Summer camps are popular, and they fill up fast. If you’ve got the time to pore over camp materials, contact camp directors or even arrange for an off-season tour, all the better when it comes to choosing the right program for your child.

The one thing that puts a bigger damper on overnight camp than too much rain? Homesickness. It’s common, it’s normal and there are, thankfully, many things you can do to help your child cope with or avoid significant homesickness.

Ask parents about their children’s summer camp experience and you’ll likely hear them gush about how confident and more mature their kids were when they returned home.