Sea World Adventure Camp

[ebtbmom]

I'm thinking about sending my 12yr DS to Sea World camp this summer. He's really excited about it and totally wants to go, of course, I'm the nervous one!

Has anyone sent their child to this that can share their experience with me? We live in NC so he'll have to fly alone . Has anyone ever sent their kid on a plane by themself?

DS is really independant, he's been going to week long summer camp every year since he was in 3rd grade. He's also flown 3 times, we just got back from DLR and he was navigating the airport like a pro! So he'll probably be fine and love it, but how can I convince myself of this?

 

[kathy884]

I sent my son (13 at the time) to Orlando's Sea World Junior High Career camp last summer, and he absolutely loved it (had the time of his life). It was both education and fun and really well run. My son hasn't done many away camps (did one with a friend when he was 11 and was homesick). He does regularly spend a week or two at a time away staying with grandparents or uncle/cousins, so has had away from home experiences, but in very nuturing environments. I knew he would do fine, but before spending the money asked him if he thought he might get homesick or if he had any concerns about not knowing anyone there, etc. And what he told we was right on. He said mom, "No problem -- This is a camp for kids that love marine mammals like I do, and I'll make friends right away. And Sea World sort of feel like home to me." And he was sooo right about that. // He's still in the same age group this year as last year, and we wanted to give him a similar, but slightly different experience, so I just signed him up for the San Diego Sea World camp for next summer. He's very excited about this, as he'd like to see all three of the Sea World parks and so far has only been to the Orlando one. Please feel free to post any other questions you might have.

 

[kathy884]

I just saw your other question about flying on the plane. My son flew to Orlando on his own last summer. We got a gate pass in St. Louis, so took him to the gate. Since, he is over 11, though, he is considered an adult on Southwest (12 and older are adults on this airline), so on the other end didn't have anyone meeting him. He just needed to go to the Sea World gift shop on his own, meet a camp couselor there, and then they help the kids get their luggage. He was a little nervous about not being met at the gate, but I told him he'd be fine and to call me when he got to Orlando, and I could direct him to the monerail and just to go the directions that the gates go down, etc. Actually if there is any place at the Orlando airport he could find, it would be the Sea World gift shop. We had a layover in Orlando for a cruise trip one time, and he managed to find that gift shop and spend some money there. Anyway, he called me and said mom, you were right, it was really easy. I didn't even have to look at gate numbers, I just followed the crowd to the monerail, and then saw the Sea World gift shop right away too. This summer he will fly alone again to San Diego, an airport he's never been to before. I don't see this as a problem. Just make sure your son has a charged up cell phone. // At the camp they make sure to have kids call or text parents so parents know they have arrived. I got a text messge when the plane landed, another when my son got to the gift shop and met up with the counselor, and a third when he got to Sea World. I can't tell you how fantastic an experience this camp was for my son. The only downside, is I probably need to budget for him to go annually.

 

[ebtbmom]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. As I said, DS is really excited, I'm the only nervous one! I think we'll go for it (as long as tax money is OK that is ).

 

[bzzelady]

I'm going to take my DD10 to Orlando and let her try out the day camp this year...if she likes it, then we will see about resident camp when she is 12 or 13