4/28/26 Email: Preparing for Camp Series (Email 2)
Dear friends:
In the lead-up to camp, we like to pass along resources to help you prepare for a successful summer full of happiness, deep friendships, and personal growth. Before getting to the latest article, please see a few updates and reminders below:
- Bus Times and Locations Now Online: To see bus times and locations, please visit https://campzeke.org/camper-
travel-on-arrival-and- departure-days-2026/ - Medical Forms: Medical forms (and all camper forms) are now due for first session and full season campers. They are due by June 1st for second session campers. Please complete them on CampInTouch at zeke.campintouch.com.
- Please Review the Parent Handbook: Camp’s Parent Handbook (campzeke.org/current-
families/parent-handbook) has all the essential details about getting ready for the experience. - Who Do We Contact with Questions? For questions about medical forms, transportation, and the packing list, please contact Rachel at rachel@campzeke.org or 212-913-9783. For questions about billing, deposits and financials, please contact our registrar, Barbara Lichter, at barbara@campzeke.org or 212-913-9783.
- Prior Advice/Guidance Emails: To read all the prior emails in our series of pre-camp advice and guidance, please visit https://campzeke.org/2026-
emails-to-enrolled-families/. We’ll update that link every time we send an email like this one. - Campanion: We’re excited to introduce you to Campanion. The Campanion mobile app connects parents to camp like never before, with Face Finder, Microposts, Photos and Letters that can be sent right from your phone.To get started, follow these three simple steps:
- First Time Users:
- Download the Campanion app to your phone
- Login to the app using your Camper Account login and password
- Upload a reference photo of your child – This is separate from the photo you provided when you registered
- Returning Families: If you’ve used Campanion before, please be sure to upload a new, current photo of your child. Kids grow and change so quickly, and having an updated photo helps us ensure everyone is easily and accurately recognized.
- Download Campanion:
- First Time Users:
- Our Camp Store is now open. If you would like to add some additional apparel or swag to your camper’s wardrobe, please take a look. PLEASE NOTE: Every camper automatically receives a Camp Zeke T-Shirt upon arrival. Visit the online store at ZEAGLE OUTFITTERS
Please read on for the latest article!
TALKING ABOUT CAMP
by Bob Ditter
Sending your child away to camp is a major milestone for most families, one that is often marked by excitement, anticipation and perhaps even some anxiety. Though camp is certainly about making friends and having fun, it is also about being on your own and being a part of a community.
One of the most important things you as a parent can do to help prepare your child for both these aspects of camp is to talk with your child about it before they go. In fact, it may be better to have several occasional, shorter talks rather than one long conversation…. Children usually do better with this sort of conversation if it is part of a more general discussion, either at the dinner table or, for example, while riding in the car doing errands.
The following are some sample topics for discussion that will help prepare your child emotionally for their big adventure at camp:
Friends. Camp is not anything if it is not about making new friends. If you are shy about meeting new kids, then learn to get to know others by being a good listener. Ask questions. Share what you have. Join in. Remember also that not everyone in your bunk has to be your friend, and you don’t have to be everyone else’s friend. As long as you treat others with respect and they do the same with you, then having one or two friends at camp is fine. Of course, if you have more, that’s great!
Respect. No matter how you feel about anyone else — your counselors or other kids in your group — I expect you to treat people with respect. If you are angry, upset or disagree, there is a respectful way to express it.
Activities. There are many exciting things to do at camp, many of which you may never have tried before. (If your child is tending to be a bit homesick or worried about being homesick, remind them what it was they were excited about doing at camp when they first thought about going there.) You may not like all the activities or you may be better at some than others. That’s normal. I, however, expect you to try. The more you put into camp, the more you will get out of it!
Cooperating. You, like every other camper there, will be part of a bunk. As your parent I expect you to cooperate with others and help out. That’s part of what makes camp so special — kids helping each other out. Most kids will help you if you are friendly and help them.
Give yourself time. One thing about camp is that almost everything is new — the kids; the activities; the routines; the bed you sleep in; the bathrooms; the food and more. It takes a few days to get adjusted, so be patient with yourself. Most of the time you will be having so much fun you won’t mind all the changes, but if you do, remember that you will get so used to things that by the time you come home you will miss them all!
Getting help. Everyone has good days and bad days. If you are having a problem, your counselor is there to help you! You don’t have to wait to tell us if you are upset about something. After all, if your counselor doesn’t know what might be troubling you, they can’t help you. Be honest and ask for what you need… [And remember, if a counselor can’t help with something, campers can always come to any adult in camp, including of course, our Director of Camper Care, Riva Schanker, and the caring adults on our Camper Care Team!]
Helping out. Camp is about fun, but it also requires that you help out. Clean-up is part of camp. You do it every day! As your parent I expect you to cooperate.
Being positive. A great thing to remind your first time camper about is what his or her strong points are. I would focus not just on what they do well, but their positive qualities, such as what makes them a good friend or the type of person other kids would want to know. Helping children identify their strengths can help them when they are having a set back — one of those inevitable growing pains all children have from time to time.
Gratitude. A lot of people have worked hard to make sure you have a good time at camp. Your counselors, the people in the dining hall, the maintenance staff, the health staff — they all work hard so you can have fun. Be grateful for what others do for you.
Talking with your child about these kinds of issues is a great way to support them as they get ready take this important step on the road to being more resilient and self-reliant. For you as a parent it can give you more peace of mind as you allow your child to participate safely in a broader world — a world introduced to them in part by camp!
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We hope you find our pre-camp preparation emails helpful Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions!
Warm regards,
Your friends at Camp Zeke (Meet Us Here)
3/5/26 Email: Now Available: Parent Handbook and Camp Forms (Email 1)
Dear friends:
We hope you’re all doing well and getting excited for an amazing camp experience! Around this time of year, we begin sending advice emails and reminders about preparing for camp. To kick things off, we’re pleased to share our 2026 Parent Handbook
Camper Forms
Please review the Parent Handbook on our website: campzeke.org/current-
Camper Drop Off and Pick Up
As we frequently mention to families, Camp starts on the bus and we expect that all campers will take the bus. Please see the transportation form on CampInTouch for details.
Who Should I Contact with Questions?
If you have questions about preparing for camp (including questions about medical forms, the packing list, etc.), please contact Rachel at rachel@campzeke,org or 212-913-9783
Please note: We do encourage each family to read the Parent Handbook first. It has many answers.
If you have questions about billing, deposits and financials, please contact our registrar, Barbara Lichter, at barbara@campzeke.org or 212-913-9783.
Warm regards,
The Camp Zeke Team
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