Sleep away camp costs!!

[lattemomof3]

wow - I've never heard of sending kids away for that long, it must just not be done in our state. No way would I send my kiddos away for that long, while I do think camp is a great experience, my dd10's 4 night church camp is long enough, not just bec. of the $ but because our family likes to be together. A camp that lasts that long and costs that much could also be called "boarding school".

 

[janets]

I posted a whole long reply that disappeared into cyberspace.

Short story...older ds went to sleepaway for 2 summers. Cost between $7400 and $8800. He absolutely loved it. You can't imagine how much. He went for 6 weeks the first summer and stayed for 8 weeks last year (they gave us 1/2 off the last session and my mom helped us out). It was terrific for him and here at home, it was actually good for younger ds to have some opportunity to be an "only" for a while. Because dh was laid off from April 2009 to March 2010, we could not afford it this year.

We applied for assistance and got it for the local JCC day camp. Before discount, it's at least $6000 per child for 8 weeks. We're getting enough so we can send both of my kids. It's still expensive, but better than it would be.

Any decent local day camp around here is at least $6000 for the summer. The less expensive options are more like warehousing with little outside opportunities.

And I agree, it appears to be something that Jews do more than anyone else. We live in a very non Jewish area and my kids are in the absolute minority for camp. Most everyone else lets the kids hang around all summer just bumming. DH and I are both working f/t and that's simply not possible.

 

[TaraLee4]

I never went to sleep away camp. I did a 10 week summer theatre program which was during the day M-F I it.

My sister (13) does 2 different weeks of overnight girl scout camp. Usually one in July and one in August.

My brother (9) does baseball camps and plays in a summer league.

My other sister (11) does whatever interesting things she finds out about. Last summer she spent a week at a historial house and had the absolute time of her life! The summer before that she did running club in the mornings, and garden club in the afternoon.


We also have lots of family in florida so it's not unusual to find us there in the summer for a few weeks

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I think part of the negativity, at least on my part, stemp not from the idea of camp itself but from the cost. No way should it cost $9,000 to send a kid to summer camp. That is 1 1/2 times DD's school tuition. At that point it has becomes less about sending kids to camp and more about a status symbol, and i think that is what bothers me about the idea.

The cost is relative. Local private schools are around $30,000 a year, that much for a fantastic summer camp is not considered unreasonable. The average cost for a 2 bedroom coop is also 1.2 million dollars. If salaries are higher in a given area, the cost of everything else be higher as well. The parents can well afford it so for them it's about sending their child where they think they will have the best time and get the most out of it. They also make life long friends at camp that will be life long connections. It's a long range plan, lol. Sure, in a lower cost of living area that amount of money is insane, but for the area that cost is right in line with everything else.

 

[design_mom]

Extended summer camp is not common around here either. I went to sleep away camp for several summers, but it was only one week at a time. I loved it! I don't think I'd want to send my kids away 4+ weeks (I'd miss them too much), but when I was a kid I think I would have enjoyed being away at camp. Even for a week, there's a feeling of freedom.

My DH and I both work full time, so we have to come up with childcare for the summer. My kids are enrolled in a day camp (daycare) and they've got some fun stuff planned, but it's not like camp. And it's nearly as expensive.

DS is 9 this year, which I think is still a little young for sleep away camp, but you all have me thinking about future summers.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

The kids that I know now and also grew up with almost all went away for the summer to sleepaway camp. I promise you, their parents love them to death. It's total baloney to imply that they care any less about their kids and "family time".

 

[Magic Mom]

DS is 9 this year, which I think is still a little young for sleep away camp, but you all have me thinking about future summers.

9 is the perfect age!
DD went to her first sleepaway camp (just 3 days for the little ones)on her 7th birthday. I thought I would die. But she LOVED it. I remember as we drove away I made dh stop the car and I rolled down the window to tell her I loved her (one more time) and she looked at me and said in a very slow voice. Mom! I. Am. Fine. Goodbye. Dh laugh so hard he cried.
When we picked her up she was tan and her hair was braided all over and the counselors were hugging her and asking her to come back. She begged me to let her go another week, but they were booked. She has been each year since and it has been amazing for her. Last year she went for two weeks. I would have sent her for more, but our Girl Scout council doesn't do extended week camps.

 

[scottishduffy]

I went to sleepaway camp each summer for 4-5 weeks. I can not overemphasize how much I loved that place or what it meant to me.

It somewhat annoys/angers me when people imply that my parents must have been 'trying to get rid of me' or that they were somehow not as loving because they sent me to camp. Totally untrue! They sacrificed and saved money so that I could go to a place I loved! It was the best gift I ever received and I have no doubt they missed me terribly. But they put away their emotions to give me a life experience.

