It is normal for children to miss home, especially when they attend camp for the first time, and even if they are outgoing or independent. These emotions are a normal and healthy part of your child’s experience. You'll notice that at Eden Village West we try to use the phrase "missing home" instead of "homesickness"; it is very normal for campers to miss home, and our hope is to let campers know that this isn't a "sickness" as much as it is a natural emotional state.  How wonderful that we have so much to miss when we are away from our families and homes! 

Our staff are attuned to campers’ feelings, trained to spot signs of missing home, and quick to respond. They also know that feelings of missing home are most common during the first few days of camp. Our staff will talk with campers about their feelings, identify areas of camp that might be difficult them, and create a plan to help them feel more connected to and excited about camp. This could mean helping your child connect with their bunkmates, creating a special bedtime ritual, or helping them find activities they love. We are confident that within a few short days, campers that miss home will be busy making friends and having fun!

Very worried about your child missing home? Call us before camp begins so we can discuss how to best support your child. Additionally, here are some resources on missing home: 

"The Great News About Homesickness"

“The Secret Ingredients of Summer Camp Success” 

How likely is missing home?

Most children who go away from home for the first time experience a certain amount of missing home. It is very natural and it is very real. Your camper is likely to experience it, even if he or she is characteristically independent and outgoing.

Please do not tell your child “I know you’ll be homesick,” which can create a self-fulfilling prophecy.  

What will you do for my home-missing child?

In cases of missing home, we will work very hard with campers to acknowledge their feelings and help them overcome their sadness, fears, and worries. We try very hard to help campers stay at camp; going home early is not typically a strategy we promote for campers who are missing home- we ask that parents encourage their children to trust the process, and to let them know that they feel confident in their children's ability to miss home while also having a great time. Most children who leave camp before the end experience their early departure as a failure; it can have a negative impact on their self-esteem, and teaches withdrawal as a response to challenge.  

We have enormous stores of techniques to address missing home; with your support, the likelihood that we will achieve positive results is extremely high. 

Very often, a sad letter usually gives way to proud tales of adventure, fun, and success! Don’t Panic if you receive a letter from your child telling you that they miss home, they aren’t having fun, and they want to come home. This is many campers’ first reaction to these feelings. While it is normal to be concerned, luckily, these feelings usually don’t last long. By the time you receive that letter, your child will likely have moved on from those feelings and will be having fun at camp! If you receive a letter like this, do the following:

  • Write an encouraging letter back expressing your support and love.
  • Call the camp office at (510) 560-5610 or email us at campercare@edenvillagewest.org. Our camper care team will follow up with an update the same day.