My 9 year old son has been in so many camps that I've almost lost count. We've tried lots of different types, and some have been hits while some have misses. Tomorrow I'll register him for this summer -- I think he's going to spend 2 weeks at a camp where they spend their time canoeing from island to island and playing in the mud (I can't think of a better description, or frankly a better fit for him -- he'd probably do this all summer, but it's the most expensive of the camps he's chosen so I limited him to 2 weeks), 2 weeks of vacation, 2 weeks of soccer camp, 3 weeks at another really outdoorsy camp (kayaking, rock climbing, swimming, etc . . .), 1 week of Tae Kwon Do camp, and 1 week of "daycare" style camp at the aftercare program at his school. We also considered a more traditional camp where they choose from a menu of options, and a film making camp. All of these are daycamps.
The summer after kindergarten (and spring break of kindergarten too because we did camp then as well) he was still really shy about moving into new situations, so I only picked 2 camps for longer periods of time, and chose together with his friends parents so he'd know at least 1 other kid. They spent 5 weeks at a more traditional daycamp and 3 weeks at art camp. The art camp was great, but the traditional camp was a little too much for him at that age -- he liked it, but there was a lot of adult structured activity (e.g horseback riding, art class) and frankly at 6 he still wanted to run around and play on the playground, so he'd get off the bus fried. I wish I'd been less focused on what he would be learning (I was entranced by the idea of swimming lessons and horsebackriding) and more on finding one with a gentle rhythm to the day. The summer after 1st he went to a really gentle camp run by a local nursery school, with water play and music and crafts -- I wish I'd sent him there after Kindergarten. By the summer after 2nd I sent him back to another really outdoorsy camp with lots of activity and he was ready, and just ate it up in a way he didn't at 6 -- this summer will be his 3rd summer there (it's the camp he's going to for 3 weeks) and he's excited to go back.
The other thing I think about at camp is providing balance to what his life during the school year's like. We live a very urban lifestyle, and so I'm drawn to camps that bus the kids out to the country, also his school his very arts-focused so I pick camps that are more athletic. Finally, I'm a single mom so I like all boy environments for him too.
Good luck with whatever you pick.
