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This week’s article in The Cut, “How Camp Visiting Day Became a Competition for Moms” (especially with the tag line “I Swear, They’re Flying in Nobu Sushi for Their Kids’), struck a nerve – especially among those of us who live and breathe the camp world year-round. It paints Visiting Day as a showy, competitive spectacle driven by parents desperate to impress.

And sure, there are moments of excess – the overflowing candy, the trendy pillows (or this year’s hottest item: the Labubu), the sushi platters – but that’s not what Visiting Day is about. That’s not what camp is about.

And let’s be honest: that article wasn’t about celebrating camp. It was about parents showing off, living vicariously through their children in an unhealthy way. The fact that many parents didn’t want to be quoted when referencing the overindulgence says it all.

What the article missed is the most important truth:

Camp itself is the gift.

It’s not about what parents bring in coolers or their carefully curated Instagram posts.
The real magic of sleepaway camp is everything that can’t be bought:

It’s the highlights of childhood.

For weeks at a time, campers unplug, live in nature, and discover who they are when their parents aren’t managing their every move. They make friends face-to-face, without screens or social media. They try new things, laugh at themselves, navigate homesickness, and build bunkmate bonds that last a lifetime.

They fight, they make up, they laugh until their bellies hurt.
They learn how to waterski, make a bed, and what to do when their toothbrush falls face down on the bunk floor (pro tip: send multiples!).
They figure out who they are – without a smartphone or a filter.

The true luxury of sleepaway camp is the freedom to be messy, silly, and fully present in a way that is almost impossible back home.
It’s doing swim tests in a cold lake early in the morning.
It’s singing your heart out in the dining hall with your friends and counselors.
It’s the thrill of Color War or Olympics, the pride of climbing the ropes course, the inside jokes whispered with bunkmates by flashlight.

The Cut focuses on the optics of privilege – but what it misses is the deep equality that camp creates.
Bunks don’t care whether you’re a CEO’s kid or a scholarship camper.
Everyone wears the same camp T-shirt.
Everyone eats the same grilled cheese.
Everyone shares bug spray and fans on hot, humid nights.

That’s the point.

Even Visiting Day, at its best, is a celebration of growth – not a competition.
If you’re a camp parent, focus on what actually matters: being there, not being seen.

Kids crave connection, not excess.
They want hugs more than cupcakes, undivided attention more than trendy gifts.
And sure – sometimes parents overdo it because it’s hard: we miss them!
But in truth, Visiting Day is a glimpse into how happy, capable, and resilient our kids have become on their own.

As parents and professionals, we understand this well.
The designer outfits and cookie cakes aren’t what shape campers.

It’s those precious, unplugged days in the woods –
Learning how to make friendship bracelets.
Playing sports all day long.
Memorizing all the words to the camp cheers and songs in the camp play.
Whispering with bunkmates under the covers.

It’s easy to mock the excess.
It’s easy to roll eyes at parents who overpack their kids’ favorite snacks from home.
But reducing camp to a single day of indulgence misses the fifty other days that matter so much more.

We who live and breathe camp know what is real:
It’s the tears at closing campfire.
The lifelong friendships that survive college, weddings, and middle-of-the-night phone calls.
It’s what gets our campers through those cold, winter nights knowing their summer months are on the horizon.
The truth that rings true every time: camp friends are the best friends.

That is the true luxury.

So keep your sushi stories if you must – and maybe some of us do bring sushi.
But don’t reduce camp to that.

We’ll keep telling the real stories of sleepaway camp, and we’ll keep sending our kids back to the woods, year after year, because what they find there – the hugs, the laughter, the memories, and the independence they carry home – will never fit inside a cooler.

About the contributor:

Summer 365 is the leading consulting service created by and for parents, driven by a customized, holistic approach to finding the best summer experience for each child and family. Through in-person visits and meetings with camps and programs, our momboss team of experts have insider knowledge on more than 500 top sleepaway camps and summer programs for children and teens ages 7–18. Our service makes it easy for parents to find whatever they’re looking for—whether it’s traditional or specialty sleepaway camp, community service, performing arts, enrichment, wilderness, or language immersion programs.

