Summer Communication

Part of a camper’s success at camp is our ability to free them from the burdens, distractions, and limitations of the real world throughout the year. Chestnut Lake Camp is a self-contained environment within which campers can feel safe, connected, happy, and independent. An aspect of that independence is allowing campers to work through the ups and downs of their days and nights at camp while relying on their counselors, other staff, friends, the camp support system, and themselves in the absence of their parents’ regular involvement. This is one of the things that makes a sleepaway camp experience so different, and also one of the most valuable dimensions of their weeks away from home. Is it hard for the kids? Not so much. In fact, the pace and highlights of a camp day, combined with a child’s development of self-confidence and responsibility, make the disconnection from home a meaningful part of the summer. Is it hard for the parents? Yes, sometimes it is!

It is our job at camp to help parents work through and adjust to the lack of regular connection with their children through ongoing, effective communication. We see great value in giving parents a peek into their children’s experiences at camp to understand the value of camp, while we also act as a conduit for parents who need to be engaged in supporting their child’s life at Chestnut Lake. In a child’s first summer at camp, this is often more important than in subsequent years. Over time, parents (and campers) quickly adjust and are left to enjoy their independence more and more. It is a high priority for the Chestnut Lake leaders and staff to provide great communication throughout the summer, and we are pleased to share some of the keys to success.

KEY COMMUNICATIONS PRINCIPLES AT CHESTNUT LAKE

Consider the best way to reach out to us in the summer, just as we try to choose the best means of communication with you. Review the resources and direction we have provided, and let us guide you to the right person if you are not 100% sure who to email or call. You will receive specific suggestions for outreach contacts in advance of the summer, but you can always email us at [email protected] or call our switchboard in the Main Office during the summer at 570-729-1010.
Every interaction makes an impression, and we appreciate that communication shapes a parent’s confidence in Chestnut Lake. Because of this, we see every communication touchpoint as important.
Live conversations are better than emails for more complex or sensitive issues. Emails can be effective and are best for basic questions and quick responses, but we will encourage live chats whenever possible.
When our leaders and staff share information with parents more personally, we will always try to be straightforward. Transparency is a hallmark of our communications, but we also value confidentiality and discretion.
We like to be fully present when connecting with parents. Sometimes this may delay responding to an email or call until our team has a chance to step away from the camp’s daily routine. Our leaders and staff are at camp with the campers and engaged in programs, so please understand that it may take up to 24 hours to respond to a non-emergency request or message.
We are prepared to receive communications 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the summer. Our Main Office hours (listed below) will give parents a chance to speak with a member of our team throughout the day, but we have voicemail boxes and an emergency line to make sure we can be reached for important questions around the clock, even after the office is closed or our lines or staff are busy. Our switchboard in the Main Office can be reached at 570-729-1010.

MAIN OFFICE SWITCHBOARD HOURS & EMERGENCY LINE

Our staff will answer calls at 570-729-1010 from Sunday through Friday, from 9 AM to 8 PM, and on Saturday from 9 AM to 8 PM. After 8 PM each day, an auto-attendant will answer all calls, and callers can either leave a message or be forwarded to our after-hours emergency line. The emergency line is accessible through the main switchboard and should be used only if the concern cannot wait until the following day.

FIRST-TIME CAMPER CALLS & PRIMARY CONTACTS

A member of each Campus leadership team (usually the Assistant Director or a member of the Wellness Team) will call the parents of first-time campers within the child’s first 48 hours at camp.

Emails will be sent before the start of the session to introduce all parents to the Assistant Directors and Division Leaders of each Campus/Division. Throughout the session, Assistant Directors will be the ideal point person for outreach via email or phone. They will be able to address many concerns and will always be able to connect parents to other resources as needed. Other staff who will support communication with parents regarding camper concerns include our Directors, Wellness Coaches, and others.

