November 12, 2025

By Amy Jolly, Head of School

This is the time of year when nine, ten, eleven, and twelve year-olds have hit their stride at school - the novelty of the beginning of the year has worn off, and the reality of daily routines has set in. Both children and parents often have a moment of clarity and wonder "why can't school consistently spark the same excitement as the best parts of childhood?"

It is no surprise to us here at Applewild that we receive inquiries about enrollment from parents throughout the year - but there’s often a surge right around now. As families reflect on the school year so far, we hear from students and parents looking for a middle school that can offer the independence, camaraderie, and adventure that children love at sleep-away camp; and miss during the school year. We recently received a call from a sixth-grader who wanted to know if her sister and friend from camp could attend the school! In chatting with the student, she shared that her summer camp experience was amazing and she dreaded returning to the daily scramble of attending her local school. This student ultimately enrolled and I asked her to share five ways sleepaway camp is the same as boarding school:

1. Independence: I have to be responsible for myself and my things while I’m camp and at school. At home, my mom picks up after me (giggling) and that doesn’t happen at Applewild! At meals, both camp counselors and dorm parents will comment if I don’t make good choices. I’m not a big fan of veggies, but I’ve learned I feel better if I eat a good mix of foods. I have to make my own choices, and what happens is on me. Sometimes I miss home, but then I remember that one of the open weekends or vacations is coming up and I stop worrying about it.
2. Interests: There are so many activities to choose from at camp, and at school the same thing is true. I get to try new sports and I’ve learned to play field hockey. Who knew?! The school encourages us to start new clubs and I started a manga club. I’m never bored at camp or school because I’m always doing something, and it's usually something new! 
3. Wellness: My mom would cringe if she heard me say this but I love the way our days flow. Because my tech is locked up at night and lights out is 9 o’clock, I get a good night’s sleep — I hate to admit this but at home I would chat with friends online and would lose track of time. It took a while to get used to this, and every time I go back to school I have to readjust. I didn’t see myself as a really sporty person but I now get a lot of exercise because sports are required every day. I learned how to ski! 
4. Friendships: When I went to my local school, friendships were mostly online because we were busy all the time and well, kids are always on their phones. I don’t like the technology rules at Applewild but it does force us to spend a lot of time together and we can’t help but bond. In the dorms, we help each other with any drama that’s going on and spend time playing board games or silly stuff like we all do facials together. Everyone is different but for the most part we all get along. I’ve made friends with kids from all over the world. 
5. Organization: Camp is fun, but it actually taught me to be organized because I only had my trunk and many other girls in my cabin. We all had to mind our stuff, otherwise we would fail the cabin inspection. At school, I’ve had to become really organized because if I leave a book or homework in the dorm, I don’t get to go get it until after dinnertime. If I don’t put my favorite pants in the laundry bag, they don’t get washed which creates wardrobe challenges for the week. It’s actually not easy to be organized but I’m learning how to take care of myself.

The elements that allow children to thrive at sleepaway camp are the same at a high-quality junior boarding school. I will also share that the student who shared her thoughts above was initially chagrined at the academic demands of Applewild’s program - camp doesn’t have homework and we sure do! 

Some of our current students first discovered Appelwild through summer camp. Our summer programs for 4th to 9th graders allow students to get a taste of what makes our community so special while also enjoying the excitement of camp! Students spend their days exploring, learning, and creating - all while building independence, making new friends, and experiencing the Applewild teachers and campus firsthand. 
If you know a student who loves camp and would like to learn more and apply to our junior boarding, please reach out to admissions@applewild.org or visit our website at www.applewild.org/admissions to learn more about the admissions process and start your application today.