There’s something quietly beautiful about the way sleepaway camp keeps the art of letter writing alive. In a world where kids are constantly texting, snapping, and voice-noting, camp offers a rare pause – a place where handwritten notes still matter. As a parent, there’s a magic in sitting down to write a letter to your child, knowing that for a few minutes, you might have their undivided attention as they read your words (might is the key word!).

At camp, this nearly lost art flourishes. There is no email, no texts, no quick emoji replies. Just pen and paper – the same tools that connected campers and parents for generations before us. It’s a slower kind of communication, and that’s part of its charm.

But here’s an important reminder: camp letters are written in a moment in time – a moment that may have passed days (or even weeks at the rate camp mail takes recently!) before you actually read it. That homesick note you’re holding? Your camper may have written it on a rainy Tuesday when they felt a little low, but by the time you read it on the following Saturday, they’re already back to swimming, singing, and cheering on their team. It’s a good lesson in taking things with a grain of salt (and maybe a deep breath, too).

Letter writing also feels a bit like a tiny window into your camper’s day. I like to imagine my daughter reading my letters at rest hour – maybe sprawled on her bunk with her friends, rolling her eyes at my attempts to be funny or “cool,” but secretly soaking up every word (wishful thinking, perhaps!). There have also been years where I find some letters unopened when she gets home. I also love to send photos I see of her from the nightly camp pics (and yes – camp photos could be a totally separate blog post!). I spent years sending articles to my son about the New York Mets – and if you follow baseball or NY sports – you know those articles were not too uplifting – but they were something that we had a shared interest in.

And then there’s the big question: how often should you write?

I have a friend who swore by writing her kids every single day so they would never go a day without getting mail, even if the letters were short. I, on the other hand, felt differently. Isn’t that part of camp too? To learn patience, independence, and resilience? To experience what it feels like to wait for mail and discover that joy when it finally arrives?

There’s no perfect answer just what feels right for you and your family.

And what should you say? Keep it light, keep it positive, and remember that this isn’t the place for “I miss you so much I can’t stand it!” Instead, share funny anecdotes from home, updates about the pets, or what’s blooming in the garden. Ask open-ended questions – “What’s been your favorite activity?” or “Who’s the funniest person in your bunk?” – and celebrate their independence. Most importantly, remind them how proud you are of them.

At the end of the day, these letters – imperfect, delayed, and sometimes met with eye-rolls – become part of the camp experience itself. They are a small but meaningful thread that connects home to camp, parent to child, past to present.

So, whether you write every day or just a few times, whether you fill your letters with updates or silly jokes, just know: your words matter. In a summer filled with growth and independence, your letters quietly remind your camper that they are loved, missed, and cheered on from afar – one envelope at a time.

About the contributor:
Julie Kaiden is our Director of Details and the voice behind our social media. Fun fact: she never to sleepaway camp herself – but we let that slide. Her son completed his full camp journey and is now off on a teen tour with West Coast Connection and her daughter is in her 7th summer at Camp IHC. As of publishing this blog, she has only received one letter from her so far and it was to let her know how beautiful the Director’s office is. It is also one more letter than she got from her all last summer so we are making progress.

Every night around midnight – well, 11:46 p.m. to be exact – my phone buzzes with a familiar notification:

“New Tagged Photo – We found a picture of…”

Sometimes it’s one photo. Sometimes it’s ten. I never know what I’m going to get. And the second that little notification hits, the emotions flood in.

Will it be a good shot? A solo pic? A massive group photo where I have to squint and zoom just to find my child’s elbow?

The other night, I was scrolling through the latest round of photos of my younger son and his bunkmates when I kept going… and then, there it was.

That one photo.

Both of my boys. Together. Smiling. Side by side. And it stopped me in my tracks.

Because behind that single image is a whole day’s worth of shared – and totally separate – experiences: cheering in the dining hall, swimming in the lake, World Cup soccer day, an intercamp match. They’d each had their own day, their own bunk, their own schedule. But somehow, in that moment, they found each other.

Not because they had to. Not because I told them to. But because they wanted to.

And it’s not just that they looked happy. It’s that they looked happy together.

