My kids love getting mail when they’re at camp. Letters and packages serve as a small reminder that I’m thinking about them, which can be very reassuring. If this is your camper’s first time away from home, you’re worried about them getting homesick, or if you just want to send some encouragement, letters and packages are a great way to show them some love.
It’s important that your mail gets to Camp quickly — after all, your camper is only there for 1-2 weeks! In order to avoid postal delays, you can drop off some mail on Opening Day that Cho-Yeh’s staff will deliver to your camper at lunch throughout the week. This is the most efficient way to ensure your camper receives mail during their session. Definitely check out the Parent Info Sheet for details on delivery instructions and restricted items for packages.
Another way to connect with your camper during their session is to send them an email using a “camp stamp.” This is a one-way message, so campers can’t reply, but it’s an easy way for us parents to send “live letters.” To send an email to your camper, log into your parent account and write to your camper through the email section. Cho-Yeh’s staff print out the emails at 10:00am each day, and campers receive them at lunch. You automatically receive two free camp stamps when you register your camper, but you can buy more for a small cost. Plus, camp stamps don’t expire, so you can use any leftovers next summer!
Another fun way to show your camper some love is to send them one of Cho-Yeh’s pre-made care packages! There are several different care packages to choose from, and each one comes loaded with tons of different Cho-Yeh swag. You can order these in your parent account using the Other Goodies Form. You can even order Cho-Yeh merchandise online through the Trading Post prior to your camper’s arrival, and it will be waiting for them in their cabin on Opening Day!
Receiving a letter back from your camper is often a bit more difficult. Sometimes, they are having so much fun that they don’t want to slow down and write! Still, campers can drop mail off in the dining hall at any meal and even purchase stamps at the Trading Post.
One way that I try to make writing letters easier for my boys is by giving them pre-addressed and stamped envelopes. This way, you don’t have to worry about them forgetting or miswriting their address, and they don’t have to spend time digging around for stamps. This works wonders (especially for younger campers) and definitely increases the odds of you receiving a letter from your camper.
Whether it’s through a package, an email, or an old fashioned letter, I hope that you and your camper can feel closer to one another through the fun of exchanging mail during their time at Camp!
