Sleepover Summer Camp - anyone sending your kids?

[mi*vida*loca]

If my kids wanted to go I would send them.

 

[spiders]

Do whatever you and your partner feel comfortable with. There are people on this board who still think you should be boarded up until 2022 (which will turn into 2023 later this year).

 

[goodeats]

California summer camps are still awaiting guidance from the state. We had both girls registered for camp last summer (horse and Catalina through YMCA) and they both got cancelled/deposits rolled over. Hopefully this summer is a go.

 

[AgentMama]

Do whatever you and your partner feel comfortable with. There are people on this board who still think you should be boarded up until 2022 (which will turn into 2023 later this year).

Completely agree, sometimes I just like to hear other people's opinions and see if they align with mine. Although I recognize that sometimes only one side gives their opinion.

 

[AlohaNow]

For those of you sending your kids, what are the sleeping arrangements? I guess our biggest concern is that it doesn't matter if the kids wear masks all day if they sleep in group cabins unmasked.

Two of his potential camps are on college campuses, so the campers stay in the dorms. I don't yet know if the arrangement would be one or two campers to a room. The YMCA trekker camp starts off at the usual residential Y camp for two nights, then they get in a van and camp their way to Moab, canyoneer for a few days there, and camp their way back to the residential Y camp for the last night. I have no idea of the sleeping arrangements for that one. Kids around here love those camping hammocks for sleeping, so he'd probably borrow one and sleep outside in the trees. It's just too soon to know the specifics. If any, or all, of these camps happen, we have no qualms about him going. That's assuming the continuing downward trend of cases.

We had both girls registered for camp last summer (horse and Catalina through YMCA) and they both got cancelled/deposits rolled over. Hopefully this summer is a go.

Is that Camp Fox on Catalina? He's looking at that one too, though the 2021 info is not yet out. I'd love to do the Family Camp there too!

 

[RangerPooh]

For those of you sending your kids, what are the sleeping arrangements?

Ours are bring your own tent camps. Siblings could share if they want, but my girls don't share very well, so they will bring their own tents. My son will hammock and our youngest tent.

 

[dez1978]

At this point in the Covid game and school being out the last week for weather, I would gladly send my kids anywhere that would take them right now.

 

[amylevan]

Camp was such a huge part of my life growing up that I feel so incredibly bad for kids right now. Last year, canceled. This year? Hopefully going. They only get so many summers to do the camp thing.

 

[goodeats]

Is that Camp Fox on Catalina? He's looking at that one too, though the 2021 info is not yet out. I'd love to do the Family Camp there too!

Yes, we booked through YMCA of Glendale (although we live in South Orange County). They opened up registration for 2020 in January and it filled up very quickly - like within hours. If 2021 happens they will offer all the spots to kids booked for 2020 first - or at least they said they would. We'll see.

 

[mom2rb]

Yes, we booked through YMCA of Glendale (although we live in South Orange County). They opened up registration for 2020 in January and it filled up very quickly - like within hours. If 2021 happens they will offer all the spots to kids booked for 2020 first - or at least they said they would. We'll see.

I used to work at the YMCA in Glendale.

 

[AlohaNow]

So we just got word that STEM camp in Annapolis is going virtual instead of in person. Bummer. We still don’t know if he is admitted (competitive, academic admission) but at least if he gets in it won’t cost as much! They’ll mail the science kit to participants along with all the Navy swag they would have gotten if they were on campus. He’s still very interested in that one, even if it’s virtual. Still sad though, as he would have gotten to visit with family in MD for a few days. The YMCA camp is holding Zoom meetings every two weeks to update potential campers on what state guidelines might be for their programs. I like that they are being pro-active with families! No word from Sea Camp in Galveston yet, but it’s Texas, so I’m assuming that one will be a go! Maybe he’ll do two weeks at Sea Camp then. Who knows?

Anyone else have any summer camp updates? @goodeats did your girls get into Catalina with their deposits from last year? I put a reminder in my calendar for November 1 so he can get a deposit down on that for 2022! That drone tour of camp is seriously amazing.

 

[usnuzuloose]

My kids are grown, but if the camp were things safe I would send mine. Your only a kid once.

