Southwoods 101 - Communication That Promotes Independence
Our communication policy promotes independence while helping parents feel connected to the camper experience.
Let’s face it, it’s hard to be away from your kids when they go to camp. While the vast sea of veteran camp parents will tell you that it gets easier, and actually comes to play an important role in your life and/or relationship with your partner, that first summer especially can be a bit of a shock.
While this healthy separation and the associated challenge are part of the process, we want you to know that we do take active and purposeful measures to help you feel connected to their experience and have access to our staff when needed.
Here’s how we do it:
Daily Photos: Our full time photographers work tirelessly to capture the magic that happens all day from breakfast to huddle-up. You will have access to these photos through your CampInTouch portal and the Campanion app which uses the same credentials. You won’t see your camper every day, but our parents feel very comforted to view daily happenings at camp. Parents often comment, “I go to sleep with that photo in my head knowing that they’re having the time of their life.” Daily photos are posted the afternoon following the day they’re taken (arrival day photos will be posted on day 2, etc.).
eLetters: Send an e-letter to your campers (one per day) and we’ll print/deliver your message to your camper’s cabin each day during rest hour. Physical mail is also welcome, though care packages are not allowed unless pre-approved by our office (e.g. birthdays or a forgotten item).
Updates: Carl and Maddie will send weekly and notable updates throughout the duration of camp to keep you informed of what’s going on at Southwoods.
Camper Letters: Your camper will write one handwritten letter per week on a specially printed sheet of paper that has their name, your name, and a barcode that our system associates with your email address. This way you will receive the scanned letter in real time rather than having to wait multiple days for it to arrive by mail. Because the first few days of camp take some adjusting for many, we wait until Thursday/Friday after their Sunday arrival to write/send these letters.
Director Access / Check-ins: If your camper is away for the first time, or you suspect your camper may be having a tough time, feel free to email or call our office to request a check in. One of our Head Counselors will speak with your camper and their counselors to find out the details of their experience at camp and call you to discuss.
Know that we will actively communicate with you if anything significant occurs involving your camper - whether it be social-emotional, behavioral, or medical. In general, “no news is good news!”
Your trust in us is immeasurably important and we are eager to discuss any elements of our communication policy to help you feel comfortable sending your children to Camp Southwoods. Please reach out to us at or with any questions.