The weeks after camp can feel strange. One day, you’re surrounded by the crisp mountain air, cabin chatter, and the rhythm of unit circle, songs at campfire, and blue-sky hikes; the next, you’re back home, where the smells, sounds, and pace are entirely different. That shift can be jarring—not just for campers, but for their families, too.
At first, the glow of Cheley is bright. You hear a story or two over dinner, you see a well-worn friendship bracelet on their wrist, and you catch them singing a unit song before bed. Maybe their Blue Kerchief is still draped over the bedpost, or their Code of Living is pinned where they can see it every day. For many campers, that joy stays right at the surface; they’ll talk about it for months. For others, as school, sports, and daily routines take over, the details start to fade a little. Sometimes they remember the hard moments before the magical ones—the rainstorm during the hike, the chilly morning in their wagon, the one dinner they didn’t love. That’s natural. Our brains often hold onto the sharp edges before the soft ones. That’s why it can be so valuable to keep talking about camp while it’s still fresh! Sharing favorite memories, laughing about the challenges, and keeping the stories alive. It helps them remember that Cheley was, and is, something truly special.
Because here’s the truth: camp is worth it. Every single minute of it. The lumpy mattress was part of learning to make the best of things. The soggy socks were proof of a trail well-hiked. The challenging moment with a bunkmate was a chance to practice empathy. Those moments, both the dazzling and the difficult, are the building blocks of resilience, independence, and connection.
If you’re wondering how to help your camper hold onto the best parts of their summer, here are a few ideas:
- Name the growth you see. Acknowledge when they tackle something with new confidence or show empathy in a way they didn’t before.
- Revisit small memories. Sometimes the magic hides in tiny details: the view from the summit of Estes Cone, the soft nickers and shuffling hooves in the barns, or the buzz of energy during the All-Camp Campfire dance party in the Pavilion.
- Balance nostalgia with new adventures. Camp isn’t the only place they can stretch themselves. Keep sprinkling in opportunities to try, fail, and try again.
Missing camp is a sign they found something real, something worth missing. And while the countdown to next summer might feel long, those months in between are where the lessons of camp take root. Encourage them to carry that spirit into school, sports, friendships, and family life.
The mountains will still be here, waiting to welcome them back. And when they return, they’ll be one year older, one year braver, and ready to weave another summer’s worth of stories into the tapestry of who they are.
Enrollment is open now for returning campers and opens on October 1st for new families. Every year, we have to make the heartbreaking call to a returning camper—even a multi-generation family—to say their child is on the waitlist. And every year, parents tell us how gut-wrenching it is to break the news to their child that they can’t return to camp, all because they waited too long or assumed there would still be space.
If camp mattered to your child this summer, it’s worth making it a priority now. Secure their spot while you can. Give them the gift of knowing, right now, that they’ll be back in Estes Park (or Glen Haven!) next summer, ready for more growth, more laughter, and more moments they’ll carry for a lifetime.
