Can you believe it’s almost Visiting Day already?  We can’t! As usual, it feels as though someone pushed a fast forward button.  It seems like just yesterday we were all hugging and greeting each other on Opening Day.  However, the campers are ready (and so are we) to greet parents and grandparents for what is always a very special day each summer.  The campers have been very busy finishing up Arts & Crafts projects for parents to take home, making note of all of the things they want to talk about and places around camp that they want to take their parents on the big day, and, most importantly (according to the campers), making those infamous Visiting Day wish lists…Speaking of those lists, we thought this would be a good opportunity to toss in a bit of food for thought (okay, we admit it…pun intended) when you’re scanning through multiple pages of delectable wishes…

Moderation is always good.  Cinderella had until midnight at the ball.  Campers have less than two days to eat all of the goodies their parents bring them.  Not that the local charities to which we always donate the extras mind, but, realistically, do you really think your camper—even with the help of his or her bunkmates—can eat several 5lb bags of M&M’s in that amount of time?

Yes, we have NO TREE NUTS OR TREE NUT PRODUCTS!  The capitalization and underlining are not typos.  We want everyone to have fun on Visiting Day but we take food allergies very seriously.  That means no coconut, pesto, marzipan, or Nutella (yes, a moment of silence please) in addition to the very obvious peanut butter—or any nut butter for that matter.  We won’t post the entire list because we can’t even pronounce some of them, but if you have questions, here is a list of common tree nuts that most people can pronounce:

Almond                Beechnut            Brazil nut

Bush nut              Butternut            Cashew

Chestnut             Coconut               Filber

Ginko nut            Hazelnut              Hickory nut

Lichee nut           Macadamia nut Nangai nut

Pecan                    Pine nut               Pistachio

Shea nut              Walnut

Your child will attempt to use you as a human ATM for cash to keep in the bunk.  Resist the urge to dispense.  When money goes missing in the bunks, we have no way to tell if it’s actually missing, hiding in a pocket somewhere, or spent but forgotten, because we never had any record of it coming into camp to begin with.  If you find yourself reaching for your wallet, add the funds to your child’s camper account.  Trust us.  That really does make the most sense.  There is nothing to spend money on here at camp anyway, and we give campers spending money from their camper accounts when they go on trips.

Trips…If your child is a Senior going to Canada, he or she will need a passport.  If you haven’t already, please remember to bring it.  The CAs head to California on Monday.  Visiting Day is your last chance to pad their spending money accounts if necessary.

And there are a few tips for making Visiting Day successful for everyone.  Safe travels, and can’t wait to see everyone on Saturday!