At home, let’s be honest – there’s bickering. Competing. Door slamming. Eye rolling. They crave their own space, their own friends, their own moments.

But at camp? Something shifts.

Camp is the great equalizer. It gives them the freedom to be their full selves – apart and also side by side.

It’s my older son stepping up as the big brother I always hoped he’d be.

It’s my younger one proudly rising to meet him, feeling lucky to have someone to look up to.

It’s Chipwiches shared at Snack. It’s hugs after being drafted to the same Super Bowl team for the first time ever.

It’s subtle. Unspoken. Pure.

Sometimes, when I see the two of them together in these photos, I hear them saying, “It’s our time.”

Straight out of The Goonies.

And it is.

No homework. No rushing to practice. No pressure. Just them, in a world that somehow brings out the best of both of them – together.

These are the memories that will stick.

Not the perfectly folded clothes in their trunks. Not the Jibbitz I hunted down the night before.

But this.

These unscripted, unexpected moments where they choose each other. In the middle of the chaos. In the middle of their own camp lives. They find each other. And that’s everything.

To my boys: this is your time – your sun-kissed, loud, messy, wonderful time. You’ll spend most of it apart. But when you find each other in the in-between? That’s the magic.

And getting to witness just a glimpse of it? That’s the real gift.

About the contributor:
Michele Pollock is a S365 Counselor who lives in Trumbull, CT. She has 2 sons, Eli and Ryan, who are in years 5 and 3 at their summer home – Camp Walden. She loves that they make the kind of memories to last a lifetime, but she is getting tired of waiting up til 11:46 pm every night to see the memories they are making 🙂

You made it! It’s been a week or two since your camper left, the house is a little quieter, and now it’s time for that long-awaited first phone call. You’re excited. Maybe a little nervous. And that’s totally normal – because first calls can be tricky.

Even the happiest, most well-adjusted campers can get emotional when they hear a parent’s voice for the first time in days. So, let’s talk about how to make this call the best it can be – for you and your camper.

I remember touring camps about a decade ago, and one Director told me I’d get one phone call with my son. ONE. I thought he was joking. How could I survive an entire summer with just one call?! (Spoiler alert: That anxiety was more about me than him.) Years later, now that my son’s done with camp, I kind of think that Director was a genius. I lived through summers with two or three calls – some of them were lovely, some were like pulling teeth. Looking back, we probably could’ve survived on one.

Then there was this gem: My son’s first-ever call lasted exactly 16 seconds. He picked up, said “Hi Mom, I don’t want to miss anything, camp is so fun – bye!” and hung up. That was it. Ten minutes allotted… gone in under twenty seconds. And guess what? He was fine. I was not. But thankfully, the amazing Assistant Director (now Director!) gave us a second call – not because he needed it, but because I did.

Then there was my daughter, who treated calls like board meetings. She ran the agenda, asked the questions, and left little room for us to get a word in. She always sounded great – but looking back, I realize that was probably her way of steering the conversation away from anything she didn’t want to share or answer. Feels very on brand.

Now, many years and many calls later, here are my best tips to help your camper’s first call go smoothly:

1. If you can choose the time – aim for earlier in the day.

It’s easier for kids to bounce back into the camp routine after a call when there’s still a full day of fun ahead. Talking right before bed can lead to emotional overthinking (for you and them).

2. Prepare for one-word answers.

Most kids aren’t exactly pros at phone convos. Be patient and stay upbeat – they’ll follow your lead. Positivity is contagious.

3. Come armed with questions.

Open-ended questions work best. A few to try:

And yes – of course ask about waterskiing. Everyone does.

4. Normalize homesickness.

If your child says they miss you, reassure them that it’s okay to feel that way and still have fun. Let them know their counselors and division leaders are always there for support.

5. Know the staff is right there.

After the call, someone from camp is always nearby to help transition your child back into the flow of camp. Even after an emotional call, they know exactly how to help.

6. Don’t hesitate to check in.

If your camper says something that leaves you wondering, it’s okay to follow up with a note or call to the camp. You chose this camp for a reason – trust the partnership. After my 16-second call, I most definitely sent an email saying I was sure he was fine… but I still missed the other 9 minutes and 44 seconds of hearing his voice.

