Getting Ready for Camp: Electronically, Logistically, and Mentally
Extracurricular activities, school emails, preparing for Middle School and High School (and college!); parents today are overwhelmed with the amount of coordination it takes to raise a well-rounded human. The prospect of then having to get your camper ready for an entire month away from you might sound like a task that will send you over the edge. I am here to help! I am sharing a carefully crafted guide highlighting the different areas of focus essential for preparing both you and your camper for a successful summer ahead. The guide below covers the jobs to be done electronically, logistically, and mentally to get ready for camp. Let’s dive in!
Electronically: Forms! Let’s get the boring computer stuff out of the way first. Forms are an essential part of any summer camp registration, and TVRC is no different. Our forms are set up specifically for the purpose of getting to know your camper before they arrive on the Ranch. A current photo helps us recognize them on Arrival Day. The Camper Information form gives us an understanding of what we will see if your camper is having a bad day, and how we can support them through those tough moments. The Health History forms allow our nurses to prepare to support each camper, and staff member, medically while on the Ranch and in the backcountry. The Transportation and Luggage forms help us keep track of every camper’s arrival and departure, and how their belongings are getting to and from the Ranch. Each form is essential, and better equips our staff to support your camper in all aspects of their camp experience. If you have any questions surrounding forms, please feel free to reach out and ask, I love communicating with parents!
Logistically: The equipment list is long, and daunting. It is also of utmost importance. The TVRC program is designed to be challenging and to build resilience. Being cold in the backcountry because your sleeping bag isn’t temperature rated low enough, or having your feet covered in blisters because you forgot your wool socks and your hiking boots are rubbing your ankles for 10+ miles doesn’t add to the experience- it detracts from the intentional challenge built into the program. For my personal thoughts on the packing list, including tips, tricks, and must haves, check out my Equipment List Breakdown!
In addition to the equipment list, the logistics of getting to and from the Ranch can feel overwhelming, especially for our campers who fly unaccompanied. Out of the 120-135 campers per session, we typically have between 30-40 kids fly into Jackson Hole Airport as unaccompanied minors. We have a system in place: one staff member is designated as the “Unaccompanied Minor Liaison”, and their job is to be stationed at the airport from morning to night on Arrival Day to sign kids out from the airlines. Each airline is slightly different, but when booking a ticket for an unaccompanied minor, you must list the contact information for the person responsible for picking up your child. Once we know the staff member who will fill this specific role, we will share all of that information with parents sending their kids unaccompanied. In the meantime, please use placeholder information when booking your ticket as it can be edited at a later date. Once your camper is signed out and their baggage is collected, they will meet other campers who have flown in around the same time, head to their shuttle, and make their way to the Ranch! Parents will receive a phone call from the office when their camper leaves the airport, and another one when we lay eyes on their camper at the Ranch- so anticipate two phone calls when sending your camper unaccompanied!
If you are driving to the Ranch, note that we are about 2 hours from Jackson (plus some, if there are bison on the road). Our driveway is 4 miles long, and you will be greeted by a few barn staff members on horseback- please drive slowly! Dropoff itself is very streamlined: drop off luggage to be taken to your camper’s cabin, a brief medical check in, a quick hug, kiss, handshake, fistbump, or whatever your family’s farewell may be, and off your camper goes for a month of adventure! Getting campers integrated into their cabin group and camp life as quickly as possible has shown great results in lowering homesickness.
Okay, now for some fun stuff.
Mentally: Campers, I am talking to you now. Mentally prepare yourself to be challenged, to be uncomfortable, and to be wholeheartedly supported through it all. Prepare to hike up mountains with a heavy pack, potentially in the rain or cold, with your 9 best friends. Prepare to be blown away by the vast wilderness that surrounds you, by the elk bugling at sunset, and the views of the Milky Way at night, every night. You will laugh until your sides hurt, learn countless new skills, and be covered head to toe in dust after your pack trip. Friendships will be made, horses will be ridden, and memories will stack up like trophies. A month at Teton Valley Ranch Camp is an escape from the constant pressures of social media and academics, and is a place for you to be entirely who you want to be.
Parents, prepare to take a step back from your camper. Allow them to have this experience on their own, to build their own relationships and confidence. Watch from the sidelines as your camper tackles challenges head on, and let them sit in discomfort when those moments arise. You will find that when you let go and allow your child to grow on their own, their roots get a little deeper and they stand a little taller. Our campers return home after a month keen to apply their “camp self” to who they are at home- paying more attention to school work, trying a little harder in their sports, helping around the house more. It sounds too good to be true, but these are stories we hear year after year from our families. The skills they learn at camp are translated into daily life as a teen, college student, and beyond.
Many steps are required as you prepare for your camper to be away for a month, and we are here to help make this process as smooth as possible. If any questions arise from this blog, or if there is something I didn’t touch on that you would like to learn more about, please shoot me an email! My main jobs are 1) to help get your camper excited about camp and 2) to help you get excited about having your camper at camp. My #1 favorite thing to do is talk with our parents about their camper or about our program, so please fill my inbox with opportunities to connect with you- I would literally love nothing more!