OT- Summer Camp

[MDTerrapin]

So most of our friend's have summer camps lined up for their kids. We have never put our kids in summer camps but now I am starting to wonder if we are deprieving our kids by not sending them to camp. I work Tuesday & Thursday and they stay with a babysitter in our home. The rest of our time we spend going to the pool, beach, day trips etc.. The camps are sooo expensive. Minimum of 150.00/week per child.
What do you think? Do kids really need to go to camp?

Thanks,
Karen

 

[powellrj]

Do they need to go to camp, no, but my kids have always gone and its a wonderful experience for them. They have gone to both day camp and overnight camp. They have never been to all summer camp like Parent Trap, but have gone for a week at a time sleep over camp.

 

[leagirl12]

I agree with pp....not a must but I think it is a good experience. I try to find a camp that will focus on something my kids enjoy. We only do one week for the summer. With two kids, one week is all we can afford.

This summer (last week) DD went to Theater camp at the School of Fine Arts here where we live. DS went (this past week) to the same school for Visual Arts camp....he loves to draw. Last year DS went to LEGO Robotics camp at the local Science Center....and DD went to Girl Scouts camp.

They both seem to really enjoy it.

 

[rparmfamily]

My 8 yr old just got back from a weeklong sleepover camp. She had a blast, it was her first sleepover camp! I would have never thought to send her to a sleepover one but it was free for military kids thru Operation Purple. It was at our local YMCA camp on the beach. I think it was really good for her honestly. I might send her again next year (have to pay) and I think it runs about $500 a week but maybe I read that wrong?

They also do day camps (like 8am-12pm) and are doing Tennis Camp and Outdoor Adventure Camp. Those are $60 a week and on the base. Throw in swim lessons for a few weeks and vacation bible school and that takes care of the summer LOL.

Summer vacation is only 6 weeks here though.

 

[ctinct]

You also might want to check into the prices. I've received many emails from area camps letting me know about discounts. They are hurting this year, I think. For example, out local Y camp, while not giving a discount (it is reasonable already) is letting parents extend their payments till September. Previously you had to pay up front.

 

[kellyg403]

I agree with others not a neccesity to go, but certainly something the kids have enjoyed! We don't do it every summer and usually they go for 3-7 days depending on the camp. I think it helps the kids be a little bit more independent, a good amount of fun since the camp is something they are interested in etc.

Next year dd is interested in going back to a camp she has been going to where she will be a counselor this time. I did that in high school myself so I know she will have a great time.

Kelly

 

[MoniqueU]

Well I have never considered a day camp for my kids. I am a SAHM and my kids have all done sleepaway camp. We have too miich fun and too many friends in our neighborhood to even consider a day camp. I am sure some kids go but I don't know any.

 

[semo233]

NEED>>>NO.
Perhaps you can come up with some ideas that your babysitter and you can do to create your own summer camp! Look at the Family fun website and do some other internet research to come up with an idea for several days per week. The reason most kids like summer camp is that it keeps them busy all day with lots of different stuff to do. You don't indicate your kids ages, but make it age appropriate by looking at the activities list of some camps, too!

Set up lots of play dates and have things to do when it rains. Check out your local parks, go for a picnic, do letter boxing, have sleepovers, camp in the backyard, have ice cream for dinner, spend the day at a beach, do science experiments outside, volunteer to do some summer scouting events, check with your parks & recreation department for activities, church/synagogue (bible school is often free near me), set up a lemonade stand with your kids, etc. Ask them what they want to do!,
Just have FUN!

We put in a pool last year and need to do the landscaping and pay for it this year, so there are no camps for my DD12 this year.

 

[ajk912]

Need, no.

I DO think it's an important part of growing up, and the experience is great for a kid. I look back on my (only) 3 days of summer camp in 6th grade (all the 6th graders went back then, it was a school trip) fondly as one of my best experiences of my childhood.

I agree, it's expensive when you have a tight budget. My kids haven't gone to a real camp yet, but I do want to send them..maybe next year! We have done the little sports camps at the fitness club, but they are cheap and though they are fun, not the real camp experience where unless you have a zillion bug bites you haven't had enough fun yet.

 

[mickeyboat]

Need - yes here. My FIL watches the kids after school and for a day here and there, but the situation doesn't work well day after day, week after week. He doesn't keep them busy enough - and they need the activity.

So the kids are doing 2 weeks of GS day camp (each week has a sleepover night) and 2 weeks of day camp at our local aquatic center. That leaves a week for vacation, and two part weeks when grandparents will be in town. They are also doing a short day soccer camp next week. It should keep them busy.

I am hoping that next year they will be willing to go to a GS overnight camp for a week or two. I think they would have a blast.

Denae

 

[LisaNJ25]

Needs No.. but if you can swing it for even a week they will have a great time. My 9yo goes to girl scout camp. This year she is going to sleep away camp in NY for 1 week. Its $435 a week I did apply for aid and it covered half. She usually goes to gs day camp for 2 weeks which is $275.

 

[tlh0726]

In our area, alot of the people use day camps as daycare for the summer. In the end it costs about the same and the kids get to do alot more than they normally would with a regular sitter.

