Sleep-Away Summer Camps

[FishyCat25]

I have a question that I honestly have always wondered about.........Growing watching movies and tv shows that had a summer camp where the kids went away for the summer. The kids slept at the camp and were usually gone part of the summer. In Miami that I am aware we dont have these types of camps I guess becuase we have no "woods" and is summer and we can have real bad weather.....Now up north are there camps that you send your children away to?

 

[tkd lisa]

My kids have gone to a camp in Virginia that is like what you're describing. The first time they went, they each stayed a week. Last year, my DS asked to go back to that camp, and he stayed for 2 weeks. But some kids spend 4-6 weeks there each summer.

 

[rentayenta]

My girls have done a 3 day camp and this summer they will do a week camp. I am hoping they don't get too homesick.

 

[disneyfanatic3166]

Sleep away camp is pretty common up here in New England. Most of my DD's friends go away for 6 ish weeks during the summer, but shes in love with the creative arts day camp she attends so she sticks around!

 

[DisMN]

Yep, lots and lots of sleepover camps here.

There's the 4H camp, girlscouts camp, several bible camps and now the newest thing is camps they take entire school classes to to "learn" stuff. There are also swim camps, music camps and language camps. Most of them are 1-2 weeks but some last for an entire month or more in the summer!!

.

 

[sha_lyn]

Miami might not have any, but FL certainly has summer camps

http://www.camppage.com/florida.htm

 

[FishyCat25]

I had no Idea THANKS

 

[VAgal76]

Yes! There are camps in your state. I actually am hunting for second camp for my son to attend because the one he goes to gets booked solid so there I can't even book a 2nd week! He's still going though. He just wants to stay longer. Something tells me he's trying to ditch me.

A good resource is www.acacamps.org. There are good non-accredited camps. You just need to do your homework. See how long the director has been there and the head staff. This rings true with accredited camps. Just becuase they have this accreditation doesn't mean they are the best out there. Parents are quick to brag about their kids camps. Ask neighbors, friends, business associates to see if they send their kids away and where. That's how I discovered the camp I send my son to! Yes, they are accredited and I also have some behind the scene information on them. It made me very comfortable with them.

Good luck! This is prime time to be booking too so don't wait too long to make a decision on one.

 

[Longsx3]

Originally DD(10) was going to go to sleep away camp this summer in Florida.... Busch Gardens, YMCA, UT Soccer. But because of the cost of travelling home from Japan plus WDW we have decided that she will just be going do day camps instead. Day camp is a considerable savings.

There are many day camps in Florida: YMCA, Girl Scout Camps, Most of the Universities offer camps, Busch Gardens, Sea World and there are many indepenant camps.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

you know, i was one of the weird kids who always wanted to go to sleep away camp, but my parents never wanted to send me. they were way too overprotective.

 

[themarquis]

I always wanted to go to one, but they were too expensive, so my parents said no way. I did a ymca day camp out in the woods every summer -- we usually had one or two nights of overnight, but the rest was a 9-5 sort of thing.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Not only did I go away to summer camp, I worked at one when very young. And my kids went to summer camp, too. They exist up here!

If you ever want to sing a camp song, give me a call, I know them all.

 

[dreamcometrue]

we have sleepaway camps here in Southern California! My DS is 11 this summer, and I think I am going to wait another year. He is going to Outdoor School with his class for 3 nights/4 days the end of this month, and we'll see what happens. I know growing up I would go to horse camp. I brought my horse and we stayed for 4 weeks. I was always so homesick, although, it was a lot of fun!

 

[powellrj]

my kids have all gone to sleep away camp. Last year my DD did 2 weeks at church camp and 3 nights at police camp! Police camp was new to us, but her DARE officer recommended it and she had a great time. I think its called Law Career camp or something like that, but she had a great time!

 

[2BigKIdz]

I went to camp for a week each summer for my middle school years, it was a church camp and was very small. We have a really nice sleep-a-way camp about 10 minutes from where we live, here is a link if you are intersted to see what one is like http://www.campfriendship.com/CampFriendship-Web/DesktopDefault.aspx

 

[leafette]

I never did one as a child, but my daughter went last year to a 3 day/ 2 night Girl Scout camp. They call it a mini-camp. It was only an hour from our house, so that's what calmed my concerns. It was exactly what you think of--cabins with bunk beds, etc. She loved it and will be going back this year. They also do one- and two-week camps.

She also does a day camp (8-4:30) for a week at a local nature center. She started this one when she was 4 and has begged to go every year. They have swimming, canoeing, all of the things you think of when you hear "camp." I think there are some sleep-over options for older kids.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

The camps you are speaking about are big here in the Northeast. I've had numerous co-workers that send their kids away for 7 to 8 weeks at a time. Visitation is for one day smack in the middle. First year you get the squeamish, concerned parents. By the second year, the parents are planning their European trips while junior is at camp.

Its not for me but they're not my kids.

 

[frndshpcptn]

The camps you are speaking about are big here in the Northeast. I've had numerous co-workers that send their kids away for 7 to 8 weeks at a time. Visitation is for one day smack in the middle. First year you get the squeamish, concerned parents. By the second year, the parents are planning their European trips while junior is at camp.

That was me! Went to a fantastic all-girls camp in the Poconos for the summer (sessions were 4 or 8 weeks). The first summer was hard at first - but every summer after that I couldn't wait to pack my trunk and head up to camp! It was the best! Swimming, canoeing, archery, art, drama, etc. LOVED IT!

I went from 8 - 14 and then I went on teen tour (which is like camp - but we travel around the country).

 

[sha_lyn]

I never did one as a child, but my daughter went last year to a 3 day/ 2 night Girl Scout camp. They call it a mini-camp. It was only an hour from our house, so that's what calmed my concerns. It was exactly what you think of--cabins with bunk beds, etc. She loved it and will be going back this year. They also do one- and two-week camps.

Where is she going?
DD's troop was at Pine Acres a couple of weeks ago, and she will be doing a week at Timber Ridge in July. She will also go to service unit day camp.

 

[cruisnfamily]

My kids go to a really good one here in FL.

It's presbyterian(but we are not, it doesn't matter as long as you're ok with the Christian message. They do bible song singing and bible study but other than that it's a great camp with canoeing, tubing, ziplining, hiking, swimming...just about everything you'd want in a fabulous summer camp. www.cedarkirk.com

DD has also attended girlscout sleepaway camp here in FL.