When Camp Is a Lot: Supporting Teens at Odyssey Teen Camp

Summer camp is full of adventure, new experiences, and opportunities to try things you’ve never done before. It’s exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming at times. One of the most common questions we hear from parents is:

What happens if my child needs a break?
How can they step away when the energy feels like too much, and still get the benefits of camp?

Those are exactly the right questions to ask.

Camp can be intense

Camp is a big experience. With so much happening, social interactions, physical activity, music, creative projects, it’s normal for teens to feel overstimulated sometimes.

We don’t see that as a problem to solve or something to push through. We see it as information. It tells us what a camper needs in that moment, maybe quiet, maybe movement, maybe space, maybe a familiar activity that helps them reset.

How Odyssey approaches regulation

Odyssey Teen Camp is active and social by nature. Our campus is in the woods, campers walk throughout the day, and there’s always something happening; music, conversations, laughter, creative energy. We don’t pretend camp is calm or low-key.

What we do offer is choice.

Campers aren’t required to participate in activities that don’t feel right for them. Some teens love jumping into group events, performances, or games. Others gravitate toward quieter spaces, art, board games, music, reading, or just spending time with a few friends. All of those choices are valid ways of being at camp.

The Chill Tent: a built-in breather

You may have seen mention of our Chill Tent, and it’s worth explaining why it matters. This isn’t an afterthought, it’s a central part of how we support campers when stimulation runs high.

The Chill Tent is a core component of our Mothership, which serves as one of the class options during the day. This means that “chilling” is treated as a valid, productive activity choice. If a camper feels that the best way to spend their block is by regulating their nervous system and finding a moment of quiet, they can opt into the Chill Tent without any pressure or judgment.

Taking a break doesn’t mean disconnecting from camp, it means staying regulated enough to enjoy it.

Structure with room to breathe

A common concern we hear from parents is whether flexibility means disengagement. In our experience, it doesn’t.

At Odyssey, stepping back doesn’t mean stepping away entirely. Campers remain part of the community, just in ways that feel manageable for them. This balance, clear expectations paired with real autonomy, is something we’ve refined over decades of working with teens.

The support behind the scenes

Odyssey isn’t a therapeutic program, but we are intentional about support. Alongside our experienced counselors and registered nurses, we have a dedicated Wellness Team made up of mental health professionals. Their role is to help campers navigate moments when things feel hard, emotionally, socially, or sensory-wise.

Our programming is designed for all teens, because they tend to thrive when:

• Expectations are clear but not rigid
• Adults are present, observant, and adaptable
• Differences are treated as normal, not problems
• Regulation is supported, not punished

This philosophy shows up everywhere, from how activities are offered, to how staff are trained, to how we define success at camp.

Is Odyssey the right fit?

Odyssey isn’t the right camp for every teen, and we’re honest about that. It tends to work best for teens who want connection but need flexibility, who appreciate structure but value choice, and who are curious, sometimes cautiously, about being part of a community.

If you’re wondering how your child will handle all the excitement camp brings, you’re not alone. We’re always happy to talk openly about what support looks like here and whether Odyssey feels like the right next step for your family.

Because the goal isn’t to remove stimulation, it’s to help teens learn how to live with it in ways that feel sustainable and empowering.