PHOTOS, VIDEOS, UPDATES & EMAILS TO CAMPERS

Parents will receive a separate email later with all the details of the communications that will be shared through the MyCLC and Campanion systems. But here are the basics: Our Communications Team will be uploading and organizing hundreds of photos every day (trying to get shots of each Division at least every other day, ideally) so that parents can have a sense of what our campers are up to. While we strongly discourage parents from over-analyzing these images, we do try our best to present an array of images that parents can enjoy. Video updates – including our weekly Highlight Video – will be made available each week, as well as periodic updates from Division Leaders or Assistant Directors (or others) to give even more insight into the campers’ experiences. We also offer an email option (one-way, from parents to campers only) accessible through the same system. Emails are printed once daily in our Main Office and delivered to campers like regular mail. You can access all of these functions through MyCLC, or the great mobile app, Campanion. Campanion can be downloaded now in the Apple Store or Google Play.

CAMPER/PARENT PHONE CALLS

We recognize that parents will value the chance to connect more personally with their child during their time at camp, and have designed a communication system that can be effective for parents while still allowing campers to stay on track. Please review these guidelines:

First Session campers will call home two (2) times per session, with each call lasting approximately 8-10 minutes. There can be an additional call on a camper’s birthday (unless it’s best to combine a birthday call with a standard scheduled call). Second Session campers will call home one (1) time per session, with the additional allowance of a birthday call. Full Summer campers will have three (3) calls, in addition to seeing families on Visiting Day. If a camper is not being visited by family on Visiting Day, we will arrange a Visiting Day call (or Zoom/FaceTime call) as a substitute.
In 2026, we are making a change to our phone call scheduling system to be easier for families and less disruptive for our campers (and more successful). This system will have Divisions scheduled for specific dates/times, and parents will simply need to be available during those call window times to receive their child’s call. More details on this system will follow.
As we have maintained in the past, there will be no calls during the first week of the session.
We will send special guidance to families about camper/parent calls in advance. We stress that calls are both a wonderful opportunity for campers and parents to connect and can also be challenging. Campers may leave a call with renewed or new feelings of missing home; parents may finish calls feeling that concerns have been raised; and, as with any communication between parents and children, there can be gaps or unanswered questions. Please try to lower your expectations for these calls and treat them as a chance to share love and support (above all else). Too many questions, probing deeply into concerns, or a lack of enthusiasm can cause challenges.
A camper/parent call is not mandatory. If you, as a parent (in discussions with our camp leaders), feel that eliminating or rescheduling a call may be better for your child, we’re open to that.

MAIL & PACKAGES

We do our best to ensure our campers write at least TWO TIMES each week. We feel that it is important for parents/guardians to hear from their children while at camp, even if the letters are relatively brief. Camp will be providing postcards for writing home throughout the session. Campers may write as many additional letters as they want to – to grandparents, siblings, friends, etc. Writing home should encourage families to write to their campers regularly. Campers truly enjoy getting letters from home! Many parents/guardians send a letter to camp even before their child arrives for the session. The address to use for mail for campers while they are at camp is as follows:

[Camper’s Name] – [Division], Chestnut Lake Camp, PO Box 369, Beach Lake, PA 18405

When writing, please be supportive. Letters from a parent/guardian describing to their child how much fun a summer trip has been, how great everything is at home, or that you will pick them up from camp if they are unhappy will certainly not help the camper’s experience. It’s great for a child to be aware of what’s happening at home, but especially for a younger child, hearing how sad you may be that the child is away can intensify homesickness. Your kind and thoughtful words of encouragement can make a tremendous difference in your child’s camp experience. We find it helpful to send pre-addressed (and stamped) envelopes or postcards with their child. Parents may also want to review how to address an envelope with their children to ensure their letters make it home.

Please remember that we are a “NO PACKAGE” camp. If your child is missing something or you feel there’s an important item to provide to them while they are at camp, please be in touch with us. We have many items on hand; we can procure all sorts of materials for campers ourselves, or we can help coordinate a special mailing. Other than Birthday packages, no other packages should be sent without explicit approval. In those cases when one of our Directors, Head Counselors, Division Leaders, or Wellness Coaches has authorized a package to be sent, use the following address:

[Name of the Staff Member that You Have Received Approval from to Send Package], Chestnut Lake Camp, 326 Trails End Road, Beach Lake, PA 18405

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