day. These replies will come to you phone through the Bunk1 app or login with Summer Services at camphighlander.com. If you need support from Bunk1, feel free to email them at support@bunk1.com or call (212)974-9112.

Favorite Details of the Day:

• Reflect – Mac reminded us today that age is just a number (I felt like he was speaking to me). We all want to be a different age than we are. As children, we count the half years, as adults we round down and once you reach 100, you start counting the half years again. Each age offers (or even camp division) offers a gift to you, so enjoy it!
• Meals – Breakfast was Belgian waffles and sausage. Lunch was Copycat Chick-Fil-A sandwiches and waffle fries. Dinner was beef and broccoli stir fry with fried rice and egg rolls.
• Dessert – Candy and Soda at Gus’s Place.
• Camper’s Choice Sign Ups – We have some exciting new activities happening tomorrow for campers and fun off-camp adventures that campers can enjoy. Stay tuned for more tomorrow!
• EP – Square Dance!!!! This is a favorite Camp Highlander tradition and such a fun way to meet new people at camp. The smiles on the faces of our campers and staff tell the story.

They say that distance makes the heart grow fonder, and I find that to be very true at camp. While your campers are away from home, they will gain a new appreciation for the love that you show them each and every day that they often take for granted – their comfy bed, dinner just the way mom makes it and those hugs and kisses they typically roll their eyes about. While at camp, that love is felt through your emails and your letters. And if you are lucky, it will be returned to you in a letter that one day you will pull out to remind you of just how much you are loved by them.