Happy Mother’s Day (and a small request from your friendly neighborhood “camp mom”… please don’t call me that)
By Robyn Boehm
As Mother’s Day approaches, I want to start with what matters most: to all of our North Star moms, grandmas, stepmoms, and mother-figures—thank you. Truly. You are a big part of why your boys arrive at camp with kindness, resilience, and curiosity.
And as a mom myself, I’ll gladly enjoy the homemade cards—and maybe even a quiet cup of coffee if I’m lucky.
But since we’re among friends, I have a small confession… and a tiny request: Please don’t call me the “camp mom.” I know it’s meant with affection. But every time I hear it, I cringe a little—not because I don’t love being a mom, but because that’s not actually my role at camp.
At North Star, I’m a camp director—specifically, the Director of Health and Wellbeing. And that role is broader and more impactful here than being a “camp mom.”
Here’s what I mean:
When your boys are with us, the day-to-day “mom moments”—reminders to brush teeth, encouragement to shower (sometimes more than once), and regular check-ins—come from our counselors. They live in the cabins, build close relationships, notice subtle changes in mood, and offer support in real time. If anything, they are the closest thing to “camp moms”—though I suspect most of our male counselors might prefer a different title.
My role is different.
A bit about me: I have a Master’s degree in Deaf Education and a background in special education. I’m deeply committed to mental health, which is why I’ve completed Youth Mental Health First Aid training, continue learning through the CampWell program, and support our partnership with Dear Scout to offer free mental health sessions to staff each summer.
I’m passionate about emotional intelligence and regulation, pediatric health, and child development. Through resources like the Alliance for Camp Health, I stay informed and bring that knowledge back to our community.
I also value conversations with parents. Listening, learning, and working toward thoughtful, supportive solutions is a big part of what I do.
At camp, I’m focused on the bigger picture: supporting every camper while holding them accountable in their growth. That means working behind the scenes—and sometimes directly with campers and staff—to ensure things run smoothly in training, in cabins, and in the Health Center.
It’s less about reminding someone to put on sunscreen (though I will if needed), and more about creating an environment where campers want to take care of themselves and each other.
So this Mother’s Day, here’s what I’m celebrating:
I’m celebrating you—the moms who send your boys to us with trust and optimism, and who do so much to prepare them for camp. From packing and paperwork to reading our emails, we know it’s a lot, and we truly appreciate it.
I’m celebrating our staff, who step into roles that are equal parts mentor, cheerleader, and caregiver.
And I’m celebrating camp itself—a place that’s different from home, where your boys can stretch, grow, and discover who they are.
So call me Robyn. Call me a camp director. Call me someone who cares deeply about your camper.
Just maybe skip “camp mom.”
(And if you forget, I’ll still smile—I might just gently remind you why I prefer something else.)
Wishing you all a wonderful, well-deserved Mother’s Day.
—Robyn