7. End with pride.

Remind your camper how proud you are of them. Being away from home is a huge step in their journey into who they are becoming – and hearing your encouragement will go a long way.

Good luck!

About the contributor:
Julie Kaiden is our Director of Details and the voice behind our social media. Fun fact: she never to sleepaway camp herself – but we let that slide. Her son completed his full camp journey and is now off on a teen tour with West Coast Connection and her daughter is in her 7th summer at Camp IHC. As of publishing this blog, she still has not had her first phone call of this summer.

There’s that saying – “The days are long, but the years are short” – and wow, does it hit differently this summer.

My oldest, Ben, is heading into his final summer as a camper. Just saying that out loud feels surreal. We’ve been through the packing, the countdowns, the “last suppers” … but this time, it’s different. More emotional. More final. More everything.

Ben keeps catching me in a moment – “Mom, are you okay?”

I think I am. But truthfully? I’m still figuring that out.

As a lifelong camp person, watching my own child reach this milestone is overwhelming. I’ve been wanting to share something for weeks. Ben’s not entirely on board – “Do you have to post about it?” he asked.

I guess I don’t. But I want to. Maybe I need to. Because this story – our story – is the reason I do what I do.

Camp has always held a special place in my heart. It brought incredible people into my life – people who helped shape who I am. For my family, it’s given us something even more lasting: an extended family, built not by blood, but by years of shared summers and unforgettable memories. A magical place that shaped us. Connected us. Grounded us.

As another summer begins, I’m not thinking about first-time camper nerves or bus stop jitters. I’m thinking about Ben. That last year is something we never forget. It marks the end of an era – the culmination of summers that helped shape who he is becoming. No responsibilities beyond showing up, soaking it in, and living 10 for 2 – one last time.

Eight years later, I’m overwhelmed with emotion. I’m thrilled for him to spend these seven weeks with the friends who have become his brothers – laughing late into the night, telling Boys Side stories, stepping into the DORM, and soaking up every bit of camp magic. They’ve had skinned knees and bunk pranks and Color War chants that will always live in their bones. I’m also a little sad, knowing this is the last time he’ll experience camp as a kid, especially when I so vividly still remember my last summer. Wasn’t I just a kid (Wait. Don’t answer that!)?

Ben and his friends have grown up together at camp. They’ve faced challenges, made memories, and returned each summer with bigger smiles and deeper bonds. These are the friends you call with good and bad news, laugh and cry with, and grow alongside as their own families take shape. Camp is where they’ve always wanted to be – and where they’ve become the best versions of themselves. Because of each other.

To the parents sending off their oldest for the last time: I see you.
To the kids living out their final summer as campers: soak it in. Hold it tight. These days really do go by fast.
And to Ben: thank you for letting me have a front-row seat to the best summers of your life.

Camp is truly the greatest gift.
And this final summer? It’s one for the books.

About the contributor:

Dara Cohen is a Summer 365 Counselor who lives in Roslyn, NY. She grew up going to Timber Lake Camp and now sends her 3 sons there. Each summer she gets to live vicariously through them.  

We know, We know.

You might be thinking: “There is no way my kid is going to read at camp.” And honestly? Maybe they won’t. Camp can be the ultimate unplug, and taking a break from books is also totally fine. 

But – many campers DO read.

Younger campers are often read to at night, and plenty of kids actually love winding down with a good book in their bunk.  Our team has campers that really run the gamut on their levels of reading at camp. We have kids that devour books at bedtime and some that have never once thought about packing a book for camp. We have kids that made their way through almost the entire Harry Potter series at camp and ones that never got through their dreaded summer reading requirements. So we do get it!

Summer 365 advisor, Sam Shinewald, worked with Hummingbird Books, to put together a summer reading list for BOTH kids and adults. At Hummingbird Books, located in Boston, they believe reading connects us to others as we search for ideas, wisdom and sometimes just provides a much-needed break from reality – and we couldn’t agree more.

