Campers have time to write letters during free time and rest hour. We encourage parents to write two to three times a week. Daily correspondence has a propensity to bring on homesickness. Parents may call the directors if they have concerns at any time.

Family members attending Wyonegonic and Winona can visit during the sessions. The visit will be on Sundays after lunch and will not interfere with our programming (excluding the first Sunday of the session). The visit alternates each week at Winona or Wyonegonic.

Campers who have never been to sleep away camp benefit from sleepovers with friends or relatives. Prepare your daughter with positive encouragement and focus on the fun and exciting things she will do at camp, rather than the things she will miss at home. Speak to other families who have gone through the process and utilize Wyonegonic as a resource. Prior to the camp season, we will send helpful information and resources to review with your daughter that will assist in the transition from home to camp.

We expect campers to experience homesickness in different ways. It is very normal to miss home. Counselors are trained to look for signs and seek out necessary assistance. Because camp is fun, active, and campers are surrounded by peers, homesickness usually resolves itself. More challenging cases are handled by our nurses and directors on an individual basis. We also have support in place through social workers familiar with the camp experience who can help your child adjust to camp and talk through feelings. It is extremely unusual for a child to leave camp. We offer resources to help you prepare.

Campers with birthdays are the exception to the phone call policy. Parents may call in at meal times for a birthday phone call. Birthdays are celebrated with a small cake enjoyed by the camper’s cabin group.

Our rustic lakeside cabins emphasize simple living with screened windows for ventilation and enjoying lakeside breezes. Campers use battery powered flashlights or headlamps at night as there is no electricity in the cabins. Each camper has a single camp bed, a place to store their footlocker and a shelf for belongings. Clotheslines are located outside each cabin to dry towels and swimwear. Campers are responsible to work together to keep their shared living space clean.

Toilets, sinks, and hot water showers are centralized, have electricity and are conveniently located a close walk outside of the cabins.

We do not permit cell phones, e-readers, tablets, laptops, or any other electronic device. If a child needs a phone for her travels, we store them in an office lock box for safekeeping. Disposable cameras are preferable to those that require recharging.

Your daughter will choose her activities after she arrives at camp. You can give suggestions to her prior to the summer, but we believe girls learn a lot about making decisions and setting goals by submitting preferences for their own schedules. She will have guidance from her counselor and the Program Director. Programming is chosen weekly which allows for change and variety. This allows her to focus on areas of personal interest and to try new things.

We try to keep camp life simple and personal space in the cabins is quite limited. Wyonegonic laundry is subcontracted and goes off-property once per week and returns after 24-48 hours. We recommend enough clothing for 10 days. Please review the Preparing and Packing for Camp information in the Parent Resource.

All health concerns including dietary restrictions or food allergies must be notated on the health form and have full disclosure from the camper’s primary physician. The review of health forms initiates “need to know” information that is shared with appropriate staff. Parents of campers with specific health needs often speak with camp nurses prior to the summer. Food allergies are monitored carefully. Severe dietary restrictions (i.e.: gluten-free or celiac disease) often necessitate a meeting between parents, the Health Center Supervisor, and Food Services Director. Parents may also provide supplemental food that will be dispensed by the Health Center and the Head Chef. Camp offers vegetarian options at all meals.