Dear Ghostlight Families,

Staff begin arriving at camp in less than three weeks to prepare for a summer of joy, creativity, gratitude, and community with All camper first names! The two biggest questions we hear from new and returning families are: What shows will be performed this summer? and How can Ghostlight support my camper if they're feeling homesick? This email contains information about both of these questions as well as an introduction to Chris!

Let us know about any other questions coming up for you and your camper — we're always happy to connect.

Alexa and the Ghostlight Team

🎭 Our 2025 Summer Season

We're thrilled to announce our full Summer 2025 season! These 11 shows were chosen specifically for this summer's campers and include a range of plays and musicals. 

👋 Homesickness at Camp

Homesickness is a natural experience, not only for first-time campers but for returners and even staff. Homesickness is an indication of how many great things there are at home that provide joy and security. 

At camp, we have your campers' backs. We are going to do everything we can to make each moment, activity, class, and rehearsal an incredible experience. When campers are homesick, our staff are trained in how to approach this with empathy and understanding while employing skills to get campers back into the flow of camp.

Here are a few things you can do before camp to help us in navigating homesickness with success.

Open Communication: Encourage your camper to express their feelings about camp. Listen attentively and validate their emotions, assuring them that it's okay to miss home initially.

Familiarize with Camp Routine: Discuss the daily schedule and activities at camp with your camper beforehand. Knowing what to expect can alleviate anxiety and make the experience more enjoyable.

Pack Personal Comforts: Include a familiar item from home in their packing, such as a favorite stuffed animal or a family photo. Having a tangible connection to home can provide comfort.

Practice Independence: Encourage self-reliance by allowing your camper to handle tasks like packing their own bag or making their bed. This fosters a sense of independence that will benefit them at camp.

Positive Attitude: Emphasize the excitement and opportunities awaiting them at camp. Focus on the fun experiences, friendships, and personal growth that often come from the camp environment.

Share Success Stories: Share stories of your own positive camp experiences or stories of friends and family who overcame homesickness and had an amazing time at camp.

Make No Promises: Resist the urge to quell the anticipation of homesickness by saying you will pick your camper up right away if they start to feel homesick. Instead, remind them how proud you are of them for taking this leap, and let them know you believe in their ability to do it. 

And don't worry — if you're camper is having a difficult time, we'll support them and will also keep you in the loop. We'll work together as a team to help your camper have an incredible summer.

👋 Leadership Introduction: Chris Murrah

Meet Chris! Chris has been at Ghostlight for 17 years. In that time, they have filled many roles at camp, from counselor to dishwasher (when needed) to show director to camp director. Chris now lives in Savannah, Georgia, where they will assume the role of Associate Chair of Acting at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) this coming June.

First Year at Ghostlight: 2009

First Show (Directed) at Ghostlight: Seussical, The Musical! (The first show I remember seeing at Ghostlight was Little Me!)

Favorite Evening Activity: Campfires! I love hearing the singing and guitar playing, eating S'Mores, and seeing the sunset!

Things I'm Looking Forward to This Summer: I always look forward to hearing a camper say they did something they thought they couldn't do. Camp is a chance to stretch, to grow, to challenge yourself!

🗂️ Message Archive

Just joining? You can find all our previous emails on the Messages and Updates page here.