Here are their suggestions for Summer (365) Reading:

KIDS

The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brailler (8-11)
 Ever since the monster apocalypse hit town, average thirteen-year-old Jack Sullivan has been living in his tree house, which he’s armed to the teeth with catapults and a moat, not to mention video games and an endless supply of Oreos and Mountain Dew scavenged from abandoned stores. But Jack alone is no match for the hordes of Zombies and Winged Wretches and Vine Thingies, and especially not for the eerily intelligent monster known only as Blarg so he builds a team. With their help, Jack is going to slay Blarg, achieve the ultimate Feat of Apocalyptic Success, and be average no longer! Can he do it?

Slugfest by Gordon Korman (ages 8-12)
Yash is the best athlete at Robinette Middle School, so imagine his shock when he learns that his JV practices have kept him from earning a state-mandated credit for eighth-grade PE. To graduate, he has to take Physical Education Equivalency – PEE, also known as “Slugfest” – in summer school. Yash gets to know his fellow “slugs”, but when one of them tries to blow the lid off a scandal that could make all their time in summer school a waste, Yash is forced to take drastic action.

Camp Famous by Jennifer Blecher (ages 8-12)
11-year-old Abby is excited that her parents are letting her go to summer camp for the first time ever. But she’s not going to just any summer camp, she’s going to a camp for famous kids escaping the spotlight. Everything goes as planned, until she finds herself torn between who she has pretended to be and who she truly is.

The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson (ages 8-12)
A girl who never knew she had cousins must spend the summer with them at her late mother’s family camp, uncovering secrets of the past.

The Secret Language of Birds by Lynne Kelly (ages 8-12)
Nina is used to feeling like the odd one out, but while trying to fit in at camp, she discovers two rare birds have built a nest in the marsh behind an abandoned infirmary. Experts track all the endangered birds, but they can’t identify the female bird that Nina found. With the help of some fellow campers, Nina sets out to discover who the mystery bird really is. As she gets closer to the truth, will she find a flock of her own?

Take It From The Top by Claire Swinarski (ages 8-12)
Eowyn has waited all year to attend her sixth summer at Lamplighter Lake Summer Camp. Here, the pain of her mom’s death can’t reach her, and she gets to reunite with her best friend, Jules. This year Wicked, the girls’ favorite musical, has been chosen for the camp’s end-of-year production. But when Eowyn arrives at camp, everything seems wrong. There are two sides to every story, and if you want to understand this one, you’ll need to hear both.

Spy Camp by Stuart Gibbs (ages 8-12)
Ben Ripley is a middle schooler whose school is not exactly average – he’s spent the last year training to be a top-level spy and dodging all sorts of associated danger. So now that summer’s finally here, Ben would like to have some fun and relax. But that’s not going to happen during required spy survival training at a rustic wilderness camp, where SPYDER, an enemy spy organization, has infiltrated the spies’ ranks. Can Ben root out the enemy before it takes him out – for good?

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (8-12)
For Milo, everything’s a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he’s got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the Island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason. Somewhere along the way, Milo realizes something astonishing. Life is far from dull. In fact, it’s exciting beyond his wildest dreams!

The Green Kingdom by Cornelia Funke (9-12)
Twelve-year-old Caspia hates big cities, especially one as busy as New York. So, she isn’t thrilled by the news that her parents are taking her to stay in Brooklyn. But everything changes when Caspia discovers a bundle of letters, hidden in an old dresser. Each letter contains a ‘green’ riddle, with clues leading to a different plant. Caspia’s summer is transformed when she discovers a bundle of letters containing ten botanical riddles in this enchanting adventure.

The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner (9-14) 
Kate Messner caught on camera vandalizing a cemetery, he’s in big trouble for kicking down some dead old lady’s headstone. But it turns out that grave belongs to a legendary local mountain climber, and her daughter makes Finn an unusual offer…climb all forty-six Adirondack High Peaks with her dead mother’s dog, and they can call it even.

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko (10-13)
When eleven-year-old Hank’s mom doesn’t come home, he takes care of his toddler sister, Boo, like he always does. But it’s been a week and they are out of food and mom has never stayed away this long… Hank knows he needs help, so he and Boo seek out the stranger listed as their emergency contact. But asking for help has consequences. It means social workers, and a new school, and having to answer questions about his mom that he’s been trying to keep secret. And if they can’t find his mom soon, Hank and Boo may end up in different foster homes–he could lose everything.

