BUCKING THE TREND

At Somerset, we always try to find the “yes.” Yes to extra messy activities, yes to more time with friends, yes to extra cookies, and yes to special requests. But here’s one no from us – please refrain from sending any Sephora (and similar) accessories to camp.

We know that skincare and makeup are popular and accept that they have a place in the lives of a maturing young person, but they are NOT needed for a summer camp experience. For one, anything with strong smells will attract bugs and mosquitoes, and to be itchy and covered in bites is neither fun nor comfortable. Moreover, camp is not about what you have but who you are with, and part of this obsession with “skin care” is consuming our kids more and more each day. We know that there is plenty of growth and changes going on with our campers as they mature, and so we understand that certain products may be important for health and continuity - but there is a limit - and we ask that you, as the parents, hold that line with us. Like technology, simply because they have an item at home, does not mean it needs to be with them at camp.

While we cannot list and describe everything that is “OK” to bring to camp - like bug spray and certain sunscreens - we do request that you be aware of what is coming with your camper. They DO NOT need perfume, a daily six-step skincare routine, or excessive amounts of makeup. Our campers who have completed 6th grade and older will have a few social events with some of the area boy’s camps, and we have agreed that they may wear limited amounts of makeup if it helps them feel comfortable and strong.

If your camper comes to camp with too many items, there will not be room for them all in the cabin, and we may either send some items home, store them elsewhere, or keep them in the luggage. In a shared living environment, we must recognize that there is no room for everything, only what is necessary. We would prefer that nightly routines not affect precious cabin time, and we want to avoid unnecessary competition over who has what. Instead, we want the campers to be comfortable in their skin, literally and figuratively, and not weighed down by the demands of this trend.