Sending Her off to Camp – It is all about Trust
By Barb Sullivan, ALC Parent
I was nervous. I was hopeful. I was excited. Sending my little girl, age 9, to her first summer at Alford Lake Camp. I knew it was going to be a wonderful experience for her because I had been a camper at Alford Lake in the 1970s. Simply stated: I loved camp! But, I was also a little worried that she might not love it. She might not embrace it as I did.
So, as the ALC bus pulled away from that busy NYC street, I had a few tears in my eyes. And then I waited for the letters to arrive in my mailbox…. oooh, it felt like years before that first BRIEF note arrived. She liked her tent, her counselor was from New Jersey, she was working on a project in Art and she missed me. I read, and re-read, that letter over and over. I wondered if she was really happy. I couldn’t know. I had to trust. I had to trust that she was having fun, she was making new friends, she was growing and experiencing new things. Trust was the key. I trusted my decision to choose a residential camp experience for my daughter. I trusted that the Directors were leading a safe and fun camp community and I trusted that she was well cared for by a dedicated counseling staff. Equally important I trusted that my daughter was ready for this new experience in her life.
My trust was rewarded three and half weeks later when I picked up my daughter at Alford Lake Camp. Here, running into my arms, was my happy daughter. Her eyes alive with pride as she showed me HER tent, introduced me to HER counselor, showed me around HER camp! She looked older, bolder and more confident than I had remembered her in those weeks leading up to camp. She was happy and, TRUST me, I was happy too. All the trust I had in her and in camp has made a lasting impression on my daughter. She sensed that I trusted she would be able to navigate camp life without me and thus, she was able to believe in her self. I learned I must give her that gift. This has been the most important and lasting impact of camp life for my daughter.
To all families preparing to send your daughters to camp, I urge you to trust in your decision to choose Alford Lake Camp. It is normal to be excited and nervous at the same time. But, I can honestly say, it will be an amazing experience for your child — and for you!
Barb Sullivan
ALC Alum & ALC Parent