In the Key of Us by Mariama J. Lockington (ages 10-14)
Winner of a Stonewall Honor, this gorgeously told story of two girls who meet at sleepaway music camp and consider taking their relationship beyond friendship sensitively navigates body image, mental health, grief, and racial and queer microaggressions, all wrapped up in the endless possibilities of summer.

Holes by Louis Sachar (10-14)
 Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. It doesn’t take long for Stanley to realize they are digging holes for a reason.  Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment – and redemption.

It Watches in the Dark by Jeff Strand (10-14)
Twins Oliver and Trisha love going on adventures with their dad. Canoeing and camping on the Champion River will be their best trip yet! But when they capsize in rapids, their father is knocked unconscious. Alone and without cell phone reception, their only choice is to continue down river for help until they find an old dock, and a narrow path that leads them to a small village. The townspeople are kind and helpful but strangely focused on the giant scarecrow in the village square. They are warned not to spend the night in the village. But with the sun soon to set and their father not well enough to be moved, how can they escape? More importantly, can they survive?

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki (12+)
Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. Rosie’s friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose’s mom and dad won’t stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. One of the local teens – just a couple of years older than Rose and Windy – is caught up in something bad… Something life threatening.

ADULTS

FICTION

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, creating complex protagonists, and telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love—this time among the stars.

I’ll Be Right Here by Amy Bloom (Out June 24)
After the end of World War II, Gazala, a young Frenchwoman, leaves Paris with the help of her employer, the writer Colette, and lands in New York. There, she takes on work as a baker, develops a close friendship with two sisters and reconnects with her adopted older brother, in a multigenerational tale of love, compassion and found family.

Our Last Resort by Clemence Michallon (Out July 8)
Frida and Gabriel reunite at a luxury resort in the Utah desert, hoping for a fresh start in their sibling relationship. But the illusion of paradise is shattered when another guest is found dead and Gabriel becomes the prime suspect. To clear their names, Frida is forced to confront their pasts – namely, the fallout from their childhood in a cult.

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown
Like bottles of sunscreen, the best beach reads are shareable. Pass this one-size-fits-most gem among fellow vacationers and, odds are, everyone under your Cool Cabana will find something to appreciate. In Brown’s sixth novel, a father-daughter duo live off the grid in remotest Montana. Only something isn’t quite right in their tightly controlled world: Jane, a perspicacious teenager, begins to realize that her father isn’t who he says he is. When she makes a courageous – and dangerous – break for freedom, we find ourselves embedded in the early dot-com boom in San Francisco. If the Unabomber had a daughter, this could be her story. It might prompt a pop-up book club, and it will definitely make you think about our reliance on technology (especially if you’re squinting at a screen). 

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Welcome to Little Crescent Island, Ga., where two journalists are vying to write the memoir of Margaret Ives, a reclusive heiress who calls to mind both Patty Hearst and Priscilla Presley. Alice Scott is hoping to shore up her fledgling career with this white whale of a story, while Hayden Anderson coasts into the competition fresh off a Pulitzer win. Of course, the two fall for each other – this is Henry’s world, we just read in it – while violating every basic rule of journalism. Surprisingly, Ives’s back story proves more scintillating than the sunset trysts and cozy diner meals. “Queen of the beach read” is an oft bandied term but let the record state: Henry wears the crown.

Mansion Beach by Meg Mitchell Moore
If you love Elin Hilderbrand and “The Great Gatsby,” Moore’s frothy confection of a novel, set on Block Island, is a satisfying treat. The outsider here is Nicola Carr (get it? Nick Carraway?), who trades a failed relationship and a miserable job for a borrowed cottage and an internship at a local maritime institute. Her stab at equilibrium is quickly thwarted by a love triangle involving her cousin’s wife (whose family is her real estate benefactor) and the party-throwing fashion entrepreneur next door. We learn about their shenanigans – which culminate in a death – in part from a chorus of podcast guests. This might not be the freshest plot device, but what Moore sacrifices in originality she makes up for with smocked maxi dresses and snarky asides.

