How Did You Sleep?

Night Time Routines & Sleeping in Cabins 

Camp days are full of games, laughter with friends, and incredible food. With so much energy and excitement packed into each day, getting a good night’s sleep helps campers make the most of every moment. Most mornings at camp are filled with the question, “How did you sleep?” We recognize the importance of quality sleep and the impact it has on a camper’s experience, so we want to partner with our campers both ahead of and during camp to support the best possible experience.

Preparing for camp is one of the best strategies for a restful night’s sleep while at camp. Here are a few tips to try before campers arrive:

• Go to sleep screen-free the week prior to camp.
• If you like to read before bed, make sure to pack a red light!
• Lights-out times vary by age group. If you are a night owl, try going to sleep around these times before camp:
  • Junior and Discovery Camps: between 8:00–8:30 PM
  • Explorer (and Explorer Plus): between 9:45–10:15 PM
  • High School: between 10:15–10:45 PM
• If you normally listen to music to help you fall asleep, try white noise instead. Our cabins have box fans that double as white noise and help cool the cabins down.
• If your camper has nightmares or night terrors, let leadership staff know what works best for your camper to help them through the night.
• Find and pack your favorite stuffed animal!

Each cabin has twin beds with a pillow, clean pillowcase, and bed cover, a bathroom, space for toiletries, a nightlight, and our incredible camp counselors. Some campers prefer to bring sheets and blankets, while others prefer sleeping bags. If campers get cold, we do have a limited number of extra sleeping bags and blankets available. Here are a few photos of our sleeping spaces!

Our cabin counselors are trained to help navigate these situations with campers and see if adjustments to the nighttime routine can be made (such as moving the nightlight closer to their bed or reading a bedtime story). They also check in with campers who may be missing home (see the Missing Home blog here!). We recognize that when campers experience difficulty sleeping, it is usually during the first or second night, and most campers settle into their routine shortly after.

We care deeply about every camper’s well-being and experience at Sonlight and know that sleep plays a pivotal role. That’s why we partner with families to help campers build healthy bedtime routines before they arrive. We also work closely with campers during their stay to support them through any sleep challenges that come up. When campers are well-rested, they have more energy, feel happier, and get the most out of their time at camp.