New Jersey Summer Arts Camp Helps Kids Adjust to Being Away From Home

March 31, 2008 - PRLog -- Through the years, Appel Farm Summer Arts Camp staff have seen thousands of first-time campers come to its facility in southern New Jersey. Most are excited about being away from home for the first time, but all campers go through varying levels of homesickness as they adjust to life away from their familiar surroundings.  Sometimes even seasoned campers go through a period of adjustment, and being away from home at any time can be tough.

The staff at Appel Farm Arts Camp have developed some sure-fire tactics to help campers have the best experience possible. Camp Director Jennie Quinn states “ There are two solutions to having the greatest summer of your life- preparation and attitude!”  Homesickness occurs as a result of fear and anxiety of what’s in store for the summer. By properly preparing for camp, families can help reduce these feelings. Quinn gives this advice to incoming campers:

•   Become familiar with the camp! Watch the camp DVD, look through the brochure, call and ask questions and go on a camp tour.

•   Practice! If you haven’t been away from your parents before, practice before you get to camp. Spend a night at a friend’s house, or a weekend at your grandparent’s or cousin’s home. Gaining experience being away from home is important…practice makes perfect!

•   Talk with your parents about how you feel. Let them know if you are worried or scared. They can help reassure you that everything will be OK while you’re away.

Parents can help too, and making an “early pick-up” deal is not the answer. The best way to deal with the anxiety is to express confidence in the child’s ability to deal with his or her feelings of missing home. Offer your love and support.

Bunk counselors, instructors, bunk heads and the camp director are always available to talk to campers about their feelings of being homesick. Appel Farm staff are trained to recognize symptoms in campers and to work with each camper individually to make sure they have a wonderful summer. On the last day of camp, most campers who had a tricky adjustment to camp life have said, “Do I really have to leave camp?”  

Appel Farm’s  summer arts camp programs attract students from all around the United States, but especially from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.   “Children who love music, dance, visual arts, theater, photography, writing, video, or the recording arts have a unique opportunity to meet others who share their passion,” states Mark Packer, Executive Director. “Many of these friendships will last a lifetime. We are guided by principles that celebrate diversity and promote acceptance, and campers will be welcomed into a community of friends.”

The two, four and eight-week summer sessions are offered starting the weeks of June 22 and July 20.

For close to 50 years, summers at Appel Farms have fed the imaginations of thousands of young people as they have developed talents and interacted creatively with artists from around the world.  Founded in 1960, Appel Farms combines a dynamic program of dance classes with an active schedule of outdoor activities and community projects in a beautiful 176-acre setting in rural, southern New Jersey.

If you would like to learn more about the exciting summer arts program, call Appel Farm Camp Director Jennie Quinn or Assistant Camp Director Cori North toll-free today at (800) 394-8478 or visit our website at http://www.appelfarm.org.

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About Appel Farm Arts and Music Center
Appel Farm is a multidisciplinary regional arts center serving audiences, artists and students through local, regional, national and international programs on a year-round basis. More information about concerts, an annual music festival, education programs and classes can be found at www.appelfarm.org or by calling (856) 358-2472.