The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
A year in the life of a wayward young man in New England who, by chance, becomes the caretaker for an eighty-two-year-old widow living with dementia, powering a story of friendship, loss, and how much we’re willing to risk to claim one of life’s most treasured mercies: a second chance.

NONFICTION

How to Lose Your Mother by Molly Jong-Fast
“I was born to privilege, born on third base, but desperate to strike out and go home,” writes Jong-Fast of her childhood in the shadow of her fame-hungry feminist icon mother, the writer Erica Jong. As Jong’s health declines, Jong-Fast – now an esteemed writer in her own right – offers an unflinching, albeit not unkind, reflection on the relationship between mothers and daughters.

On Her Game by Christine Brennan (Out July 8)
Caitlin Clark, the highest-scoring college basketball player in N.C.A.A. history, was a revelation to most observers following her standout season in 2024. Brennan draws on interviews and behind-the-scenes reporting in this energetic account of that campaign and explains how the ensuing explosion in popularity of women’s basketball is a legacy of Title IX’s passage in 1972.

Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton
Dalton, a political adviser based in London, was not much of a naturalist when she retreated to the English countryside during the pandemic. That changed one frigid morning in 2021, when she rescued an abandoned newborn hare. Their resulting bond prompts her to meditate on humans’ relationship to animals, to ourselves and to the rhythms of life. “If I could derive this much pleasure from something so simple,” she writes, “what else might be waiting to be discovered?”

The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward by Melinda French Gates
The philanthropist reflects on the inevitable but uncertain periods of change – from new parenthood to career pivots to the loss of loved ones – that punctuate a lifetime. Though focused primarily on her personal experiences, French Gates also offers guidance to readers seeking support through their own times of transition.

Matriarch: A Memoir by Tina Knowles
This personal history from Knowles spans generations: her grandmother, Celestine; her own childhood in Galveston, Texas; and her daughters’ – Beyoncé and Solange Knowles – meteoric rise to superstardom. A testament to Black motherhood, this memoir offers a look behind the curtain at one of the best-known mothers in the entertainment industry.

We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Amanda Doyle
Glennon, Abby and Amanda asked each other, their dearest friends, and 118 of the world’s most brilliant wayfinders: As you’ve traveled these roads–marriage, parenting, work, recovery, heartbreak, aging, new beginnings–have you collected any wisdom that might help us find our way?  As Glennon, Abby, and Amanda wrote down every life-saving answer, they discovered two things: 1. No matter what road we are walking down, someone else has traveled the same terrain. 2. The wisdom of our fellow travelers will light our way. They put all of that wisdom in one place: We Can Do Hard Things – a place to turn when you feel clueless and alone, when you need clarity in the chaos, or when you want wise company on the path of life.

About the contributor:

Hummingbird Books is an independent, female owned and operated store on Boylston Street in Chestnut Hill. It is a welcoming community destination of an extensive collection of adult and children’s books and showcases a mix of local and widely beloved authors.

Sending your child off to sleepaway camp for the first time is a major milestone – for them and for you. It’s exciting, emotional, and a little bit overwhelming. But with the right preparation, you can help your soon-to-be camper feel confident, capable, and ready for the adventure ahead.

Think of it like training for a big race – no one shows up at the starting line without a few practice runs. Here’s how you can help your child prepare for their best summer yet:

1. Talk About Camp – Often and Positively

Start early and keep the conversation light and encouraging. Focus on the fun they’ll have, the new friends they’ll make, and the independence they’ll gain. It’s also important to normalize feeling a little nervous – it just means they’re stepping out of their comfort zone.

Try saying:
 “Remember when you tried soccer for the first time? You didn’t know the rules, but you figured it out and had fun. Camp will be like that too.”

2. Practice Being Apart

If your child hasn’t spent much time away from home, now’s the time to ease them into it. Try sleepovers with grandparents or friends, longer playdates, or extended time away during the day. These experiences help build confidence and ease the transition to being away for a longer stretch.

Think of it as warm-up laps before race day – each little moment of independence helps.

3. Build Everyday Skills

Campers don’t need to be fully self-sufficient – counselors are there to help – but it’s empowering for kids to know they can take care of themselves in small ways.

