• Look at photos and videos from Camp Pathfinder to see what life on camp and on a Pathfinder canoe trip are like!

• Read through our website to get a sense of activities, staff, and our camp culture.​​

• Follow us on social media throughout the year to keep with updates!

• Read our monthly newsletter, the Pathfinder Patter.

• Talk to family members or friends who have been to camp before!

• It’s normal to feel excited, nervous, or a mix of emotions—talk about them!

• Parents can help by sharing stories of their own sleepaway experiences.

• Write down any worries and share them with a parent, friend, or camp director.

• Know that homesickness is normal, and it usually fades after a few days as campers get into the fun of camp life.

• Label everything! Clothes, gear, and even toiletries.

• Pack together with your camper so they know where everything is.

• Include a familiar comfort item—something small like a parent's hat, a family photo, or a special stuffed animal.

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Check out our printable packing list here!

• Parents can write letters before camp starts so campers receive them early.

• Snail mail is a great way to send love from home!

• Email a message for us to print and pass out at dinner the same day.

• Campers write letters home every Sunday.

• Check our weekly camp photos and social media for sightings of your camper!

• Avoid making promises like “I’ll come get you if you’re homesick”—encouragement and positivity go a long way!

• Remind campers that there are no phones, tablets, or electronics at camp—this is a time to enjoy nature, build friendships, and have fun.

• Encourage campers to ask counselors and staff for help when they need it.

• Have your camper sleep over at a friend’s or family member’s house to get comfortable sleeping away.

• Practice daily tasks like making their bed, keeping track of their belongings, and organizing clothes.

• Encourage them to order for themselves at restaurants and express their needs clearly so when they arrive to camp they can confidently express their needs!

• Our staff is here to support and guide campers through any challenges. Many of them were campers here themselves!

• Camp is a place for growth, learning, and fun—remind campers that they are capable and ready for the adventure.

• If parents have concerns before camp, reach out to the Director—we’re happy to help.

• Celebrate your camper's independence and look forward to hearing their camp stories!