Thanks, Family Time for printing one of our articles on camp care packages! In case 
you missed it, here it is again:
Calling All Campers! Mail call at summer camp is a highlight of the day.
The bugle calls and campers gather ‘round to see if they got mail. Camp may be the only time your kids expect “snail mail,” or even give it a thought.
Mail call is one of those moments that can result in oft-told family stories, future comedy routines, or stints on the psychiatrist’s couch. Make sure your little camper gets lots of short letters, postcards and care packages. Here are few ideas to keep a smile on your child’s face:
- Keep it short! Better a note or postcard with a funny picture that just says “Thinking of you,” than a laundry list of your day’s events. You may feel it’s important to fill a page with scribbling, but honestly, your offspring does not care about your latest dentist appointment or whether you had chicken or pasta for supper.
- Some kids love rebuses and other word puzzles. A rebus is a sentence or phrase that uses pictures and letters instead of words. For example, a cutout of an eyeball replaces “I,” a heart means “love,” and a female sheep, which officially is a ewe, replaces “you.” (A nice touch is to draw exaggerated eyelashes on the ewe, to declare it is a female.) Send the answer the following day.
- Kids seem to love letters written “bank-robber” or “ransom-note” style. Cut letters and words out of magazines and catalogs and paste them on a piece of paper to make a message.
- Send games that the entire bunk/tent can play. Cards, pick-up sticks, Ad Libs, charades, Monkeys in a Barrel. Don’t spend too much money; the pieces probably will not make it home.
- Send stamped postcards and maybe, just maybe, you’ll get a card back.
- Send fill-in-the-blank letters with stamped, self-addressed envelopes. Here’s an idea of what to say: “Dear Wonderful Mother, I have ____kids in my bunk. The weather has been (circle one) rainy, hot, just right.” You get the idea.
- Send a disposable camera and write your child’s name on it in permanent marker. You might get to see what some of those bunkmates look like!
Keep in mind that camp mail is usually a one-way street. You will send mail, your kids will not. After all, sleep-away summer camp is one of those situations where, for the most part, no news is good news!
Mirth in a Box sells fun and unusual camp care packages and gift boxes. In a hurry? Check out our pre made camp care packages. Feeling creative? Create your own gift box.
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