Encourage them to practice making their bed, brushing their teeth and showering on their own, choosing outfits that suit the weather, and speaking up when they need help. Packing their own camp bag (with your guidance) is a great confidence booster and helps them feel prepared.

4. Set a Calm, Confident Tone

Kids take emotional cues from their parents. If you’re calm, positive, and reassuring, they’re more likely to feel the same. Avoid focusing on how much you’ll miss them – focus instead on how proud you are of their bravery and spirit of adventure.

If they ask: “What if I miss you?”
 You can say: “That just means you love us – and we love you! And we know you’re going to have so much fun, even if you miss us a little.”

5. Create a Communication Plan

Knowing how and when they’ll hear from home can help ease anxiety. Whether your camp allows letters, emails, or care packages, talk through what communication will look like. Practice writing letters or postcards at home so they feel familiar with the process.

There’s nothing like receiving a note from home at camp – or sending one and knowing it’ll be read with love.

6. Celebrate This New Chapter

This is a big moment, and it deserves to be marked. Whether you make a countdown calendar, plan a special send-off meal, or start a new pre-camp tradition, taking time to celebrate helps your camper recognize just how special this experience will be.

Remind them: they are brave, they are ready, and this is just the beginning of something amazing.

You’re Not in This Alone

At Summer 365, we do more than help you find the perfect camp – we support you through every step of the journey. From the first conversation to opening day, we’re here with expert guidance, real-talk reassurance, and helpful tools to make the transition smoother for both you and your camper.

Because every great adventure starts with preparation – and you’ve got a great team by your side.

About The Contributor:

Leila Saeed joined us this Spring as a Senior Options Intern from Scarsdale High School. She spent five summers at Mohawk Day Camp and participated in Pre-College Programs at Brown University and Emory University. Her favorite part of those experiences was building connections with her fellow campers and classmates over shared interests and activities. This fall, she is so excited to be heading off to the University of Michigan to study Psychology. We can’t wait to hear all about it!

If I could go back and talk to my younger camper self, the girl nervously standing by the bus, oversized duffel bag in hand, trying to act like she wasn’t freaking out, I know exactly what I’d say.

I’d tell her: you’re going to be okay. In fact, you’re going to be better than okay. You’re about to step into something that will change your life in all the best ways.

But I get it. Camp feels big at first. New faces, new routines, a whole new world. So, I’d start by saying: don’t try to figure it all out in the first hour. Let it unfold. Take a deep breath, unpack at your own pace (or your counselor’s pace), and give yourself permission to feel all the feelings- yes, even the homesick ones.

I’d remind her that camp isn’t about being perfect, it’s about becoming. Becoming braver, more independent, and more yourself than you ever thought you could be. It’s about learning how to live with others, laugh at yourself, and find joy in the little things, like spontaneous dance parties on the tennis courts or finishing your first friendship bracelet without it getting completely tangled.

I’d tell her to lean into the awkward moments, because they’re usually the start of great friendships. To try new things even when they’re scary, like the ropes course (despite your fear of heights). And to definitely dress up for the themed days, even if she thinks she’ll look ridiculous (spoiler alert: everyone else is doing it too, and its way more fun that way).

And if I could whisper one more thing to that younger version of me, it would be: you belong here. Even if it takes a few days to feel it, you will. Because camp is made up of real people, real friendships, and real memories that stay with you long after the summer ends.

Now, years later, as a soon-to-be college freshman, I look back and realize how much camp gave me. Confidence. Resilience. Lifelong friends. A place where I could truly grow up.

So, to the parents reading this, thank you for giving your child this experience. And to the campers just starting, trust the process. Let camp shape you. And someday, you’ll look back and realize it was one of the best gifts you’ve ever been given.

With love and bug spray,
Your future self

About the contributor:

Izzy Josephs worked with us this Spring as a Senior Options Intern from Scarsdale High School. She spent nine summers at Camp Canadensis, one on a Teen Tour to Greece + Italy, and one as a Scarsdale Rec Camp Counselor.  Her favorite memories of those summers were making connections to people with different backgrounds and experiences. This fall, she is so excited to be heading off to the University of Michigan to study Sports Management. We are cheering her on every step of the way!