Why can't these things be done on a series of day long field trips? I am all for getting kids out of the classroom to learn in different ways. But I see no reason why the kids need to sleep there and spend every waking moment with their classmates with NO way of contacting their parents.
What if you are a shy kid with few friends or are getting bullied? Can you imagine what a week of hell being stuck with your classmates for days on end would be?? Where are all these kids sleeping? How are they cleaning up at the end of the day while maintaining some privacy?
I see this all very differently. My children go to sleepaway camp every summer for 8 weeks. They learn independence, sharing, helping the other person, self-reliace, grow self-esteem and much more. From the time they are 8 years old, they go on a series of skill-building trips, learing to canoe, build fires, cook their own food, carry their supplies, etc. My oldest, just completed his 19-day wilderness trip to Canada. My youngest (10) completed her first 5-day canoe trip, carrying all her own gear and sleeping under the stars.The kids use no electronics for the entire summer: no cell phones, no computers, nothing.
My kids look forward to this all year long. This was our middle son's last summer (he aged out). He cried when he left, this place is so special to him. It most certainly is not "detention".
I think parents completely underestimate how incredibly independent their children are and how they can thrive in different situations. And, with all due respect, I think most people who have problems with this have problems with "letting go", which to me, is exactly what Middle School is all about, allowing our children to get out, a little bit at at time in safe, supervised situations. I personally think all this hovering our generation of parents is doing is so harmful to the kids - they go off to college and the real world completely unprepared for being independent becaue their parents do everything, can't stay out of touch for more than a few hours, etc.
As for school trips - we've been through them with our two oldest and will start with our youngest this year. In our situation, there are eight kids in each cabin, along with two high school seniors - each child gets to pick who they're with, and are guaranteed to be with their first pick. There are senior high school students along - most of whom the younger kids know because they're their older siblings and neighbors. In addition, there are teachers and guidance counselors along as well.
The shared experience is something that can't be replicated on simple day trips.
This is one of those topics where people can talk and talk and, chances are, no one is going to change anyone's mind. I use my experiences with my three children who have traveled away from me since they were each 8 years old and have had nothing but positive experiences. I believe my job as their mother is to give them every opportunity to see the world, have shared experiences with their peers and learn they can do just fine without mom hovering over every aspect of their lives, including bedtime.
I totally agree- I would be up at the school board pitching a fit if they wanted to send my kid to a "camp" for a week and they wanted me to pay for it!! You want all the kids to go then the school can pay for it - and even then my kid would NOT be attending!
--no thanks- I would opt out of that in a heartbeat. My daughter starts 6th grade next year and she doesn't even like to sleep at friends houses for a night nevermind away for a week!
There is some "help" for those who need it from the PTA.
sick... then we did what ever we wanted. 
