Celebrating Birthdays at Summer Camp: What Parents Need to Know

Your child’s birthday is a big deal. And if their special day happens to fall during summer camp, you might be wondering:
Will they feel celebrated? Can I send gifts? Will they be sad without family around? Can I call them?

These are all completely normal concerns, and as someone who’s been in the camp world for years, I get it. But here’s the truth: camp birthdays are actually some of the best birthdays ever.

Let’s break down exactly how we celebrate birthdays at River Way Ranch Camp, what parents need to know, and how you can still make their day extra special, even from afar.

How We Celebrate Birthdays at Camp 🎉

At River Way, we make sure birthdays feel special without overwhelming campers who might not want too much attention. Here’s how it works:

🎂 Special Recognition at Meals

• During meals, campers and their bunkmates sing Happy Birthday and celebrate together.
• We bring out cupcakes so they can share a fun moment with their friends.
• We take an individual birthday photo and a birthday photo with the whole bunk.
• It’s the perfect balance of feeling special without being too much.

📩 Low-Key Birthdays? No Problem!

Not every camper wants a big deal made about their birthday. We get that. If your child prefers to keep it low-key, just let us know! Our camp moms will make sure their day is acknowledged in a way that makes them feel comfortable.

Can I Send a Birthday Gift or Care Package? 🎁

Yes, under special circumstances.

We know parents want to send a little something extra to celebrate, and we allow birthday care packages with camp mom approval.

How It Works:

• Contact our camp moms in advance.
• Let them know what you’d like to send.
• Approved care packages will be given on their birthday to make the day even better!

This ensures that campers get something special while also keeping our camp environment safe and distraction-free.

Can I Call My Child on Their Birthday? ☎️

We totally understand the desire to check in, but here’s why we don’t allow birthday phone calls:

📌 It can disrupt their experience.

• Camp is all about being present and engaged. A phone call can pull them out of the moment.

📌 Homesickness isn’t typically an issue on birthdays.

• You might worry about them feeling sad, but in reality, they’re too busy having fun!
• We follow our normal homesickness protocol just in case (check out our blog on homesickness for tips).

A Better Alternative: Send a Special Video! 🎥

• Parents can send a birthday video message to be shared with their camper.
• Our camp moms can deliver it on their special day.
• It lets your child hear from you without interrupting their camp experience.

This keeps the day fun, exciting, and focused on celebration rather than missing home.

What If My Child Feels Homesick on Their Birthday?

This is a big concern for parents, but here’s what we’ve actually seen at camp:

✔ Most campers don’t experience homesickness on their birthday.

• They’re surrounded by friends, activities, and special moments.

✔ If homesickness does come up, we handle it with care.

• Our counselors are trained to help campers through homesickness.
• We have protocols in place to support them while keeping them engaged.

We also encourage parents to prepare kids before camp by talking about how their birthday will be celebrated. Setting expectations ahead of time helps a lot!

What Other Parents Say About Camp Birthdays ❤️

We’ve had so many parents tell us how grateful they were for how we celebrated their child’s birthday at camp.

📢 “I was so nervous about my son turning 10 away from home, but River Way made his birthday so fun! The cupcakes, the singing, the video we sent—it was perfect.” – Parent, 2024

📢 “I was worried my daughter would feel left out, but she told me it was her best birthday ever. Thank you for making her feel so special!” – Parent, 2023

How to Prepare Your Child for a Camp Birthday

1️⃣ Talk About It Ahead of Time

Let them know exactly what to expect—cupcakes, singing, and lots of fun!

2️⃣ Send a Birthday Care Package (If You Want To!)

Get approval from our camp moms and we’ll make sure it arrives on their birthday.

3️⃣ Send a Video Instead of Calling

A video message lets them hear from you without pulling them away from their camp experience.

4️⃣ Reassure Them It’s Going to Be Awesome!

Most kids end up saying it was one of their best birthdays ever.

Final Thoughts: Why Camp Birthdays Are Amazing

Sending your child to camp on their birthday might feel tough, but I promise it’s worth it.

They get to:

✅ Celebrate in a fun, unique way
✅ Be surrounded by friends and excitement
✅ Feel independent and confident

And most importantly? They won’t feel like they’re missing out—because they’ll be having the time of their life.

If you have any questions or want to coordinate something special, reach out to our camp moms! We’re here to help make your child’s camp birthday one to remember.