Creating Community at Camp 4 1. We do not repeat cabins from year to year, which means that each summer your camper returns to camp he or she will get to live with a different mix of campers. We have always found this helpful at Echo Lake, both in terms of making our new campers feel more welcomed, and in assisting our campers in reaching out beyond their own existing friendships. 2. We ask for at least five and up to six different requests, so that we can ensure that your camper will be with at least one of the friends he or she requested. It is always our goal to meet as many of your camper’s cabin requests as possible. The cabin request mix of 500 campers, however, simply does not allow for every camper to get all of their requests met. *If this is your camper’s first summer, and your camper doesn’t have any bunk requests, simply put “First Summer” in the boxes. 3. It is important that your camper's bunk requests are listed in order of importance. We know that request numbers 1, 2 & 3 are more important than 4, 5 & 6. While we will give each camper at least one of their requests, having six options gives us a better chance of meeting some of his or her requests with order of importance in mind. If your camper comes to camp expecting to receive all of their requests, he or she will likely be disappointed. 4. In all cases, we want to ensure that every camper is placed in a cabin in which he or she can thrive! That includes a social environment in which your camper can both enhance existing friendships and develop new ones. We recognize the friendships that are created and nurtured at camp are essential to every camper's success. One of our Camper Forms asks for campers to give bunk requests or names of campers they would like to be in a bunk with.  We want to offer a few important reminders and tips with bunk requests.