If they really wanted to 'get rid of me' there are *much* cheaper ways to it besides summer camp. They could have ditched my with gramma all summer, kept me at the day camp at my elementary school with extended hours everyday, or just had me stay home alone all summer when I was a teen. Let me rot my brain with boredom and TV all summer. Going to summer camp I had great friends to hang with while I could learn and grow!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I went to sleepaway camp each summer for 4-5 weeks. I can not overemphasize how much I loved that place or what it meant to me.

It somewhat annoys/angers me when people imply that my parents must have been 'trying to get rid of me' or that they were somehow not as loving because they sent me to camp. Totally untrue! They sacrificed and saved money so that I could go to a place I loved! It was the best gift I ever received and I have no doubt they missed me terribly. But they put away their emotions to give me a life experience.

If they really wanted to 'get rid of me' there are *much* cheaper ways to it besides summer camp. They could have ditched my with gramma all summer, kept me at the day camp at my elementary school with extended hours everyday, or just had me stay home alone all summer when I was a teen. Let me rot my brain with boredom and TV all summer. Going to summer camp I had great friends to hang with while I could learn and grow!

 

[Irin997]

I went to sleepaway camp each summer for 4-5 weeks. I can not overemphasize how much I loved that place or what it meant to me.

It somewhat annoys/angers me when people imply that my parents must have been 'trying to get rid of me' or that they were somehow not as loving because they sent me to camp. Totally untrue! They sacrificed and saved money so that I could go to a place I loved! It was the best gift I ever received and I have no doubt they missed me terribly. But they put away their emotions to give me a life experience.

If they really wanted to 'get rid of me' there are *much* cheaper ways to it besides summer camp. They could have ditched my with gramma all summer, kept me at the day camp at my elementary school with extended hours everyday, or just had me stay home alone all summer when I was a teen. Let me rot my brain with boredom and TV all summer. Going to summer camp I had great friends to hang with while I could learn and grow!

I agree as well!

I am very excited for DD9 to go to her first sleepaway camp this summer. As I stated in a PP, she is going to one week (more like 5 nights, 6 days) Girl Scout camp about an hour and a half away with a good friend of hers. She is very excited and I think it will be a wonderful learning experience for her. If she wants to go back next year, then that is wonderful. I'm hoping that it is something she loves and when she is a teen that maybe she will want to be a counselor/CIT. I think she will learn a lot of independence and that is a great thing. She knows I love her to pieces but she is so very excited to go! I always wanted to go to summer camp but my parents couldn't afford to send me. I have the opportunity to send my daughter and I found a very affordable choice by going with Girl Scouts. Who knows - maybe after this she will want to be a Girl Scout too.

My boyfriend is very nervous about sending her, but I just have a feeling that she will have the most amazing time. I can't wait for Open House next month!

 

[rszdtrvl]

My son's summer camp is only $275. Of course, it is only 5 nights and is a YMCA camp.

He went last year, and cried when we brought him home. He had so much fun! He had us promise to let him go again this year. To me it is worth it. He really grew as a person, and it was good for him to get away from mom & dad for a while.

Of course, it also helps DH and I not feel so guilty when we go to Las Vegas in January too. DS had his fun, now we get our fun!

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm assuming the woman she saw was orthodox and therefore wearing a wig and skirt (since they will not show their hair and do not wear pants).

Yes - this is what I meant. We have several neighboring towns with a large orthodox and hasidic Jewish populations.

 

[princessmom29]

If they don't tell anyone how much it costs -or brag excessively about the fact that their children are going -then maybe it is just a good product?

Sometimes we spend a lot of money on things -because it is worth it to us and because we can afford it.

If I came on the CB and started giving someone a hard time about not spending money -doing something cheaply -then most people would call me a snob. I am not sure if the opposite is that much better.

Not trying to give anyone a hard time, I am just saying that this is my observation based on people I know both in and out of my area who do these camps. Not passing judgment on anyone here's decision.

The cost is relative. Local private schools are around $30,000 a year, that much for a fantastic summer camp is not considered unreasonable. The average cost for a 2 bedroom coop is also 1.2 million dollars. If salaries are higher in a given area, the cost of everything else be higher as well. The parents can well afford it so for them it's about sending their child where they think they will have the best time and get the most out of it. They also make life long friends at camp that will be life long connections. It's a long range plan, lol. Sure, in a lower cost of living area that amount of money is insane, but for the area that cost is right in line with everything else.

So what is the median income in your area? In the most affluent areas here the average income for a family runs about $80,000 for the very top tier vip codes. By my calculations based on the housing school and camp costs given as compared to waht is average here things cost about 7-8 times as much here as there. If income increases in line with those costs that would make the average income in your area more than a half million dollars a year. Is that correct? At that point I gues $9000 for summer camp is really just a drop in the bucket, but I hardly think that very many areas anywhere in the country can say that. My take on it is that it is more likely that these places charge what they do because people will pay it because it is expceted. Again, i am not judging anyone, just saying that from what i have seen this is the more liley answer to why summer camp costs $9,000 and private school costs $30,000.

