This is not a drill. We are precisely 24 hours away from Visiting Day 2025, and the excitement is palpable. We thought this might be a good time to offer some Visiting Day advice to new families, while gently reminding those for whom this is not the first rodeo!

Visiting Day is a jumble of emotions for everyone: Campers, Parents, Siblings, Key Staff, and Counselors. The best way to approach it is to have NO expectations. Nothing will go exactly as hoped and planned, and it is imperative that everyone remain flexible. We’re already bracing for an uncooperative Mother Nature, so let’s practice the art of the pivot and be ready to switch gears!

We’ve compiled a list of things you SHOULD do on Visiting Day:

1. Expect to pull your car up to the line of vehicles on Route 6 until the gates open at 11:30. Yes, you’ll have to wait. But it’s a great opportunity to say hi to your camper’s bunkmates’ families!

2. Wear comfortable shoes. Camp is all about walking, often on uneven terrain. If it rains, leave the fancy kicks at home and be prepared to soak up some of that Greeley mud!

3. Let your camper guide the conversation. There are a million things to cover, and your child will likely be talking a mile a minute. They will share what they want, and guide you to areas of camp that have special meaning for them.

4. Speaking of areas of camp, get out of the bunk and explore! Even if you’ve visited Owego a dozen times, your camper will likely want to shoot some hoops in the HBC or take a kayak out on the lake. Go with the flow and see where the day takes you!

5. Enjoy the camp food! Sure, some families may choose to leave camp to treat their camper to a restaurant meal, but there’s something really unique about breaking bread with your child’s bunkmates in the dining hall! The wraps are delish!

6. Stop by the table in front of Crockett to take advantage of early-bird prices and register your camper for 2026. Our amazing office staff will ensure that it is quick and painless, and you may even walk away with a special gift!

7. Take the time to meet your child’s counselors. These are the young men who have been looking out for your camper, making sure he showers, brushes his teeth, and changes his underwear. And it’s very likely that your child thinks the world of them! They are eager to meet you, as well.

8. Take lots of photos! Our camp photographer will be walking around with her camera, but you don’t want to miss the opportunity to snap a pic of Grandmom in a canoe with her grandson! Or one of little brother (a future Owegan, perhaps?) playing Knock Hockey on the Junior Gathering Deck.

9.Validate your child’s feelings. He may be sad to say goodbye. He may be counting down the minutes until he’s back with his summer Brothers with no parents in sight. Both are normal! Even the most stoic of campers may express atypical emotions on Sunday, so keep an open mind.

10. Stay present for the entire 3 and a half hours! The time goes by quickly, so make the most of it and be together as a family. Even if you’re just sitting by the lake, or hanging out in the bunk, it’s time well spent.

This gift you’ve given your child — the gift of overnight camp — is one of the most valuable things you could possibly do for them. That doesn’t mean that every camper will love camp equally! It just means that all of them are growing and benefitting in some significant way.

We can’t wait to see you on Sunday, rain or shine! Come with your smile and your sense of adventure, and you can’t lose.