06.02.20

Top 8 Ways to Stay in Touch With Camp Friends During Quarantine

The world might be practicing physical distancing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to stay close to your camp friends! While you’re staying safe at home, check out this list of ways you can keep in touch with — and maybe even strengthen — those camp bonds.

  1. Send each other handwritten letters (you had to know this would be number one, right?). At camp, you’re probably used to spending all day with your friends and communicating with the folks back home via snail mail. Since you’re home, why not try it in reverse?
  2. Make matching friendship bracelets — one to send to a friend, and one to keep. You’ll be connected even if you’re far apart.
  3. Take in the warmth of a “virtual campfire”. Schedule a time to meet up on Zoom or another conferencing service, make your s’mores at home, choose a background with a campfire, and VOILA: virtual campfire!
  4. “Meet up” for some camp programming on Jewish Camp at Home – a Facebook page aggregating the fun activities, arts and crafts, and more that camps are running virtually. 
  5. Get some of your old bunk-mates together and have a virtual Maccabiah! The internet has lots of games you can play online, so break into teams and play as many as it takes to see whose got ruach (yes we do)! Options include (but are not limited to) – 
  6. Contact your bunk’s favorite counselor or camp staff member and have them to read your virtual bunk a bedtime story. This one will require some extra coordination, but it’s worth it. Get into your Zoom-appropriate PJs and break out all the snacks you wish you were allowed to bring to camp!
  7. Gather for a virtual canteen! Grab your favorite canteen item (Cookies & Cream Hershey’s Bar, onion rings, etc) and hop on Zoom for a snack break to relax and enjoy some QT with your summer friends! 
  8. And finally, if you’re looking for a way to truly unwind, download Netflix Party, pop some popcorn, and watch a camp-themed movie.

We all know camp friends are the best friends. Stay safe, stay connected, and have fun!