Someone once told us that when their heart starts beating really fast before something big, they call it their “inner applause.” Their body cheering them on. And we haven’t stopped thinking about it since. Because every spring, as camp season approaches, the nerves begin to surface.
The questions.
The clinginess.
The sudden, “Wait… what if I don’t want to go?”
And sometimes – surprisingly – the second summer feels even bigger than the first.
Now they know what drop-off feels like.
They remember that first night in the bunk.
They remember missing home before friendships fully clicked.
Of course, their heart beats faster.
But what if that doesn’t mean something is wrong?
Homesickness Isn’t a Warning Sign
When kids say they’re nervous, or when that lump shows up in their throat, it’s easy for parents to panic quietly.
Is camp still the right choice?
Are they not ready?
Did we push too hard?
But homesickness doesn’t mean something is wrong.
It means they feel deeply connected.
It means home is safe and loved.
It means attachment is strong.
Missing home isn’t a red flag. It’s proof of love.
And bravery doesn’t mean they feel calm.
It means they keep going even when it feels big.
Why the Second Summer Can Feel Harder
The first summer is unknown.
The second summer carries memory.
Memory can make things feel bigger.
They know what that stretch feels like before the fun takes over.
They remember the growing pains.
That doesn’t mean camp isn’t right for them.
It means they’re about to grow again.
And growing stretches.
The Pep Talks That Actually Help
Before camp, our instinct is often to eliminate the nerves.
But that’s not the goal.
The goal is to give them language for what they’re feeling.
Instead of:
“Don’t be nervous.”
“You’ll be fine.”
“If you hate it, I’ll come get you.”
Try:
“It makes sense this feels big.”
“You can miss us and still stay.”
“You can feel nervous and still go.”
“Homesick feelings come in waves.”
“I believe you can handle hard things.”
Because nerves aren’t the enemy. They’re part of the process.
A Note They Can Carry With Them
If your heart feels fast, nothing is wrong with you.
You can miss home and still make friends.
You can feel unsure and still try.
You can cry and still stay.
Homesick feelings come in waves.
They rise. They feel strong. They pass.
You don’t have to solve the whole summer.
Just this hour. Then the next.
That fast heartbeat?
It might just be your inner applause.
Why This Language Matters
Camp won’t be the last leap they take.
Middle school.
High school.
College.
New teams.
New rooms.
New beginnings.
If they can learn now that nerves don’t mean stop – they mean grow – that’s a tool they’ll carry long after the trunks are unpacked.
Camp is practice. And sometimes the loudest heartbeat is just their body cheering them on. Inner applause.
We love that narrative.
And we’re cheering them on, too.
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.