I am a SAHM and do not plan on sending my kids to daycamps. We do to many activities so there is no need to do so. This summer I am watching 4 boys as well. So far have done movies, bowling, fishing, and swimming several times each. We also went to local playgrounds, baltimore zoo, chuck e cheese, and took the pontoon boat out. We have plans to do a local cavern, National Zoo, Baltimore Aquarium, Smithsonian Museums, Strasburg Railroad, tours of the local snack food plants, Hersheypark, and the list goes on.
As a family we also do various other things and go camping. So our kids are exposed to alot of stuff.

So I guess I agree with previous posters. It is not a NEED to do. However if they are not exposed to doing other things than it would be a good experience if you can afford to send them.

 

[woodkins]

Most parents here (long island, ny) do send their kids to some form of camp (day or sleep away). My daughter is 6 and has been going to 1/2 day camp since the summer before Kindergarten so this will be her 3rd year. She goes from 9-12:30 and LOVES it.

My dd is an only child and there are NOT a lot of kids in our immediate neighborhood for her to play with. It is much easier and fun for her to go to camp rather than having me try to arrange play dates all week which is nearly impossible. I try to run all of my errands and shopping while she is at camp so that we can do fun things together after camp. I also think it was good for her (especially when she was younger) as it kept her in the habit of waking up, getting ready and getting out the door as well as the separation from me.

 

[lisaross]

My kids have been going to day camp since they were about 4 years old! They LOVE it...Yes it is very expensive, but some years i applied for a scholorship and got 50% off - other times i pay for it! Lotsof kids here go to day camp...my kids go for 6 weeks - its all day 9-4 They go to the JCC camp - its on beautiful grounds.. they swim 2x a day - do sports, shows, arts n crafts - go on a trip 1x a week! The schools here have camps that are much cheaper and are from 9-1p and lots of kids do that and enjoy it..My kids don't realize how lucky they are BUT they love it and if i can afford it they go! I also think its good for their future - they can work there when then got older...I spend about $4000.00 between 2 kids! I am working p/t and i use my earnings for camp/sports extra activities!

lisa

 

[Tamarap]

Do they need it?? My kids do! Both of my DS's (15 and 11) attend week long sleep away summer camps. They love it. They go with their church youth group. Because they fall into different age groups they attend camp at different times. My oldest will go the last week in July and my youngest the second week in August. They have been going for years. They also have weekend winter camps for each age group in January and March. My oldest DS's age group also attended a work camp during spring break where they worked at the camp. Its around 325.00 for the week.

 

[dpratt68]

My health insurance will reimburse for any sports/physically active camp with a $400cap/family. You might want to check with yours. I teach and am home all summer but my kids each go to a sports camp and DD does show choir camp.

 

[crisi]

I would say that it isn't a need. But its an opportunity that most kids (and their parents) will benefit by taking advantage of. Sleep away camp offers kids an opportunity to be independant in a way that few things will until they go off to college. It puts them in a new situation with new people and pretty much forces them to adapt - but they are busy and engaged enough that few of them are miserable and most of them grow from the experience. Mom isn't around to fix problems for them - and the camp counselors are only going to deal with the big problems.

My daughter is about to go away for a week of girl scout camp. My son isn't interested in camp - and I don't think its worth forcing on him. But I'm glad she's taking the opportunity.

 

[JoiseyMom]

A need no.. As a kid I was always in daycamp until I was old enough to work there, but my parents worked. My adult kids were in day camp when they were little and spent 1 1/2 summers in sleep away camp. Then they wanted to stay home with their baby sister, and I was home so I let them stay. After that they were old enough to stay home alone. DD13 and DS8 have been to day camp since they where 5 and 4.

I have found that the camps in NJ are way more expensive then the ones my older boys went to in NY. I wish it only cost 150/wk per kid as OP might have it. I could rent a vacation home for the summer or a deluxe vacation or 2 for what it costs for my kids to go to camp!! I know the camps in my neck of the woods did not have to lower any prices. I do know of kids that have scaled back and aren't going this year.

 

[redshoes]

Both of my boys are doing some sort of day camp this summer. My oldest (7) is doing a basketball camp and an art camp. My youngest (5) is doing a kindergarten prep camp. They are all during the day and last a few hours. My reason behind doing camps for them is that they both need the socialization that doing something with their peers can provide. I'm not great at play dates and our neighborhood doesn't have a ton of kids their ages running around. Plus, honestly the busier they are doing something fun - the less likely I am to be yelling at them to find something to do and to stop torturing each other. I've felt a little guilty this summer for scheduling them to do so much but they seem happy and they get a chance to learn something new.

 

[sk!mom]

We started camps when DD was 10 or 11, she just turned 13. Prior to that she was happy to hang out at the pool or just play with friends all summer. As she's gotten older, she enjoys camps as a way to pursue interests and socialize.

Right now she's in a three week Theater camp. It's a day camp- 9-4 or 5, cost $300, and will culminate with a weekend of performances of Beauty and the Beast. We will also have to buy tickets for the performances. The first week of June, she was scheduled for a ballet intensive, but had to pull out due to a fractured elbow. That was Day Camp also and would have cost $150.

July 2nd she leaves for 3 weeks of sleep away camps. The first week is church camp and relatively cheap. The next two weeks is a Ballet Intensive and out of State- so costly.

In August, the last two weeks before school starts, she will do another two weeks of days only at her ballet school but with guest instructors.

It works for us. Do whatever works for your family.