Camper FAQs

This is a really common question, which makes a lot of sense since this is your first summer at camp! If you haven’t already met Jolly, you will. This is one of the reasons that she likes to set up a Zoom with you and visit with you in your home if that’s possible. Then you’ll know Jolly!

We will help connect you to some girls beforehand, including your camp sisters. So, you’ll for sure have a few people who you know before camp starts.

Most people (including counselors!) come to camp not knowing anybody, so we all know that feeling! When you get off the bus you will see Jolly and she will introduce you to your counselors. Our counselors are warm and welcoming, and they can’t wait to meet you and show you where your cabin is, where your bed is, and introduce you to other girls in your cabin.

The older girls at Robindel take pride in welcoming new campers into our CR Family. We are excited for you to join!

Everybody feels sad sometimes! Maybe you’ll miss your parents or something at home. There are lots of people at camp to help you including Jolly, Cori, Naty, your Unit Leader, your Counselors and your Camp Sisters. These are actually some of the coolest parts of camp - you learn skills to help yourself feel better about situations, and that you are capable of doing really hard things (like missing home). We can help you come up with strategies to figure out how to feel better.

It is OK to be having fun AND miss home at the same time.

In the spring we will send an email to let you know who your camp sisters are. You can talk with your camp sisters before camp, ask them any questions you have about camp, and maybe even get to meet them in person if they live nearby.

If you aren’t sure what bunk your camp sister is in, you can come ask in the Head Cabin or in the Lodge Office.

Robindel isn’t a huge camp; we are like one big family. We all see each other all the time!

Camp can feel like a really big space when you first arrive, so you may worry about getting lost going to an activity. Jolly and Cori’s office is right in the center of camp and we have windows all around. We are paying attention to where everybody is going and we are out and about around camp too. You can always just stop by and say “hey, I’m supposed to be going to gymnastics and I’m not sure where to go” and we will help you. (By the way, you’re welcome to stop by even if you’re not lost! Come say hi, tell us something awesome you accomplished, or something you’re looking forward to!)

Most of the time you are traveling around camp with your bunkmates, so you won’t be alone. If you are ever unsure of where to go, you can ask anybody you see! Campers, Counselors, Unit Leaders, Naty, Jolly, Cori…we will all be there to help!

By the time that Visiting Day comes, you will be a pro! You’ll be able to show your parents all around camp and they will be amazed that you know where everything is!

Chef Travis is a VERY good chef. He’s also a Dad, so he really understands how kids like to eat. Even if you are a picky eater there are tons of options. You can always go get a sandwich like turkey, cheese or pb&j. There is always a salad bar, pasta, bagels, yogurt and many other choices. Can you believe that last summer Travis made over 3,500 pounds of just plain pasta!?

We have a big kitchen and a whole staff who work with Travis to make sure that the food tastes good, and that you have choices. You never know…you may even try something new at camp that you’ll ask your parents to make at home!

Canteen is like a little snack shop. We have some sweet treats and some savory treats. After lunch, on your bunk’s scheduled days, you can pick out a treat in exchange for a letter! Your counselors will remind you when you have canteen coming up so you can be sure to have a letter written and all ready to go.

Absolutely! Birthdays at camp are super fun. You’ll be showered with love and lots of CR celebrations. In the morning your bunk mates will decorate your bed area and give you a special CR Birthday Girl t-shirt to wear. Three meals in the day means three chances for the whole camp to sing our special Robindel birthday song to you! Plus, we’ll have a party with cake and games and your family can send you a fun birthday package. Listen for your name being called to the office for your birthday phone call too!

If this is your first time going to camp, most likely there is going to be something that you have never tried before and that may make you nervous. Maybe you’ve never made your bed by yourself or put on your own sunscreen. Or, maybe there is an activity you’ve never tried or even heard of! We love that camp is a place where everybody gets to try all sorts of new things!

Did you know that a lot of counselors come to camp and try things for the first time too? For example, some counselors have never been on an airplane before, and they fly to camp! They are experiencing new things and they will help you learn how to experience things for the first time. We will all be there to help you, including Jolly and Cori.

We encourage you to ask if you don’t know how to do something, and we may ask for your help if we are doing something for the first time too! We can all help each other.

You sure do! Junior campers (in grade 4 or below) get to choose one activity period each day. Intermediate campers (in grade 5 or 6) get to choose 2 activities each day. Senior campers get individual schedules based on their choices.

There are many other times you get to make choices. For example, you can sign up for optional weekly hiking trips with our Adventurers Club! We have many intercamps (friendly tournaments) with other camps that you can choose to participate in too. Sometimes we have choices for evenings activities as well. We love to give you choices at camp and help build your independence and decision making skills.

We do try to make activities really interesting and engaging. We really want you to try all of the activities, at least the first few times. You don’t ever have to pick it for your elective, but when you go with your bunk we are going to ask you to try, even if you don’t love it. Even if something isn’t your favorite, being with your friends at camp can make it a lot more fun.

If you’re ever worried or scared about an activity, please come chat with us. We will be there to support you, we promise.

Both campers and counselors wear uniform (nearly) every day at Robindel! It makes getting ready in the morning so easy, and it’s also a great way to show your CR spirit! There are some special times like July 4th and silly dress up evenings (did you know we have Halloween at camp?!) when you will be able to wear non-uniform clothes. Also, your pajamas can be as colorful as you wish!

Not a big deal! Just let your Unit Leader, Jolly or Cori know. We can either get it for you or ask your parents to send it.