 

[tink89]

I have never sent DD to summer camp. I never went to summer camp. Most kids I know didn't either. To answer the question, if DD regularly went to camp would I send her this summer? Yes.

Now my question is why do parents send kids to summer camp? Is it to learn something at a specific type camp, or is it because of work arrangements? Or other reasons?

 

[pezgirlroy]

I have never sent DD to summer camp. I never went to summer camp. Most kids I know didn't either. To answer the question, if DD regularly went to camp would I send her this summer? Yes.

Now my question is why do parents send kids to summer camp? Is it to learn something at a specific type camp, or is it because of work arrangements? Or other reasons?

I was an only child. I started going to sleep away camp at 8 and went until I was 15. Sometimes one week a year sometimes three. Honestly it was one of the best things my parents did for me as a kid because it helped me learn to live with other kids.

My ten year old has been going to a arts summer camp. This will be her third summer. First summer was two weeks last summer and this will be 4 weeks. Why do we send her because it is an insanely fun place for her to be and she has grown so much being there. She learns to be more independent and speak up for herself. Her summer camp was one of the few that was open last summer and they did an amazing job. Instead of being stuck at home last summer she was with friends doing the following - circus arts, acting, singing, dancing, making candles, learning how to cook, learning how to sew, having paint fights, swimming, tubing. I could go on and on. We are blessed that this camp is in her life and her younger sister cannot wait to go in a few years.

 

[aprilchem]

I wouldn't count on overnight camps happening this summer. I run a summer overnight residential camp and we recently got word that my institution is suspending them for summer 21 - we either have to go virtual or make it a day camp.

 

[pezgirlroy]

I wouldn't count on overnight camps happening this summer. I run a summer overnight residential camp and we recently got word that my institution is suspending them for summer 21 - we either have to go virtual or make it a day camp.

I think it really depends where you are. Our summer camp in Maine happened last year and absolutely should be this summer as well. I believe they are happening in Mass as well.

 

[DisneyElite4]

I think it really depends where you are. Our summer camp in Maine happened last year and absolutely should be this summer as well. I believe they are happening in Mass as well.

Agreed. My kids overnight summer camp happened last summer and will happen again this summer.

 

[tink89]

I was an only child. I started going to sleep away camp at 8 and went until I was 15. Sometimes one week a year sometimes three. Honestly it was one of the best things my parents did for me as a kid because it helped me learn to live with other kids.

My ten year old has been going to a arts summer camp. This will be her third summer. First summer was two weeks last summer and this will be 4 weeks. Why do we send her because it is an insanely fun place for her to be and she has grown so much being there. She learns to be more independent and speak up for herself. Her summer camp was one of the few that was open last summer and they did an amazing job. Instead of being stuck at home last summer she was with friends doing the following - circus arts, acting, singing, dancing, making candles, learning how to cook, learning how to sew, having paint fights, swimming, tubing. I could go on and on. We are blessed that this camp is in her life and her younger sister cannot wait to go in a few years.

I think the only time I heard about camps was when I watched TV. They seemed fun but it wasn't something our family did. During summer my dad always took us camping at least once and to a nearby theme park. Plus I have like a million cousins who all lived in the same city some the same neighborhood so our fun was just going to family gatherings and seeing all of them. Plus my parents would never let me even sleep over a friends house so sleep away camp would definitely be out of the question. I think much of if has to do with my culture since im pretty much the same with DD.

 

[xjillianpaige]

I run a summer camp.

Any camp that is taking steps to control and mitigate risk, as outlined by the American Camp Association field guide, is going to be safe to operate. I've been in a ton of trainings about this and have talked at length with some of the folks who worked on that guide and I feel really confident that camps who use it to plan for this summer will be safe. Data from last summer's operating camps, combined with data from schools currently open, is really promising.

ETA: Last year a lot more day camps operated than overnight camps as most states didn't allow overnight camps. States are beginning to announce that overnight camps are able to open, including in MA and CA. Really good signs for other states to begin to make the same announcement.

The biggest things to think about will be travel restrictions (can I send my kid to camp in another state or not?). Expect a higher demand for camp than supply - there are more kids who want to go than spaces at camp.

 

[Kitty 34]

My kids are grown and out of the house but yes I would send my DH to a 2-3 week fishing camp if all possible.