Parent FAQs
For families interested for the following summer, the best way to get a feel for Robindel is to tour camp while in session.
Questions Parents Ask
The experience of traveling away to camp and feeling a distance from home helps to create a platform for a summer of learning, independence and growth. We understand that this can be worrying to send your child away for the first time, and we want you to know that we are always available to talk with you about your daughter’s experience. We are only a phone call or an email away.
Another benefit is that your daughter will meet friends from beyond her own neighborhood. She will live and play with other children, learning to accommodate and respect others differences, and ultimately make lifelong friendships with girls from near and far.
Of course, you can’t beat the mild weather, crystal clear Lake Winnipesaukee and nearby White Mountains surrounding camp.
The majority of our campers are from the east coast, though we have campers from 15 different states around the country as well as from abroad.
We spend our entire winter looking for just the right people to work at Robindel. We look for people who are passionate about working with children, qualified to teach activities and ready to learn and embrace their own camp experience. We personally interview each staff member. Many staff come recommended from other staff who have enjoyed their own Robindel experience.
We check references closely and run background checks on all applicants. Your daughter’s well being at camp is our top priority, so we are very careful to hire a team of staff who support this goal.
Campers leaving from the tri-state area come up on coach buses. We have staff on each bus to help the campers as they transition from leaving their parents and head off on their adventure to camp.
Campers coming from PA, FL and DC fly with one of our counselors to either Manchester, NH or Boston, MA. Our staff meet them at the airport and take them to camp.
Some campers are driven or fly from other areas. We work with you to plan the best way for your daugther to arrive at camp.
We know kids today are used to “being connected” at all times and that unplugging for the summer can be challenging. At camp, girls have the opportunity to talk face-to-face, build friendships and resolve conflict in person. These are important life skills and if we take away this chance for social development we are doing the children a disservice. A high five or a hug will be more fulfilling than another follower on social media, we promise.
We believe strongly in the social benefits of campers being away from electronic items while at camp, but also understand that some campers may enjoy listening to music in their down time such as before bed, or with friends during bunk time.
We do not permit cell phones, tablets or any device that connects to the Internet.
Should your camper arrive at camp with a phone, we will store it for the summer. However, we prefer that it be left at home all together.
We do support The Campfire Player or other music players that don’t connect to the Internet, and only have music files.
We do not allow packages.
Packages often create unhealthy competition among campers as well as excessive “stuff” in the cabin. We ask families partner with us in focusing on the camp experience rather than material items.
We encourage written letters, and you may also mail magazines, books, or other items in flat envelopes.
Of course, if you forget to pack a necessity, you may send it to your daughter!
We schedule parent phone calls throughout the summer. Emails are printed and delivered daily, and campers love receiving “snail mail.” You will also have access to our secure website where we post pictures of camp each day. If you ever have any concerns, you can call or email camp to speak with Jolly, Cori or your daughter’s unit leader.
We will! Campers learn to care for themselves, with the support of their counselors. We are a highly structured camp with a daily routine that includes “shower hour.” Many campers love to have their hair braided by a counselor or camper friend. Prior to lights out, counselors make sure that each girl is ready for bed. In full transparency, when your daughter comes home from camp you will probably be inclined to give her a good scrub, but we promise that she will be more independent than when she came to camp, and we can assure you that we have looked after her.
Robindel is a uniform camp. Our colors are navy blue & white. Families use our outfitter - The Camp Spot - to order most clothing for camp, which keeps it easy. You are welcome to order non “CR” items from any store of your choice.
You can view a sample of our daily schedule.
Juniors (1st-5th grade) have 5 activities per day with their cabin and one elective period per day.
Inters (6th-7th grade) have 4 activities per day with their cabin and two elective periods per day.
Scheduled activities include instructional tennis and swim, with a rotating selection of landsports, water sports and the arts.
Seniors (8th-10th) each receive an individual schedule based on their interests.
It is not camp food like you may remember as a child or like you have seen in the movies! We offer a variety of selections at each meal, and alternatives are always available. We are used to cooking for people with allergies, or who may just be picky eaters. Nearly all food is cooked from scratch, with the freshest ingredients available. We have salad bars with tons of choices, bread with peanut butter & jelly, pasta, sandwiches, yogurt, cheese, fruit & more. When people visit Robindel they often comment on the tastiness and variety of our food.
Your daughter’s unit leader will be in touch with you. She will send an email to introduce herself at the start of camp and will send updates throughout the summer. You are always welcome to reach out to Jolly or Cori as well.
1st-3rd graders: 6-10 campers
4th-7th graders: 10-15 campers
8th-10th graders: 20-30 campers
1:3 (That is well above all standards set by the camping industry.)
We are in relatively close proximity to a number of hospitals and urgent care centers.
Lakes Region Hospital in Laconia is 30 minutes from camp.
Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro and Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth are both 45 minutes from camp.
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center is 1 hour and 30 minutes from camp.
Please fill out information here and we will be in touch shortly.
Feel free to contact us by phone or email any time.
Jolly Corley
215-518-6021
Cori Daniels
858-245-9625
Top Three Tips
Here are our top tips for helping to prepare your daughter for a successful camp experience:
1. Share Why Camp Is Essential To Your Daughter’s Growth.
- Be clear with your daughter about the goals of why she is going to camp. Help her understand that while it is important for her to have fun and learn to do lots of different activities, she can potentially do that anywhere. Camp provides your daughter with a unique opportunity for community building, learning to navigate various social situations, managing conflict, and practicing her values in action.
- Preparing for camp is an excellent time to be intentional about talking to your daughter about your family values.
- Please let her know why you feel Robindel best aligns with how you want to raise her to be the best she can be.
2. Set Realistic Expectations.
- Having the “best time” or a “great time” all day, every day for seven weeks is unrealistic. Please discuss with your daughter how she has had ups and downs in seven weeks at home and similarly will have moments at camp that are not her favorite or fun. Some moments can be downright hard. Remind your camper who will help her at camp.
- Help your daughter understand that you believe she is ready to practice using her emotional intelligence skills to make friends, have fun and take on the days that are “great” or the “best.”
- Please share with your daughter that you think she can do hard things. Even though every day won’t be her best or favorite, those moments will help her grow and will make future challenges much more manageable.
3. Partner With Robindel.
- Share information about your daughter with us. The more we understand your camper, the better we can support her at camp.
- Be sure you and your family are aligned with Robindel’s mission and values.
- Let your daughter know that Robindel will communicate with you so that we (you and Robindel) can support her in the ways best for her personal development and growth.
“I can’t believe this magical summer is coming to a close in a matter of hours. I was just reflecting on a strange feeling: despite having been apart from (my daughter) for 7 weeks, I feel closer to her than ever. The shared experience is tangible and real. Robindel truly is an unbroken chain of experiences and relationships. There is no sorority, community or club that can replicate the bond that Robindel campers and staff through the years share with each other. Your ability and willingness to carry the torch and maintain (and improve!) this world that we are so lucky to be part of and share with our daughters, cousins and friends is a gift to all of us. Thank you for loving Robindel with all your heart and being the leaders we need. We are so incredibly grateful.”
Jennie, a Robindel Mom