 

[mjkacmom]

So what is the median income in your area? In the most affluent areas here the average income for a family runs about $80,000 for the very top tier vip codes. .

I'm not the PP that you quoted, but I just googled an afluent community in my area, and the median income came up as $200,000.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I don't see anything wrong with paying a lot for summer camp, if the child has fun and wants to go, and if the parents can afford it. Thank goodness it is not near as much here, even though my kids don't go much anyway. We have done the church camps before, but for a week it's like 150.00 or less. Normally we have to much going on in the summer as a family to do things like that. However, this year my DD is doing cheer camp for 5 nights and its only a little over 300.00. Not to bad for a trip to the beach & having fun too.

 

[Heidict]

Yes -- they're not cheap, but that seems a bit much.

For us, it's a commitment my DH and I make for the kids -- my kids will only be going for half the summer, and it's about $1,800 for each of them (not including the cost to get them to upstate NY from Illinois). DS and DD each go to a different camp, but both are Christian camps and take them away from the cell phones, electronic games, etc. and help them refocus. Growing up, I went to camp every summer, and I wanted both kids to experience it.

Could you tell me the name of the camp? I went looking online last night after reading this thread and there are so many of them out there. You never know who is running them and of course, as a parent, you worry. Any other recommendations out there for good summer camps?

Yes, my DD is only 4, but I thought I would poke around and see what is out there. My DS and I used to always go to one in Oregon when we were growing up and my memories of it are some of my happiest. We loved it and I want my DD to be able to enjoy that also.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Could you tell me the name of the camp? I went looking online last night after reading this thread and there are so many of them out there. You never know who is running them and of course, as a parent, you worry. Any other recommendations out there for good summer camps?

Yes, my DD is only 4, but I thought I would poke around and see what is out there. My DS and I used to always go to one in Oregon when we were growing up and my memories of it are some of my happiest. We loved it and I want my DD to be able to enjoy that also.

DD goes to Tapawingo in Speculator (I went there when I was young!). DS goes to Deerfoot Lodge, also in Speculator. They're non-denominational, but very Christ-focused. The neatest thing was when we dropped off my son for the first year, there were fathers and grandfathers in line with us, all of whom had gone to the camp.

• http://www.camp-of-the-woods.org/camp_tapawingo/COTW-Tapawingo.shtml
• http://deerfoot.org/

When looking for camps, you should only choose camps that have accreditation -- it means that their processes and standards meet the criteria deemed acceptable by a 3rd party. Both are accredited through the American Camp Association.

 

[SDFgirl]

I would have happily spent the whole summer at camp if it was "done" around here. I went to several week-long camps and they were the highlight of my summers! I dreamed about doing an all-summer camp.

After college I was a counselor at a hoity-toity camp in Maine. It was 8 weeks and over $6000 per kid. I thought that the campers would be stuck up brats, but most of them were really nice and down to earth...and rich. ;-)

My kids are still too young, but I hope I can send them away for at least a week in the summers if they want to go. My memories of summer camp are priceless.

 

[princessmom29]

I'm not the PP that you quoted, but I just googled an afluent community in my area, and the median income came up as $200,000.

I guess that's kind of my point. If these are the top tier incomes in our aresa, I woudl love to live somewhere that middle class equates to the half million dollars a year it would atke to afford a lifstlye of a 1.2 million dolalr home $30,00 priavate school and $9,000 summer camp. I tend to think it is the top tier earners in these areas thatcan afford those things, not the average guy.

 

[kristilew]

I think part of the negativity, at least on my part, stemp not from the idea of camp itself but from the cost. No way should it cost $9,000 to send a kid to summer camp. That is 1 1/2 times DD's school tuition. At that point it has becomes less about sending kids to camp and more about a status symbol, and i think that is what bothers me about the idea.

I'm not sure I agree with this at all. For six weeks of camp, we're paying a little over 5K. That breaks down to about $120 a day. Each day includes all food, accomodations, plus a ton of activities. Serious sailing (it's a sailing camp), motorboating, daily swim instruction, ropes course, golf, tennis, archery, riflery, water skiing, lots of other group sports, drama activity, singing, crafts, an environmental center, and fabulous role models in the form of staff, counselors and "big sister" types. There's no way we could provide a fraction of that at home for anywhere near $120 a day. I can't believe they don't charge more, to be honest.

wow - I've never heard of sending kids away for that long, it must just not be done in our state. No way would I send my kiddos away for that long, while I do think camp is a great experience, my dd10's 4 night church camp is long enough, not just bec. of the $ but because our family likes to be together. A camp that lasts that long and costs that much could also be called "boarding school".

Our family does, too, but for an only child, camp can be a godsend. There's just not enough sustained friend time for her in the summer. Also, she needs a break from us after a long school year of being our main focus
We take a two week family trip before shipping her off, to get in good, stress free time together, and she's more than happy to wave good bye when it's time for camp. Sometimes she's even happy to see us when she gets home