Summer Camp, what's the right age?

[hematite153]

I went to camp for the first time when I was 7 and had a great time. I didn't go back for a few years after that though, so I think my mother found it more stressful than I did.

I work at a camp these days. Our campers come for three weeks (parent's day is the 2nd weekend) and we take ages 9-17. We don't get very many 9 year olds but those that come seem to have a great time. We tend to look really hard for homesickness in the little ones and find ways of distracting them from it--although there are bad moments. However, I've had to send home a 13 year old and a 15 year old because they just couldn't overcome their homesickness. I also had a 16 year old who cried everyday.

So, I agree with the previous posters who said it depends on the child. I have heard people suggest that the younger ones have an easier time because more things in their lives are 'new' anyway. Yet, for the older ones away from home for the first time, camp can be quite an adjustment. However, I don't I agree with this line of reasoning. I tend to assume that the older first time campers weren't ready to leave home when they were younger and would have been just as homesick then--fortunately, their parents understood this.

If you aren't sure, try a day-camp first.

 

[mjy]

As so many other people have already said: "It all depends!"

I was involved with a summer camp program for 20 years, running it for the last 13 of those 20. The ages for the campers were 7-14.

I saw some very mature 7 year olds and some very immature 14 year olds. I dealt with homesickness with all the age levels. Also dealt with "kidsickness" when the lonely parent would call "to make sure their child was all right." We would discuss how the time was an ordeal for the parent rather than that child.

I found that younger children usually do much better at a camp if they go either with friends or with siblings. Even if the sib is much older or younger and they never really do anything together -- because they all went to age-appropriate activities -- just knowing that a family member was there somewhere often helped one get through the time.

Short answer to your question: the right age for camp is whatever the right age is for your child to be away from you (or, perhaps, the right time for you to be away from your child, especially the first time.)

 

[DawnM]

It will depend on my kids I suppose and what camp it is.

My boys are going to cub scout camp (day camp) for a week this summer. I am volunteering to help and my 3 year old has a little kiddie program he will attend.

Right now, overnight camps are out.

Dawn