Packing List, Festival Days, Dance Themes, Homesickness
Dear Ghostlight Families,
We hope you're feeling the summer spirit beginning! There's so much to be excited about — classes, shows, activities, trip days, and more — and we can't wait to make this summer an incredible one.
Read below for a packing list, as well as some information about our Festival Days and Dance Themes and some thoughts about Homesickness.
Next week, you'll receive a "Preparing for Ghostlight" email with your camper copied on it, if their email is on file. That email will contain information about what to expect this summer, including show descriptions, staff introductions, and more!
Very best,
Alexa and the Ghostlight Team
👕 Packing List
Starting to think about packing for camp? The packing list can be found on your Family Dashboard, as well as attached to this email. All campers will be provided with a 2026 Ghostlight T-Shirt! If you're interested in purchasing optional additional Ghostlight gear, check out our merch partners at Amerasport.
Our costume designer, Alyssa, has added a couple optional items to the packing list — if you have any of these items, they can come in handy as we prepare for the shows! (But no need to purchase anything — we'll make sure everyone has great costumes for their performances.)
Laundry at camp is done twice during each session at the end of the first and second weeks. For Emerging Artists, laundry will be done once. There will be an additional load for full summer campers during intersession. Laundry is done off camp, and all campers will receive a Ghostlight laundry bag at camp. (Returning campers do not need to bring their orange bags from previous summers.) Campers should bring two shower towels and a pool towel; towels will be washed weekly with the rest of the camper laundry.
🎭 Festival Days
Festival Days are the last full day of each three-week session, and guests are invited to see a full day of shows at Ghostlight! Specific details, including the time of each show and information about meals, will be sent with our cast lists on the second morning of camp. Performances will not begin before 11am, and the day will end by 9pm. Session 1's Festival Day is on July 18 and Session 2's Festival Day is on August 8. Family and close friends are invited to attend. Due to the seating capacity in our theater, we ask that you reach out to us to confirm if you plan to have more than six guests present to support your camper. Departures for each session are the morning after Festival Day.
The Emerging Artists performance is on July 6 at 7:30pm. We invite the families of Emerging Artists to join us for Honk! JR, and Emerging Artists will depart the next morning.
🪩 Dance Themes
Our campers participate in an exciting evening activity each day as a full camp community. Each session, there will be a camp dance, and we're sharing the themes with you if your camper would like to bring any costume items. Dances at Ghostlight are fun and low-key — there's no pressure to wear a certain outfit, purchase any costumes/accessories, or invite someone to the dance. Dances are all about being together for a festive evening! The themes are Session 1: Space Ball and Session 2: Halloween Beach Bash!
👋 Homesickness at Camp
Homesickness is a natural experience, not only for first-time campers but for returners and even staff. At camp, we have your camper's back. When campers are homesick, our staff are trained in how to approach this with empathy and understanding while helping 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.
Familiarize with Camp Routine: Discuss the typical 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 or other away-from-home experiences.
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!
❓ Any questions?
Respond to this email with your questions — we'd love to answer any questions you or your camper have leading up to the summer!
🗂️ Message Archive
Just joining? To make sure you're not missing important information, please read through our previous emails on the Messages and Updates page here.