Reflections from Fall Conversations with Parents
By: Renee Flax
This has been a very busy fall season, filled with phone calls from parents eager to share their children’s experiences at camp this past summer. Many of the issues I’m hearing are familiar and have come up over the years, but I’ve also noticed a growing number of new concerns that seem to be more prevalent than in the past.
A common theme in my conversations with parents is their feeling that the camp didn’t fully meet their expectations in terms of supporting their child. These are particularly hard calls for me, especially when it involves families I’ve personally helped in selecting a camp. I always encourage parents to be open and honest with camp staff—to explain any challenges their child may face and to ask directly whether the camp can provide the necessary support. That level of transparency is essential in helping you place each camper in the right bunk, with the right counselors, and with the right level of care.
When that process breaks down, understandably, parents feel very disappointed. While I recognize that I’m only hearing one side of the story—often emotional and sometimes biased—the reality remains that the family has left camp feeling let down. That’s never a good outcome for anyone involved. Unfortunately, many of these parents turn to Facebook parent groups or other social media platforms to vent their frustrations, which can have a lasting impact. These calls also remind me how deeply parents care about their children’s experience and how much trust they place in you each summer.
It is always worth making the effort to repair the relationship. Sometimes this means taking some responsibility for what happened or, at the very least, explaining where things went wrong. You might also offer guidance about what type of camp might be a better fit or suggest that they reconnect with me for support. None of us want a family to leave camp believing that the camp experience simply isn’t right for their child.
Another issue I’ve heard about more often involves campers feeling that their bunkmates were unkind or excluded them. We all know that one of the great promises of camp is the creation of friendships and strong bonds. At the very least, we hope campers will treat one another with kindness and respect—even if close friendships don’t always form.
For many children who struggle socially, they may need more guidance than ever in understanding what it means to be a good bunkmate. If bunk counselors are feeling overwhelmed by conflicts, it may be helpful to have more experienced staff check in regularly. Most of these situations can likely be resolved quickly if addressed early and with sensitivity.
Please know that many more of my phone calls are from grateful parents whose children had amazing summers at your camps. But I am confident that you all want families speaking positively about you and your camps, and sometimes that will require difficult conversations. I am always available if you want a sounding board. These conversations are never easy, but they often lead to stronger partnerships and better summers ahead.
