First Time Campers
We’re so excited that you’re considering overnight camp. We know that first summers bring a mix of excitement and nerves for both kids and parents. That’s completely normal. Every child who steps off the bus at Kenwood & Evergreen is new once, and every parent has had that same mix of pride and hesitation.
Our job is to make sure that from the first moment, your child feels seen, supported, and safe. We care for your kids as if they were our own.
BEFORE CAMP BEGINS
Belonging starts long before summer. Once your family connects with us, you’ll have a chance to talk with Ali, our Camper Coordinator, to share more about your child and learn how we’ll help them feel at home. From there, we host new camper gatherings in Boston and New York where kids can meet friends before camp begins. We also help set up phone calls or playdates between new families so those first hellos at camp already feel familiar.
Every new family fills out our “Camper Confidential” forms so we can get to know each camper as an individual. These details guide everything from bunk placements to counselor awareness. If your child sometimes gets nervous in big groups or needs extra encouragement to try new things, we’ll know that before the first day and plan accordingly.
ARRIVAL DAY
When the bus rolls in, campers don’t step into the unknown. They step into a place that has already been waiting for them. Their counselors know who they are from their photos, their bunks are labeled with name signs, and their beds are already made with familiar belongings from home. Counselors welcome each camper, help them settle in, and then take the group for a guided walk around camp. They learn where the fields are, where the dining hall is, and where their adventures begin. By dinner, most new campers are chatting with friends and realizing that this isn’t just possible—it’s going to be fun.
BIG BROTHER & BIG SISTER PROGRAM
For our youngest campers, the Big Brother and Big Sister program helps turn that big new world into a smaller, more familiar one. A few days into the summer, each new camper is paired with an older one who becomes a guide, a friend, and someone to count on. They might go bowling, roast s’mores together, or just sit and talk during free play. The relationships are built intentionally after staff have had time to know everyone. We want the match to feel real, not random. By the second week, you can see it in how the younger campers wave to their Big Brothers or Sisters across the quad—they know they have someone looking out for them.
COMMUNICATION & CONNECTION
We know that parents want to stay connected, especially during those first few weeks. You’ll receive photos in your parent account daily, updates through social media, and an email from Scott on the first night after spending the day with the kids. In the following days, the office will send you details about your child’s bunk and how to reach us directly.
Campers write letters home three times a week, and you can email them as often as you like. Each morning, our team prints those notes and puts them in the bunk mailboxes to be delivered after lunch. Phone calls are scheduled midway through the session to help kids stay focused on life at camp rather than missing home. If your child ever struggles, we’ll be in touch. We partner with parents to support every camper’s experience.
HEALTH, WELLNESS, & SAFETY
You can rest easy knowing your child’s well-being is in expert hands. Our on-site medical team includes doctors who are often K&E parents themselves, along with nurses and a health center administrator. For anything beyond a routine check-up, we have nearby hospitals in New London and at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. If your child ever needs to visit the health center, you’ll see the update in your parent portal and hear from us directly if there’s an overnight stay.
WHAT MAKES THE 1ST SUMMER SPECIAL
The first summer is when everything begins. Kids learn to make friends without phones, to play without keeping score, and to find confidence by trying new things.
They discover that effort and kindness matter more than winning, and that people cheer just as loud when someone finally makes the shot as when they win the game.
Our community is built on encouragement, not perfection. When a camper takes a chance, whether it’s standing on the stage or climbing the rock wall, there’s a crowd ready to support them. That’s how courage grows.
WRAPPING IT ALL UP
A first summer at Kenwood & Evergreen is about so much more than being away from home. It’s about becoming part of something that feels like home.
When your child steps off the bus, they’re joining a community that knows how to welcome them, guide them, and help them grow.
From the counselors who make sure every bunk feels like family to the directors who know each camper by name, this is a place built on connection and care.
By the end of the session, first-time campers don’t just leave with new skills or memories. They leave with the quiet confidence that they belong here. And once your family joins K&E, you’ll always be part of it.